Breast
Breast lump excision
Surgical removal of a breast lump. It is recommended when a benign lump is large, growing or causing symptoms, or when the diagnosis cannot be established confidently without removing it.
Who it is for
- A benign lump that is enlarging or causing discomfort
- A lump whose diagnosis remains uncertain after imaging and needle biopsy
- A lump the patient wishes removed after understanding the alternatives
What to expect
Carried out under local or general anaesthetic, depending on the size and position of the lump.
The incision is planned to sit where the scar will be least visible, commonly at the areolar border or within a natural skin crease.
The removed tissue is sent for examination under a microscope, even when it is expected to be benign.
Recovery
Most people go home the same day. Bruising and tenderness for several days are normal. Your surgeon will tell you when to return for the pathology result.
Risks and possible complications
Every operation carries risk, and the list below is general rather than complete. Which of these matter for you depends on your health, your anatomy and what is being treated, which is what the consent conversation before surgery is for.
- Bleeding or a collection of blood under the wound, which occasionally needs draining
- Wound infection, usually treated with antibiotics
- A permanent scar, and a change in the shape or contour of the breast where tissue has been removed
- Numbness around the scar, which may be lasting
- Pathology that shows something other than expected, which can mean further surgery
No surgeon can promise a particular result, and nothing on this page should be read as one.
Still not sure whether it needs looking at?
Most breast changes turn out to be benign. Working out which ones are is what an assessment is for, and the guides here explain what that involves before you go.