A mastectomy is the removal of all the breast tissue to treat or prevent breast cancer. A sentinel lymph node biopsy is removed along with the breast if there are no obvious signs that the cancer has spread or metastasized. The sentinel lymph nodes are the first lymph nodes that the cancer cells reach if they spread and are a part of the lymph nodes under the arms. Lymph nodes will be removed if there are signs of cancer.

Breast reconstruction is surgery done to create a new breast shape to replace the breast that is removed. It is done after a mastectomy.  A breast implant may be used or tissue from another part of your body can be used to create a new breast.