Lumpectomy

A lumpectomy is a specific type of surgical procedure. It involves the removal of a tumor in the breast as well as the nearby tissue. Other terms for lumpectomy are biopsy, partial mastectomy or re-excision. The amount of tissue a lumpectomy removes can vary greatly. It depends upon the individual case. The surgery involves an incision and excision. There will be a scar. The surgery will only take between 15 minutes to just over a half-hour. If substantial tissue is removed during the operation, one of the side effects will be breast size. The patient may notice a difference between the size and shape of the 2 breasts. Talk to your doctor and consider consulting a reconstructive surgeon. He or she can offer advice on how to address the aesthetic issue.