Lumpectomy or partial mastectomy is a surgical procedure to remove tumour in your breast. 

What Happens During a Lumpectomy? 

During the surgery, your surgeon will: 

• Locate the tumour inside your breast with a mammogram and mark the spot. 

• Give you an anaesthesia. 

• Refer to the marks and remove the tumour by making an incision. 

• Close the incision. 

If your tumour has spread, the surgeon will also remove the lymph nodes in your armpits. Post the surgery, reconstructive surgery will be done to repair and reshape your breast. 

What Happens After a Lumpectomy? 

After the procedure, you will be moved to a recovery area. Additional tests will be conducted to make you “cancer-free”. 

What Are the Risks Associated with a Lumpectomy? 

Lumpectomy is safe. It may, however, cause: 

• Infection. 

• Collection of fluid. 

• Collection of blood. 

• Scarring. 

• Bruising and swelling. 

• Pain in your armpits and chest. 

Mastectomy is a surgical procedure to remove some or all of your breast tissues. 

Why Do You Need a Mastectomy? 

You may need a mastectomy, if you have: 

• Triple-negative breast cancer. 

• Inflammatory breast cancer. 

• High risk of breast cancer. 

• Paget’s disease of the breast. 

What Happens During a Mastectomy? 

During the procedure, your surgeon will: 

• Give you an anaesthesia. 

• Inject a mild radioactive substance called a tracer into your breast to highlight the lymph nodes. 

• Remove the breast tissue including or sparing your skin and nipple. 

• Remove surrounding lymph nodes. 

• Reconstruct your breast with the help of artificial implants. 

• Close the incisions. 

What Happens After a Mastectomy? 

After the procedure, you will be moved to a recovery area. Additional tests will be conducted to make you “cancer-free”. 

What Are the Risks Associated with a Lumpectomy? 

Lumpectomy is safe. It may, however, cause: 

• Infection. 

• Collection of fluid. 

• Collection of blood. 

• Scarring. 

• Bruising and swelling. 

• Pain in your armpits and chest. 

A sentinel lymph node biopsy or SLNB is a procedure to remove sentinel nodes for cancer. Sentinel nodes are the first lymph nodes where cancer cells may spread from a tumour. 

Why Do You Need a SLNB? 

You may have a SLNB, if you have: 

• Cervical cancer. 

• Colorectal cancer. 

• Thyroid cancer. 

• Oesophageal cancer. 

• Lung cancer. 

• Vulvar cancer. 

What Happens During the SLNB Procedure? 

During the procedure, your surgeon will: 

• Give you an anaesthesia. 

• Inject a tracer to locate the tumour site. 

• Make an incision at the side and remove one or more sentinel nodes. 

• Close the incision. 

The removed sentinel nodes will be sent to a lab for cancer diagnosis. 

What Happens After SLNB? 

SLNB is a minor procedure and you may go home on the same day.  

What Are the Risks Associated with SLNB? 

SLNB is a safe procedure. It may, however, cause: 

• Bleeding, bruising, or swelling at the incision site. 

• Lymphedema. 

• Axillary web syndrome. 

Axillary lymph node dissection or ALND is a procedure to remove lymph nodes around your armpits. This is usually done in case of breast cancer. 

What Happens During an ALND? 

During the procedure, your surgeon will: 

• Give you an anaesthesia. 

• Make an incision in your underarm. 

• Remove the cancerous lymph nodes. 

• Close the incision. 

What Happens After an ALND? 

After the surgery, you will be moved to a recovery room. Your lymph nodes will be sent to a laboratory for further evaluation. You may go home on the same day. 

What are the Risks Associated with an ALND? 

ALND is generally safe. It may, however, cause: 

• Swelling. 

• Lymphedema. 

• Soreness at the incision site. 

• Fever. 

Breast reduction or reduced mammoplasty is a surgical procedure to decrease the size of your breasts. If you have disproportionate breasts, you may require this surgery to change the appearance and prevent you from pain in the neck, back, and shoulders. 

What Happens During a Breast Reduction Surgery? 

During the procedure, your surgeon will: 

• Give you an anaesthesia. 

• Make an incision around your nipple and downward on your breast in a keyhole shape. 

• Remove excess skin, tissue, and fat. 

• Close the incision. 

What Happens After Breast Reduction Surgery? 

After the surgery, you will be moved to a recovery area and monitored until you are stable enough.  

What Are the Risks Associated with Breast Reduction Surgery? 

The surgery is safe, it may, however, cause: 

• Bruising. 

• Soreness or increased sensitivity in the nipple region. 

• Bleeding. 

• Swelling. 

• Infection. 

• Wound healing issues. 

Breast reconstruction is a surgical procedure to recreate breasts. The entire process may involve several surgeries.  

What Are the Types of Breast Reconstruction Surgeries? 

Breast reconstruction surgeries are mainly of two types: 

• Flap Reconstruction: 

During this procedure, your plastic surgeon will take tissue from your own body and use it to create a breast. The tissues are generally taken from your lower abdomen but can also be taken from the thighs, back, or bottom. 

This involves removing fat, skin, blood vessels, and muscles from part of your body to create a new breast. Sometimes surgeons may also move a flap from your body as it will retain its blood supply.  

• Implant Reconstruction: 

During this procedure, your plastic surgeon will use saline or silicone implants to recreate breast tissue.  

What Happens During Breast Reconstruction Surgery? 

During the procedure, your plastic surgeon will: 

• Give you an anaesthesia. 

• Insert an implant in your chest in case of implant reconstruction. 

• Take tissue from one part of your body to place a new breast in case of a flap procedure. 

• Insert a drain or thin tube under your skin to drain fluid and blood from your body. 

What Happens After a Breast Reconstruction Surgery? 

After the surgery, you will be moved to a recovery room and may be required to stay in the hospital for up to a week.  

What Are the Risks Associated with a Breast Reconstruction Surgery? 

The surgery may lead to: 

• Blood clots. 

• Asymmetrical breasts. 

• Fat necrosis. 

• Bruising or scarring of reconstructed breasts. 

• Problems with implants. 

• Weakness or sensitivity at the site.