Is a Lumpectomy Disfigurement?

While a lumpectomy is less disfiguring than a mastectomy and typically does not require reconstructive plastic surgery afterward, it can cause significant changes in the appearance of the breast if a large amount of tissue is taken.

Will my breast be deformed after lumpectomy?

If you've had lumpectomy (with or without radiation) to remove early-stage breast cancer, you may have a dent, bulge, or other distortion of the breast shape near the surgical site. Or your breast may have a different size or position compared to the other breast.

What kind of surgery is a lumpectomy?

Lumpectomy is a surgery to remove cancerous breast tissue along with a rim of normal tissue surrounding it called a surgical margin. The procedure preserves the rest of the breast as well as sensation in the breast. Your doctor may also refer to it as a wide local excision, segmental resection, or partial mastectomy.