Surgical Tools
The removal of breast tissue is called a mastectomy. This procedure is generally done to remove cancerous cells. However, some women opt to have breast tissue removed even when cancer is not present.=
Function
Surgery to remove breast tissue in a noncancerous breast is performed to reduce the woman's chance of developing breast cancer. Women who have had previous breast cancers, or with a family history of breast cancer, may chose to have this done prophylactically.
Types
There are two types of breast tissue removal surgery: subcutaneous mastectomy and total mastectomy. A subcutaneous mastectomy leaves some breast tissue as opposed to a total mastectomy that removes all breast tissue.
Risks
Risks of surgically removing breast tissue to prevent cancer include bleeding, infection and scarring at the incision site. The woman may also experience pain in her chest, arm or shoulder.
Recovery
The recovery period and discomfort that a woman will feel after having surgery to remove breast tissue varies. A doctor will prescribe pain medication to help limit the pain during recovery.
Considerations
Despite removing breast tissue, a woman may still develop cancer. It is important to continue to do self breast examinations and report changes to a doctor.
Tags: breast tissue, breast cancer, remove breast, remove breast tissue, removing breast tissue, subcutaneous mastectomy, total mastectomy
