Modified radical mastectomy — The surgeon removes all of the breast
tissue along with the nipple. Lymph nodes in the axilla (arm pit) are
also removed; the chest muscles are left intact. For many patients, mastectomy is
accompanied by either an immediate or delayed breast reconstruction. This can be
done quite effectively using either breast implants or the patient's own tissue—usually
from the lower abdomen.
Radical mastectomy — The surgeon removes all of the breast tissue
along with the nipple, lymph nodes in the arm pit, and chest wall muscles under
the breast. This procedure is rarely performed today because modified radical
mastectomy has proven to be as effective and does not have the same disfiguring
side effects.
You should thoroughly discuss these surgical options with your physician to
achieve the best outcome. Whichever type of surgery is your best option, you
will be able to return home after a short stay in the hospital.
Hospital stay
The length of stay in the hospital varies depending on the type of surgery
that was performed. Generally, lumpectomies are done on an outpatient basis,
with the patient recovering in a 23-hour, short-stay observation unit after the
procedure. Mastectomies with lymph node removal surgery usually require a one- to
two-night stay in the hospital.