Minimally Invasive "Keyhole" Breast Surgery
A diagnosis of breast cancer can be overwhelming, and choosing the right treatment matters. At Breast Surgery Care Partners, we offer minimally invasive breast surgery techniques designed to provide safe, effective cancer removal with noticeably smaller scars, faster recovery, and good aesthetic preservation.
As one of the founding centres for minimally invasive mastectomy and endoscopic breast surgery in Singapore, our surgeon combines precision technology with an aesthetic-conscious approach to help patients heal with confidence.
We prioritise not just the cancer treatment, but also the overall outcomes, such as aesthetics, quality of life, and long-term function, to help preserve patients' body image, sexual identity, and mental-emotional health.
"KEYHOLE SURGERY"
A New Approach to
Breast Surgery
Minimally Invasive Breast Surgery (MIBS), otherwise known as keyhole surgery, is the latest approach designed to surgically treat breast cancer with ‘aesthetically scarless’ results. MIBS involves the strategic placement of smaller, less conspicuous incisions to minimise visible scars and facilitate close-to-ideal breast resection and restoration.
This advanced technique combines state-of-the-art technology and surgical skill, with aesthetic precision to provide the highest standard of care for all our patients.
Why Choose MIBS at
Breast Surgery Care Partners
We bring together expertise and compassion to offer a holistic approach to breast care.
Our minimally invasive procedures provide:
Minimised Scarring
Restore a natural breast shape post-surgery.
Precision Surgery
Advanced endoscopic visualisation for safe
removal of breast and cancerous tissue.
Expedient Recovery
Reduced pain, expedited healing, day surgery options.
Sensory Preservation
The potential for sensory preservation through
strategic nerve preservation and neurotisation.
Customised Care
Tailored treatment plans that align with your unique needs and goals.
Conventional Breast Surgery
Conventional breast surgery usually involves scars on the breast, nipple and areola region itself, or lengthy scars along the bra line or lateral breast for a mastectomy.
Minimally Invasive Breast Surgery
The MIBS technique is accessible to a wide range of patients from young to elderly women, is not limited by breast size, or high body mass index. While it is preferred for patients diagnosed with early breast cancer, it can also be offered to select patients with advanced breast cancer who have responded well to pre-surgical treatment like chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.
Minimally Invasive vs Traditional Open Surgery
Factor | Minimally Invasive Breast Surgery | Traditional Open Surgery |
Incision size and scarring | Small, concealed mini-incisions Aesthetically scarless single incision | Visible or longer incision Generally two incisions required |
Pain | Typically reduced | Moderate to higher |
Surgical risks and complications | Decreased wound complications Decreased skin and nipple-areolar complications | Standard risk of wound complications Standard risk of skin and nipple-areolar complications |
Comprehensive MIBS Options
Considering minimally invasive breast surgery? MIBS is suitable for:
Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy (NSM)
Preserves the complete breast skin and nipple-areolar complex for natural-looking results.
Areolar-Sparing Mastectomy (ASM)
Skin-Sparing Mastectomy (SSM)
Breast-Conserving Surgery (BCS)
Removes only the affected tissue, preserving healthy breast parenchyma; Aims to restore overall breast shape. Endoscopic BCS is typically a day surgery procedure.
Oncoplastic Breast Conserving Surgery (oBCS)
Combines cancer removal with plastic reconstructive restoration techniques; Aims to achieve ideal aesthetic outcomes.
Who Is a Candidate for Minimally Invasive Breast Surgery?
You may be suitable for minimally invasive breast surgery if you meet one or more of the following:
- Diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer or locally-advanced breast cancer that has responded well to neoadjuvant therapy
- Eligible for skin and/or nipple-areolar preservation
- Prefer minimal scarring and improved cosmetic outcomes
Your risk status is best evaluated through a detailed assessment.
Breast Cancer Risk Evaluation: Learn More
Contact UsRecovery & After-Care
Patients undergoing minimally invasive breast surgery can typically expect:
- Minimal discomfort with modern pain management
- Rapid return to daily activities (varies by procedure and selected method of breast reconstruction, if any)
- Close follow-up, including wound care and imaging surveillance
- Detailed recovery guidance tailored to each patient’s needs
Our post-operative care aims to ensure that recovery is smooth, comfortable, and supported.
Advanced Breast Reconstruction
At Breast Surgery Care Partner, we offer collaborative services and the full spectrum of advanced reconstructive options. Choose the solution that best fits your needs.
Our team specialises in minimally invasive techniques and works with specialised plastics and reconstructive microsurgeons to achieve seamless and natural-looking results, restoring your confidence and well-being.
Whole Breast Reconstruction
Implant Reconstruction
Tissue Expanders
A temporary implant with an inflatable expander that prepares our patients for second stage breast reconstruction, when required.
Autologous Fat Transfer
Autologous Tissue Reconstruction
The use of one’s own body tissue for visually and texturally natural, life-like results. A lifelong restorative solution.
- Abdominal based flap reconstruction: Transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap reconstruction, Free perforator flap reconstruction such as deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap or the superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flap.
- Endoscopic latissimus dorsi flap reconstruction.
- Laparoscopic omental flap reconstruction.
- Upper high flaps such as Transverse upper gracilis (TUG), Profunda artery perforator (PAP) and lateral thigh perforator (LTP) flaps.
- Buttock flaps such as Superior gluteal artery perforator (SGAP), Inferior gluteal artery perforator (IGAP), and Lumbar artery perforator (LAP) flaps.
Autologous Fat Transfer
Partial Breast Reconstruction
Intercostal artery perforator flap reconstruction (e.g. LICAP, AICAP, LTAP)
The use of excess skin and fat from the upper abdomen beneath the breast or lateral chest wall to fill breast defects following breast-conserving surgery.
Thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flap reconstruction
The use of excess skin and fat from the upper back to fill breast defects following breast-conserving surgery.
Laparoscopic omental flap reconstruction
The use of internal abdominal fat to fill breast defects following breast-conserving surgery. The omentum is harvested via Keyhole methods for reconstructive purposes.
Autologous fat transfer
Lipofilling, lipomodelling, fat grafting, or lipotransfer removes unwanted fat from our body to restore breast volume.
Injectable Acellular Dermal Matrix (ADM) reconstruction
Our team specialises in minimally invasive techniques to achieve seamless, natural-appearing results, restoring your confidence and well-being.
Endoscopic Breast Surgery Benefits
Minimised Scarring
Quick recovery time
Day surgery options for certain procedures
Tailored solutions for challenging tumour locations
Sensation Preserving Solutions
MIBS can be performed alongside sensory preserving strategies. Traditionally, most women who have undergone complete breast removal also face denervation and resulting numbness of all chest wall and upper underarm skin. The sensory preserving mastectomy aims to preserve the intercostal nerve branches and restore breast and nipple-areolar complex sensation when coupled with extended neurotisation procedures.
In addition to worries over the disease and its prognosis, our patients are often concerned about surgical scars and cosmetic outcomes.
Endoscopic breast surgery carries marginal difference in terms of cost, but significant difference in overall patient satisfaction and surgical outcomes. This surgical approach improves aesthetic outcomes, enhances the appearance of breasts with minimal post-operative complications to enhance quality of life and restore feminine confidence in patients.
Meet our Breast Surgeon
Dr Sabrina Ngaserin
Senior Consultant
Oncoplastic and Minimally Invasive Breast Surgeon
Breast surgeon subspecialising in surgical oncology.
One of the few breasts surgeons in the world formally trained in both
oncoplastic breast surgery and minimally invasive endoscopic breast
surgery.Pioneer of Minimally Invasive ‘Keyhole’ Breast Surgery in Singapore.
Former Head of Breast Surgery and Senior Consultant at Sengkang General Hospital and SingHealth Duke-NUS Breast Centre.
Visiting Senior Consultant at the National University Hospital (NUH)
Singapore.Adjunct Assistant Professor at Duke-NUS Post-graduate Medical School and Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore.
Ministry of Health of Singapore and Singapore Medical Council certified
specialist.Fellowship accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and
Academy of Medicine Singapore.
Meet our Breast Surgeon
Dr Sabrina Ngaserin Ng Hui Na
Senior Consultant
Oncoplastic and Minimally Invasive Breast Surgeon
Breast surgeon subspecialising in surgical oncology.
One of the few breasts surgeons in the world formally trained in both
oncoplastic breast surgery and minimally invasive endoscopic breast surgery.Pioneer of Minimally Invasive ‘Keyhole’ Breast Surgery in Singapore.
Former Head of Breast Surgery and Senior Consultant at Sengkang General Hospital and SingHealth Duke-NUS Breast Centre.
Visiting Senior Consultant at the National University Hospital (NUH) Singapore.
Adjunct Assistant Professor at Duke-NUS Post-graduate Medical School and Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore.
-
Ministry of Health of Singapore and Singapore Medical Council certified specialist.
-
Fellowship accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Academy of Medicine Singapore.
Dr Sabrina Ngaserin believes in minimally invasive breast surgery (MIBS) as the standard of care for all suitable patients. Over the years, she has demonstrated the MIBS technique in live surgery for over 80 specialist breast surgeons in the region, and extended surgical fellowship, observership, cadaveric training, and/or proctorship towards other surgeons in Singapore and the world. She was founder and director of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Minimally Invasive Breast Surgery symposium and workshop in Singapore, author of textbook chapters in MIBS, and represented SingHealth in overseas collaboration as Steering Committee for Clinical Pillar, Robotic Breast Surgery. As a pioneer and advocate for MIBS, her personal goal is to share new technology and techniques involved in precision breast surgery so that more women can benefit from it as part of their own cancer treatment journey.
Dr Sabrina Ngaserin's Articles on Minimally Invasive Breast Surgery
The Straits Times ∙ July 2023
To determine if our MIBS-trained breast specialist is suitable for you, consult a MIBS-trained breast specialist
Frequently Asked Questions
Oncoplastic surgery blends cancer removal with aesthetic techniques to preserve breast shape, while minimally invasive surgery uses small incisions to achieve ‘aesthetically scarless’ results. An experienced Breast Specialist in Singapore can recommend the most suitable approach depending on your condition, breast characteristics, and treatment goals.
Minimally invasive techniques offer smaller incisions, quicker healing, and sought-after cosmetic outcomes, but suitability depends on your diagnosis and breast anatomy. A female breast doctor or specialised breast surgeon in Singapore can assess whether you are a good candidate based on clinical findings and imaging results.
You can directly make an appointment with a female breast doctor for breast screening, risk assessment, diagnostic imaging recommendations, evaluation of breast symptoms, or a second opinion. Self-referral helps patients receive timely and comprehensive care.
Contact us today
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