What Is Mastectomy Surgery

Mastectomy is breast cancer surgery that removes the entire breast. A mastectomy might be done: When a woman cannot be treated with breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy), which saves most of the breast.

Why would someone get a mastectomy?

During a mastectomy, a surgeon removes tissue from one or both breasts. The purpose is usually to remove breast cancer, or prevent the spread or development of it. However, some people undergo mastectomies for other reasons. Some types of mastectomy remove only part of the breast tissue, and others are more extensive.

What does mastectomy surgery look like?

Most mastectomy incisions are in the shape of an oval around the nipple, running across the width of the breast. If you are having a skin-sparing mastectomy, the incision will be smaller, including only the nipple, areola, and the original biopsy scar.