Breaking News: Society of Surgical Oncology Says Surgeons Should Offer Aesthetic Flat Closure (AFC)
Important news for women facing breast cancer. The Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) published a position statement paper on bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy that includes a brief discussion of aesthetic flat closure as a reconstructive option. This is important because every woman is at risk for breast cancer. You never know when you or someone you love will be faced with these decisions.
According to the breast cancer advocacy nonprofit organization Not Putting on a Shirt (NPOAS), the SSO had this to say:
“Discussion of all options, including flat closure, is vital to guide shared decision making and empower patient choice regarding BRRM [Bilateral Risk-Reducing Mastectomy] Surgeons should elicit the patient’s preference for reconstruction and offer the option of aesthetic fat closure.”
BISA has been collaborating with breast cancer advocates from Not Putting on a Shirt (NPOAS) and the Stand Tall AFC for the past few years, and we are proud of the work being done to raise awareness and empower women. NPOAS President Kimberly Bowles posted the news of the Society of Surgical Oncology on social media, “This is a pretty big deal. The Society of Surgical Oncology was founded in 1940 and has members in 70 countries. And they just publically issued their support for AFC!”
Maria Gmitro, BISA’s founder, previously stated, “We hear from women often about how they felt pressured into breast reconstruction. If breast implant reconstruction is covered by insurance, then aesthetic flat closure should also be a covered option. It just makes sense!” BISA is thankful to see this level of awareness and support for AFC and congratulates the patients, advocates, and surgeons working toward positive change.
What exactly is Aesthetic Flat Closure?
Choosing to go flat can offer women simplicity, quicker recovery, and fewer surgeries while also helping them avoid potential breast implant complications; however, choosing to go flat and aesthetic flat closure are not exactly the same surgery. Not Putting on a Shirt has an excellent description with images to demonstrate the difference.
“Many people think of reconstructive surgery as breast reconstruction with tissue flaps or implants. But aesthetic flat closure — considered to be the gold standard for going flat — is also a form of reconstructive surgery,” according to BreastCancer.org.
The National Cancer Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), added “aesthetic flat closure” to its official Dictionary of Cancer Terms, defining it as a reconstructive and aesthetic surgical procedure.
aesthetic flat closure
(es-THEH-tik flat KLOH-zher)
A type of surgery that is done to rebuild the shape of the chest wall after one or both breasts are removed. An aesthetic flat closure may also be done after removal of a breast implant that was used to restore breast shape. During an aesthetic flat closure, extra skin, fat, and other tissue in the breast area are removed. The remaining tissue is then tightened and smoothed out so that the chest wall appears flat.
Patient Experience with Flat Denial & Flat Closure
In a past article, Cosmopolitan highlighted how some breast cancer patients opting to go flat after mastectomies face resistance from doctors who ignore or dismiss their choice. “These Breast Cancer Patients Wanted to Get Rid of Their Boobs for Good. Their Doctors Didn't Care” features one of BISA’s breast cancer advisors, Kimberly Bowles.
The article examines how women are facing a frustrating reality where their decision to forgo breast implants or breast mounds is being questioned, downplayed, or outright dismissed. This story exposes a battle between survivors and the medical system that shouldn’t even exist, and BISA hopes that stories like this put a spotlight on the issue to create positive change for women in the future. “Flat denial” is a problem, and women deserve to have their informed choices respected.
References & Resources
NIH: Society of Surgical Oncology Breast Disease Site Working Group Statement on Bilateral Risk-Reducing Mastectomy: Indications, Outcomes, and Risks
Society of Surgical Oncology
Not Putting on a Shirt
NPOAS: Society of Surgical Oncology Says Surgeons Should Offer AFC
BISA: Breast Cancer Patients Deciding to Go Flat—And They're Shaking Off the Pressure for Reconstruction
NIH: National Cancer Institute
BreastCancer.org
Cosmopolitan: These Breast Cancer Patients Wanted to Get Rid of Their Boobs for Good. Their Doctors Didn't Care
About Breast Implant Safety Alliance (BISA)
The Breast Implant Safety Alliance (BISA) is the largest organization of board-certified patient advocates and subject matter experts in the world dedicated to patient and consumer safety relating to breast implants. Representing the millions of individuals worldwide that currently have, had, or are considering breast implants, the alliance is a non-industry funded leading authority dedicated to providing balanced, evidence-based information for informed decision making about breast implant surgery and related issues. Founded in 2019 by women, BISA is a grassroots nonprofit organization led by volunteers who do not receive a salary for their work.
Contact: Maria Gmitro, President | maria@bisanonprofit.org