Breast surgery, innovation, and a patient-centred approach

Clinical quality, technological innovation, and patient-centred care are the three pillars shaping the vision of Dr Alessandra Invento, breast surgeon and, since January 2026, Director of the Complex Breast Surgery Unit at the Ospedale Sacro Cuore of Negrar in Verona.

Strategic priorities: quality, innovation, multidisciplinarity

The leadership project for the department is built on clear foundations. «Our strategic priorities are based on three pillars: clinical quality, innovation, and patient-centred care», explains Dr Invento.

The goal is to strengthen the role of breast surgery within the Breast Unit through a truly multidisciplinary pathway. «Our objective is to consolidate the role of breast surgery within the Breast Unit, within a multidisciplinary approach».

This model allows increasingly personalised diagnostic and therapeutic pathways, with faster timelines and high safety standards. In the coming years, particular attention will also be given to high-risk patients and those with BRCA mutations, through closer integration between surgery, oncology, radiotherapy, genetics, and psychology.

Alongside clinical activity, measuring outcomes is another key focus. «From our perspective, measuring also means improving, and improving ourselves above all».

Robotic surgery: precision, faster recovery, and quality of life

Robotic surgery represents one of the most significant advances in the field. «Robotic surgery applied to breast surgery allows greater precision in movements, three-dimensional vision, and a minimally invasive approach».

For patients, this translates into tangible benefits such as less visible incisions, reduced surgical trauma, and faster recovery. There is also an aspect that is often overlooked: sensitivity.

«With the traditional technique, sensitivity was essentially zero; with robotic approaches we can achieve improvements in sensitivity».

According to Dr Invento, the benefits are not only technical but deeply human. «The greatest benefit of robotic surgery concerns the patient’s quality of life». Preserving body image and femininity can help patients face their cancer journey from a different perspective, where psychological impact is considered just as important as clinical effectiveness.

Technology and humanity: tools in service of the person

For Dr Invento, innovation should never replace human connection. «Technology is a tool, not an end in itself».

In a modern Breast Unit, high specialisation must go hand in hand with listening and patient support. Patients need to clearly understand what is happening and should also have access to structured psychological support.

«The goal is that our women are not treated simply as patients, but as people».

The value of multidisciplinarity

«The added value of the Breast Unit lies in shared decision-making», Dr Invento explains. Radiologists, surgeons, oncologists, geneticists, and nurses work in an integrated way, not only during weekly meetings but in everyday practice. «Multidisciplinarity is a daily method that reduces fragmentation, improves outcomes, and increases the safety of care».

One practical example is the integrated clinics, where patients can consult several specialists at the same time. This model is highly appreciated because it makes the shared approach to care tangible.

Clinical excellence and organisational sustainability

Building a strong Breast Unit requires balancing two essential elements: «a clear vision and solid governance».

Clinical excellence is driven by high procedural volumes, specialised expertise, and continuous professional development. Sustainability requires careful planning, efficient resource management, and constant monitoring of quality indicators.

Central to this balance is also the role of the case manager, who supports the patient throughout the entire care pathway.

The result is a model that offers not only the best possible treatment, but also trust and transparency.

Artificial intelligence and the future of breast surgery

Looking ahead, artificial intelligence is set to become an integral part of the diagnostic process. «Artificial intelligence is entering our daily practice».

In breast medicine, it is already being applied in radiology, with increasingly advanced software for mammography, tomosynthesis, and, in the future, magnetic resonance imaging. «It will allow us to achieve much more precise diagnoses», adds Dr Invento.

For surgeons, this means operating on increasingly smaller lesions while preserving more tissue and further improving both oncological and aesthetic outcomes.

However, robotic surgery is not suitable for every patient. «Robotic surgery is not for everyone». It depends on specific anatomical characteristics and precise clinical indications. When it can be applied, it delivers results that patients greatly appreciate: «They have scars truly under three centimetres», concludes Dr Invento.

Technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence are powerful tools, but the true centre of the care journey remains the woman experiencing it. The future of breast surgery lies in maintaining this balance between innovation and humanity: treating cancer while never forgetting the person.