Procedure · General Surgery
BreastSurgery
Breast lump evaluation, biopsy, lumpectomy, mastectomy, sentinel node biopsy, and oncoplastic reconstruction.
Breast surgery decisions are deeply personal and benefit from surgeons who follow your case from the first visit through recovery. At Sulphur Surgical Clinic we perform the full range of breast operations — from lumpectomy with oncoplastic reconstruction to total mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy — and coordinate closely with medical oncology, radiation oncology, and plastic surgery to keep your care connected.
The operations we perform.
Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy)
Removes the cancer plus a margin of healthy tissue around it, preserving the rest of the breast. Typically followed by radiation therapy. For appropriately selected patients, lumpectomy plus radiation is as effective as mastectomy at treating early-stage breast cancer.
Mastectomy
Removes all of the breast tissue. May be recommended for larger tumors relative to breast size, multicentric disease, certain genetic mutations, recurrence, or by patient preference. Several variants exist (total, skin-sparing, nipple-sparing) — your surgeon will discuss which is appropriate based on your specific situation and reconstruction goals.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy
A minimally invasive way to check whether breast cancer has spread to the underarm lymph nodes. The first one or two nodes that drain the tumor area are identified and removed for examination. If clear, more extensive axillary surgery is usually avoided — which significantly reduces the risk of lymphedema and other long-term arm problems.
Oncoplastic reconstruction
Reshaping the breast at the time of lumpectomy to preserve appearance. Can be a simple closure or a more involved tissue rearrangement depending on the size and location of the lumpectomy and the overall breast size.
Breast lumps and benign breast conditions.
Not every breast problem is cancer — in fact, most aren't. A large part of our breast practice is evaluating and treating benign conditions for patients across Sulphur, Lake Charles, and Southwest Louisiana:
- Breast lumps — evaluation with imaging and biopsy when needed; most turn out to be benign
- Fibroadenomas — benign solid masses, removed when growing, painful, or when the diagnosis is uncertain
- Breast cysts — aspiration for symptomatic or complex cysts
- Breast abscesses and mastitis — drainage and treatment
- Nipple discharge — workup and duct excision when indicated
- Surgical (excisional) biopsy — including wire- or seed-localized excision of abnormalities found on mammogram that can't be felt
Getting a lump evaluated promptly does two things: it usually delivers the good news quickly, and in the uncommon case it is cancer, it means treatment starts early — when outcomes are best.
Coordinated, connected care.
A breast cancer diagnosis involves many specialists: medical oncology for chemotherapy and targeted therapy, radiation oncology for radiation planning, plastic surgery for reconstruction, pathology for tumor analysis, and often genetic counseling. As your surgeon, we coordinate these handoffs so the plan stays connected and you don't have to be your own care manager during one of the hardest times in your life.
Most patients are seen within two weeks of their first call — and often much sooner when the situation calls for it.
Recovery, in honest terms.
Lumpectomy is typically outpatient with a return to most activity within a week. There is some soreness and reduced arm motion on the affected side that improves quickly. Most patients then move on to radiation therapy, which is a separate treatment course coordinated with radiation oncology.
Mastectomy involves a longer recovery — typically a short hospital stay, drains for 1–2 weeks while internal fluid is reabsorbing, and several weeks of activity restrictions, especially for arm motion on the affected side. If reconstruction is part of the operation, recovery is correspondingly longer.
You won't go through this alone. Most patients are seen by a nurse navigator who helps coordinate appointments, answers questions between visits, and flags anything that needs faster attention. Ask about it at your first visit.
Why Sulphur Surgical Clinic
Care close to home, by surgeons who have practiced here for decades.
i.
Three board-certified surgeons
Drs. Devin Seale, Stephen Castleberry, and Matthew Ayo — all MD, FACS, board-certified in General Surgery, in active full-time clinical practice and accepting new patients.
ii.
Two locations across Southwest Louisiana
Main office on Cypress Street in Sulphur; vein center satellite on West Sale Road in Lake Charles. Procedures performed in partnership with West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital and Imperial Calcasieu Surgical Center.
iii.
50 years caring for Calcasieu Parish
Founded in 1975, locally owned, family-run. Faster scheduling than hospital-based centers and a personal, surgeon-led experience — not a corporate system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions patients ask about this procedure.
I found a breast lump — do I need to see a surgeon?
A new breast lump should always be evaluated, but keep this in mind: most breast lumps are not cancer. Common benign causes include cysts, fibroadenomas, and fibrocystic changes. Evaluation typically starts with imaging (mammogram and/or ultrasound), and a biopsy when imaging can't settle the question. As general surgeons we evaluate breast lumps, perform needle and surgical biopsies when needed, and remove benign masses that are growing, painful, or worrisome — and if a lump does turn out to be cancer, your surgeon is already involved from day one.
What types of breast surgery do you perform?
We perform the full spectrum of breast surgery for benign and malignant disease: lumpectomy (breast-conserving surgery), partial mastectomy, total or skin-sparing mastectomy, sentinel lymph node biopsy, axillary lymph node dissection when needed, oncoplastic reconstruction at the time of lumpectomy, and surgical management of benign breast conditions.
What is breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy)?
Lumpectomy removes the cancer along with a margin of healthy tissue around it, preserving the rest of the breast. It is typically followed by radiation therapy. For appropriately selected patients, breast-conserving surgery plus radiation is as effective as mastectomy at treating early-stage breast cancer — with the advantage of preserving the natural breast.
When is a mastectomy necessary?
Mastectomy may be recommended for larger tumors relative to breast size, multicentric disease, certain genetic mutations (BRCA1/2 and others), recurrence after prior breast-conserving therapy, inflammatory breast cancer, or by patient preference. The decision is highly individual and made together with you, considering oncologic safety, your priorities, and reconstruction options.
Is breast reconstruction available?
Yes. We offer oncoplastic reconstruction at the time of lumpectomy — reshaping the breast during cancer removal to preserve appearance — and we coordinate with plastic surgery partners for implant-based or autologous (your-own-tissue) reconstruction after mastectomy. Reconstruction can be immediate (at the time of mastectomy) or delayed. See our blog post on oncoplastic reconstruction for more.
What is sentinel lymph node biopsy?
Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a minimally invasive way to check whether breast cancer has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm. A small amount of dye and/or radioactive tracer identifies the first one or two lymph nodes that drain the tumor area; these are removed and examined. If they are clear, more extensive axillary surgery is usually avoided — which reduces the risk of lymphedema and other long-term arm problems.
What is recovery like?
Recovery varies significantly by procedure. Lumpectomy is typically outpatient with a return to most activity within a week. Mastectomy involves a longer recovery — typically a short hospital stay, drains for 1–2 weeks, and several weeks of activity restrictions, especially for arm movement on the affected side. We provide detailed recovery instructions and stay closely involved through the postoperative period and any subsequent treatments.
Why choose Sulphur Surgical Clinic?
Breast surgery decisions are deeply personal and benefit from surgeons who know your case from the first visit through recovery. Our three board-certified partners share one office, one set of records, and one standard of care — and if you'd like the same surgeon at every step, we schedule it exactly that way. We coordinate seamlessly with medical oncology, radiation oncology, plastic surgery, and pathology to make sure every part of your care is connected — and we do it close to home, with faster scheduling than driving to a larger system.
Ready to schedule?
Most patients are seen within two weeks.
Sulphur main office: (337) 527-6363
Lake Charles vein center: (337) 425-9300