Mastectomy is surgery to remove breast tissue. It’s a primary treatment for breast cancer, and sometimes, it’s preventative (prophylactic). There are several types of mastectomies. Your surgeon will discuss your options and explain what to expect during and after surgery.
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
A mastectomy is a type of breast cancer surgery that removes your breast tissue. Most of the time, it means removing all of your breast tissue from one or both breasts. Mastectomy is a treatment for most types and stages of breast cancer. It’s also a way to prevent breast cancer if you have a high risk of getting it.
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
There are several types of mastectomies. There are also several ways to reconstruct or replace your breasts after a mastectomy. These are some discussions that you’ll have with your healthcare provider. As you map out your breast cancer treatment plan together, you’ll have a series of choices to make.
The decision to have a mastectomy is a very personal one that can bring a variety of emotions with it. You may feel anxious and ready to do whatever it takes to remove the cancer. At the same time, you may feel regret about sacrificing your breast(s). These are normal, understandable reactions.
If you have breast cancer, removing the cancer cells is the best way to stop it from spreading. A mastectomy removes all the breast tissue where cancer cells might be hiding to ensure no cancer cells are left behind.
Types of breast cancer that mastectomy treats include:
Any cancer stage before stage IV (4) may be treated with a partial or total mastectomy. Stage IV is metastatic breast cancer. That’s when breast cancer has spread beyond your breast tissue to other parts of your body. At this point, removing your breast tissue is no longer enough to stop the cancer from spreading.
Advertisement
Mastectomies go by different names depending on how much tissue they remove. Types include:
You may have one or a combination of these types, depending on your needs and preferences.
You and your healthcare provider will develop a treatment plan that includes the type of mastectomy you’ll have and any reconstructive surgery you might choose to have. You’ll also learn more about what to expect during your recovery. This will help you plan how to manage your daily activities after your surgery.
Your provider may tell you to restrict your activities during recovery. They’ll explain that you won’t be able to raise your arms over your head, so you may want to reorganize your shelves. They’ll tell you that you won’t be able to lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk, so you should plan to have help at hand.
You may want to contact a local breast cancer support group. Talking to others about their mastectomy experiences can help you feel less anxious about your upcoming mastectomy and recovery. You might learn helpful tips in advance, and you’ll make contacts that you can go back to during your recovery.
You may also need to:
Advertisement
On the day of your mastectomy:
Advertisement
A partial mastectomy (lumpectomy) may take an hour. A total or double mastectomy may take several hours. If you have reconstruction surgery at the same time, that will make your procedure longer.
Mastectomy complications can develop within days or weeks after your surgery, and sometimes later.
Early complications from the procedure can include:
Delayed complications can include:
Advertisement
Typically, you’ll spend a night in the hospital, or possibly longer if you have more extensive surgery. Your healthcare team will have you up and walking on the same day as your surgery. This reduces the risk of blood clots and pneumonia from lying in bed for a long time. You’ll have pain relief as needed.
You’ll wait for lab results to determine the next steps. Your surgeon will want to ensure they got all the cancer. They should have these results within a couple of weeks. Most of the time, there’s no need for more surgery. But occasionally, your surgeon may need to remove additional lymph nodes or tissue.
You might also need additional cancer treatment after surgery, like radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Some people wait to finish these treatments before starting breast reconstruction surgery. If you have started it, you might need additional follow-up surgeries to achieve the final cosmetic result you want.
A mastectomy is a life-changing event. While surgery and other treatments may cure your breast cancer, the loss of your breast can bring many emotions to process. Your body will also need time to heal.
In general, you can expect:
Any type of breast surgery will leave a scar and change the appearance of your chest. Those changes differ from person to person. If you’re like most people, your scars will become less apparent over time.
What your chest looks like will depend on factors like:
You’ll have follow-up appointments with your care team. But you should contact your team if:
If tests show you have breast cancer, you might consider a mastectomy to eliminate it. If you’re at risk of developing breast cancer, you may want this surgery to reduce your cancer risk. Either way, you’re making a life-changing choice when you’re contemplating this procedure. You may feel overwhelmed by all the things you need to manage, from your emotions and planning for surgery to aftercare and recovery.
If that’s your situation, remember that your healthcare team is ready to help. They understand your concerns and answer your questions. They’ll also recommend resources, like breast cancer support groups, which can connect you with people who’ve experienced what you’re going through.
Having a lumpectomy or mastectomy is the first step toward healing from breast cancer. Cleveland Clinic breast cancer surgeons offer expertise and compassion.
Last reviewed on 06/02/2025.
Learn more about the Health Library and our editorial process.