Robots could transform breast surgery forever

Ami Brasure, who had a double mastectomy after a stage one breast cancer diagnosis, was surprised to feel liquid on her chest during recovery. She had undergone a robotic nipple-sparing procedure that also reconnected a nerve to her nipple, offering the possibility of restoring sensation. The approach could help address the loss of feeling that many patients experience after mastectomy, while leaving a smaller, concealed scar.

In December 2025, the US Food and Drug Administration cleared the da Vinci single-port system for robot-assisted breast cancer surgery, specifically nipple-sparing mastectomies. Brasure’s operation used a 4-centimetre incision beneath each breast to remove tissue, check lymph nodes, insert implants and reconnect the nerve. Some surgeons see benefits in the robot’s visibility and smaller incision, but critics say long-term evidence is still lacking on whether the technique is as effective as open surgery at preventing cancer recurrence.