Mastectomy

Overview

A mastectomy is surgery to remove all of the breast tissue, most commonly as part of the treatment of breast cancer. It may also be considered to reduce risk in people at very high inherited risk. Depending on the situation, one breast (unilateral) or both breasts (bilateral) may be removed.

There are several types of mastectomy, from a total (simple) mastectomy to skin- and nipple-sparing techniques that help with reconstruction, and modified radical mastectomy which also removes underarm lymph nodes. Many people can choose breast reconstruction, done at the same time or later. Mastectomy is usually one part of a broader, individualised cancer treatment plan.

This page is an educational overview to help you understand mastectomy and how care can be planned abroad. It is not medical advice, and every case is different — decisions about breast cancer surgery should be made with a specialist multidisciplinary team.

Who May Need This

A mastectomy may be recommended for people with breast cancer when the tumour is large relative to the breast, when there are multiple areas of cancer, when breast-conserving surgery with radiotherapy is not suitable, or by personal choice. It is also used for certain non-invasive cancers and, in some cases, for recurrent disease.

It may additionally be considered as a risk-reducing (preventive) operation for people with a strong family history or a genetic change such as a BRCA mutation that markedly raises breast cancer risk. The decision is highly individual and is made with a multidisciplinary team after imaging, biopsy, and full discussion of the alternatives and reconstruction options.

When It May Be Recommended

Surgery is recommended based on the cancer’s type, size, and stage and on your preferences. A mastectomy may be advised when removing the whole breast offers the best control of the disease or when breast-conserving surgery is not appropriate. Sometimes chemotherapy is given first to shrink a tumour before surgery.

The timing and type of mastectomy, and whether lymph nodes are sampled or removed, are planned by the team, taking into account any planned radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or reconstruction. The decision balances effective cancer treatment with your priorities and quality of life, and is always individualised through shared decision-making.

Diagnosis and Evaluation

Diagnosis and staging usually involve imaging — mammography, ultrasound, and sometimes MRI — and a biopsy to confirm the cancer type and its characteristics, including hormone receptor and HER2 status, which guide treatment. Assessment of the lymph nodes helps determine whether the cancer has spread.

Further tests may be arranged to check overall health and, if needed, to look for spread elsewhere. Genetic testing may be discussed if there is a family history. This evaluation, reviewed by a multidisciplinary team, determines the stage, the recommended surgery, and the overall treatment plan, and is the basis for a fully informed decision.

Treatment Options

Surgical options for breast cancer include breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy), usually with radiotherapy, and mastectomy. Mastectomy itself comes in several forms — total (simple), skin-sparing, nipple-sparing, and modified radical — chosen according to the cancer and reconstruction plans.

Surgery is typically combined with other treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, or targeted drugs, sequenced by the team. Reconstruction using implants or your own tissue can be immediate or delayed, or you may choose not to reconstruct. The right combination depends on your cancer, health, and preferences, and is decided together with your specialists.

How It Is Performed

A mastectomy is performed under general anaesthesia. The surgeon removes the breast tissue through an incision planned according to the type of mastectomy and any reconstruction; skin- and nipple-sparing techniques preserve the outer skin envelope to support reconstruction. If lymph node assessment is needed, a sentinel lymph node biopsy or fuller node removal is carried out through the armpit.

If immediate reconstruction is planned, a plastic surgeon may begin it during the same operation using an implant, a tissue expander, or your own tissue. Small drains are often placed to remove fluid as you heal. The operation’s length depends on whether one or both breasts are treated and whether reconstruction is done at the same time.

Preparation

Preparation includes completing staging tests, meeting your surgical and, if relevant, plastic surgery and oncology teams, and discussing the type of mastectomy, node surgery, and reconstruction options. Medications are reviewed, smoking cessation is advised to aid healing (particularly for reconstruction), and fasting instructions are given.

If you are considering care abroad, plan for the in-country stay your team recommends and for the reality that breast cancer treatment is multidisciplinary and ongoing — chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or hormone therapy may continue for months. Bring your imaging, pathology, and records, arrange for a companion, and, crucially, confirm how continuing cancer care and follow-up will be coordinated with your local oncology team.

Benefits and Expected Goals

The goal of a mastectomy is to remove the breast cancer and, with the rest of the treatment plan, to reduce the risk of the cancer returning. For risk-reducing surgery, the aim is to lower the chance of developing breast cancer in high-risk individuals. Reconstruction can help restore breast shape and support emotional wellbeing.

Benefits and outlook depend on the cancer type, stage, and the full treatment plan, and cannot be guaranteed by surgery alone. Breast cancer care is a partnership across specialties over time. Your oncology team can explain the realistic goals, the role of each treatment, and your individual prognosis.

Risks and Possible Complications

A mastectomy is major surgery and carries real risks, some related to node surgery or reconstruction.

• Bleeding, infection, or delayed wound healing
• Fluid collection under the skin (seroma) needing drainage
• Numbness, tightness, or chronic pain in the chest or arm
• Arm swelling (lymphoedema) after lymph node removal
• Reconstruction complications such as implant or flap problems
• Blood clots and anaesthetic risks

Your team will explain the risks specific to your surgery and any reconstruction and how they are minimised. Report fever, a red or draining wound, or arm swelling promptly.

Recovery, Follow-up & Aftercare

Hospital stays vary from a short stay to several days, longer if reconstruction is done at the same time. Drains may stay in for a period and are removed once output settles. Early gentle arm and shoulder exercises, as advised, help restore movement and reduce stiffness, while heavy lifting is avoided during healing.

Breast cancer care usually continues after surgery with further treatments and long-term follow-up, and support for lymphoedema, scar care, and emotional wellbeing is important. Because ongoing oncology care is essential, arrange for it with your local team; if you have surgery abroad, coordinating this continuing care and follow-up before you travel home is critical.

Medical Tourism Planning

If you are considering mastectomy abroad, choose a JCI- or ISO-accredited hospital with a dedicated breast cancer or oncology programme, a multidisciplinary team, and pathology and reconstruction services. Verify the surgeon’s qualifications and confirm that your case would be reviewed by a full team, not a surgeon alone.

Because breast cancer treatment is ongoing and multidisciplinary, the most important planning issue is continuity of care: confirm how chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, and follow-up will be coordinated with your local oncologist. Bring complete records, arrange a companion, and consider the practicalities and insurance for what may be a lengthy course of treatment.

Estimated Cost Factors

The cost of a mastectomy depends on the country and hospital, the surgeon’s and anaesthetist’s fees, the type of mastectomy and node surgery, whether reconstruction is done and by which method, the length of stay, and pathology and imaging. Importantly, the broader cancer treatment — chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and drugs — often forms a large part of the overall cost.

Many international cancer centres offer breast surgery at a fraction of typical US prices, but the total for full treatment varies widely by case. Prices online are only estimates — always request a personalized written quote covering surgery, reconstruction, and the planned oncology treatment before deciding.

Choosing a Hospital or Specialist

Look for a hospital with recognised accreditation and a comprehensive breast cancer programme, including breast and reconstructive surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, pathology, and a multidisciplinary tumour board that reviews cases together. Confirm the surgeon’s qualifications and experience with the surgery you need.

Good centres provide clear international patient services, transparent written cost and treatment plans, and a defined pathway for continuing oncology care and follow-up. Because breast cancer care spans specialties and time, coordination with your home team and access to reconstruction and support services are important signs of quality.

Alternatives

Depending on the cancer, the main surgical alternative to mastectomy is breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) with radiotherapy, which offers comparable outcomes for many suitable cancers while keeping most of the breast. Some treatment plans start with chemotherapy or hormone therapy before surgery.

For risk-reducing decisions, alternatives to preventive mastectomy include enhanced screening and, in some cases, risk-reducing medication. Each option differs in extent, need for radiotherapy, and effect on the breast. The right choice depends on your cancer, risk, and preferences, and is made with your multidisciplinary team.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• Is a mastectomy recommended over breast-conserving surgery for me, and why?
• Which type of mastectomy do you advise, and will lymph nodes be removed?
• Am I a candidate for reconstruction, and should it be immediate or delayed?
• What other treatments — chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone or targeted therapy — will I need?
• How will my ongoing cancer care and follow-up be coordinated with my home team?
• What are my specific risks, including lymphoedema?
• What is included in the written cost estimate for surgery and full treatment?