Breast Cancer: Mastectomy
Dr. Starr Mautner, Breast Surgeon with Miami Cancer Institute, says mastectomy involves removing the entire breast, and that can be done with immediate reconstruction and it is usually done in coordination with a plastic surgeon to do the reconstruction at the same time.
She points out that even the best reconstruction will never look exactly like the native breast that the patient had beforehand. She also highlights the recovery takes longer than a lumpectomy and it involves an overnight stay in the hospital.