Skip to main content

Consultant breast surgery · UK

Mastectomy, by a consultant breast surgeon and an MDT.

For breast cancer, extensive DCIS, or as a risk-reducing procedure in BRCA1/2 and other high-risk carriers - with immediate implant or DIEP reconstruction discussed before you consent.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What a private mastectomy costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across UK units. NHS breast-cancer surgery via the two-week-wait pathway is free at point of care.

In short

£8,000–£14,000. With DIEP reconstruction: £25,000–£45,000.

Procedure Indicative range
Simple / total mastectomy (unilateral) £8,000–£14,000
Mastectomy with sentinel node biopsy £10,000–£16,000
Mastectomy with axillary clearance £12,000–£18,000
Skin- or nipple-sparing mastectomy + implant reconstruction £14,000–£25,000
Mastectomy + DIEP flap reconstruction £25,000–£45,000
Bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy (BRCA) + reconstruction £22,000–£45,000

Prices vary by unit, by which surgeon does the case, by anaesthetic and inpatient stay, and by whether reconstruction is immediate.

The problem

The right surgeon, the right technique, the right reconstruction plan.

The decision is bigger than the operation. Which technique, which reconstruction, which adjuvant therapy - and whether risk-reduction on the other side is the right call.

  • Newly diagnosed?

    A consultant breast surgeon with a full MDT - surgery, oncology, radiology, pathology - under NICE NG101.

  • Considering reconstruction?

    Joint clinic with a plastic surgeon before you consent. Implant, DIEP, LD - the options laid out honestly.

  • BRCA-positive?

    A genetics-informed pathway. Risk-reducing bilateral mastectomy or intensive surveillance - the choice is yours to make.

The journey

From diagnosis to recovery - what happens, in order.

One breast-care clinician alongside you from the MDT decision to the pathology review and adjuvant plan.

  1. 01

    Before

    A short, confidential form. Diagnosis if you have one, biopsy result, MRI/mammogram to date, whether reconstruction matters to you.

  2. 02

    Before

  3. 03

    Before

    Usually within one to three weeks. Pre-op assessment, anaesthetic review, and - if reconstruction is planned - a joint clinic with the plastic surgeon.

  4. 04

    Admission & surgery

    Admission and marking

    Admission the morning of surgery (or the night before for long reconstructions). The surgeons mark you awake, then GA in theatre.

  5. 05

    Admission & surgery

    The procedure itself

    90 minutes for a simple mastectomy; 3–6 hours with immediate reconstruction; longer for DIEP. Drains sited in the axilla and breast pocket.

  6. 06

    Admission & surgery

    Recovery on the ward

    One night for a simple mastectomy; three to five nights for reconstruction. Pain control, drain management, and early mobilisation.

  7. 07

    After

    Recovery, pathology and adjuvant plan

    Drains out at 3–14 days. Pathology at two weeks. Adjuvant chemo, radiotherapy or endocrine therapy discussed at the follow-up MDT.

Typical end-to-end: 1–3 weeks from first appointment to surgery. Full recovery: 6–8 weeks for a simple mastectomy, longer with reconstruction.

When it helps

When mastectomy is the right operation.

The situations where mastectomy is preferred to lumpectomy - plus the one red flag that means the breast unit sees you today, not next week.

  • Large tumour relative to breast size

    Where a wide local excision cannot be done with an acceptable cosmetic result, mastectomy is often the cleaner option.

  • Multi-focal or multi-centric disease

    More than one tumour focus in the breast - usually needs mastectomy rather than repeated lumpectomies.

  • Extensive DCIS

    Widespread ductal carcinoma in situ that cannot be cleared with a single lumpectomy while preserving acceptable shape.

  • Radiotherapy contraindicated

    Previous chest RT, pregnancy, some connective-tissue disease - or personal preference to avoid radiotherapy - pushes towards mastectomy.

  • Recurrence after previous BCT

    Cancer returning in a breast that has already had lumpectomy and radiotherapy usually needs mastectomy.

  • BRCA1/2 or high-risk gene carrier

    Risk-reducing bilateral mastectomy - often nipple-sparing with immediate reconstruction. The other route is intensive surveillance.

  • Male breast cancer

    Mastectomy is the standard operation for men diagnosed with breast cancer - usually with sentinel node biopsy.

  • Red flag: inflammatory breast cancer

    A rapidly changing, red, warm breast with skin thickening is not a routine referral - same-day breast unit assessment.

Procedure options

Mastectomy is not one operation - it is a family of them.

What each technique actually involves - and which fits which situation.

  • Simple / total mastectomy

    Removal of all breast tissue including nipple and areola. The axillary nodes are not touched. The oldest and most straightforward option.

  • Modified radical mastectomy

    Total mastectomy plus axillary node clearance (levels I and II). Historical mainstay, now often replaced by sentinel node biopsy first.

  • Skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM)

    Preserves the skin envelope for immediate reconstruction. Excellent cosmetic result when the tumour does not involve overlying skin.

  • Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM)

    Preserves nipple, areola and skin. Strict criteria - small tumour, more than 2 cm from the nipple, favourable biology - or for risk-reducing surgery.

  • Prophylactic (risk-reducing)

    Bilateral mastectomy in BRCA1/2, TP53 or PALB2 carriers, or in women with an extensive family history. Usually nipple-sparing with immediate reconstruction.

  • Contralateral prophylactic (CPM)

    Removing the unaffected breast at the time of cancer surgery. A clear benefit in BRCA+; a debated one in average-risk women.

  • Male mastectomy

    For male breast cancer or severe gynaecomastia. Different technique, same principles - see also /treatments/gynaecomastia-surgery.

  • Mastectomy with immediate reconstruction

    Implant (direct-to-implant, expander, ADM-supported) or autologous (DIEP, LD, TRAM, PAP, SGAP). See /treatments/breast-reconstruction.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

Mastectomy is safe and routine surgery - but it is major surgery. The things worth planning are the reconstruction pathway, the drain and seroma window, the risk of chronic pain and lymphoedema, and the psychological support that goes alongside.

  • General anaesthetic, planned overnight stay

    Simple mastectomy is one to two nights. Reconstruction is three to five. DIEP flap is monitored on a dedicated unit for the first 24 hours.

  • Seroma is common and manageable

    Fluid collecting under the skin flap needs one or two clinic aspirations in a majority of patients. Not a complication so much as an expected event.

  • Skin flap and nipple necrosis

    Skin flap necrosis affects a small minority - more so with reconstruction and if you smoke. Nipple necrosis after NSM is 5–10%.

  • Lymphoedema after axillary clearance

    Five to twenty per cent of women after full clearance. Sentinel node biopsy alone is much lower risk. Early lymphoedema physiotherapy matters.

  • Chronic pain and altered sensation

    Twenty to forty per cent of women have some persistent chest-wall pain or altered sensation. Post-mastectomy pain syndrome is a recognised condition.

  • Cording (axillary web syndrome)

    Tight cord-like bands in the armpit after node surgery. Uncomfortable, usually self-limiting, helped by physio stretches.

  • Reconstruction-specific risks

    Implant issues (rotation, capsular contracture, rupture, rare BIA-ALCL), flap loss, fat necrosis, donor-site morbidity for DIEP or LD.

  • The psychosocial side is real

    Losing a breast - even with excellent reconstruction - is a significant event.

  • Red flags

    A rapidly swelling or bruising wound, spreading redness, fever, or in DIEP a cold pale flap - call the unit immediately, not the GP.

Reading your operation note

Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever technique was used, the note the surgeon and pathologist send you keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant breast surgeon reviewing a patient’s operation and pathology notes

A quiet reminder

Pathology reports are dense - grade, receptor status, margins, Ki-67 - and it helps to have them explained plainly.

If anything in the note is unclear, ask your breast team to talk you through it before your oncology review.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication, laterality and technique

    Why the operation was done - cancer, DCIS, risk-reducing - which side, and whether it was simple, skin-sparing or nipple-sparing.

  2. 02 Nodes

    Axillary surgery and node count

    Whether sentinel node biopsy or axillary clearance was performed, how many nodes were retrieved, and any intra-operative findings.

  3. 03 Pathology

    Tumour size, grade, margins, biology

    Invasive size, DCIS component, grade, margin distance, ER/PR/HER2 status, Ki-67 and node status - the numbers that drive adjuvant therapy.

  4. 04 Impression

    Adjuvant plan, follow-up, review timing

    Read this first: whether you need chemotherapy, radiotherapy or endocrine therapy, and when the oncology and reconstruction reviews are booked.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Cover for mastectomy and reconstruction is generally comprehensive when medically indicated.

Frequently asked

Common questions about mastectomy.

Quick answers on technique choice, reconstruction, recovery, risk-reduction and outcomes.

  • Why would I need a mastectomy rather than a lumpectomy?

    Mastectomy is preferred when the tumour is large relative to the breast, when there is multi-focal disease or extensive DCIS, when radiotherapy is not possible or not wanted, after recurrence in a previously treated breast, and for risk-reducing surgery in BRCA1/2 and other high-risk carriers. For many early cancers, lumpectomy plus radiotherapy gives equivalent survival - the surgeon will tell you which applies.

  • Can I have reconstruction at the same time?

    Usually yes. Immediate reconstruction - implant-based or your own tissue (DIEP, LD, TRAM) - is oncologically safe for most patients and gives the best cosmetic result. It is discussed jointly with a plastic surgeon before you consent, and delayed reconstruction is always an option if you prefer to wait.

  • What is a nipple-sparing mastectomy, and can I have one?

    Nipple-sparing keeps the nipple, areola and skin envelope, leaving a much better cosmetic result. It is offered when the tumour is small, more than 2 cm from the nipple and biologically favourable, and it is the usual approach for risk-reducing surgery. The surgeon confirms candidacy from your imaging and biopsy.

  • How much does a private mastectomy cost in the UK?

    Roughly £8,000–£14,000 for a simple mastectomy, £14,000–£25,000 with implant reconstruction, and £25,000–£45,000 with a DIEP flap. Bilateral risk-reducing surgery with reconstruction runs £22,000–£45,000. NHS breast-cancer surgery via the two-week-wait pathway is free at point of care.

  • What is recovery like?

    Drains stay in for 3 to 14 days. Most women are back to desk work in 2 to 6 weeks. No heavy lifting for 6 to 8 weeks. Driving at 2 to 4 weeks. Full exercise at 6 to 8 weeks with a rehab programme. Reconstruction extends every one of these windows.

  • Am I BRCA-positive - should I have a risk-reducing mastectomy?

    Bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy cuts breast-cancer risk by around 90% in BRCA1/2 carriers and is a reasonable option, usually nipple-sparing with immediate reconstruction. The alternative is intensive surveillance with annual MRI. It is a personal decision made with a genetics team and a breast surgeon - see /treatments/high-risk-genetic-cancers.

  • What are the long-term risks?

    Chronic chest-wall pain or altered sensation in 20–40%, lymphoedema after full axillary clearance in 5–20%, and post-mastectomy pain syndrome in a smaller subset. Reconstruction adds its own risks - implant issues, flap complications, fat necrosis, donor-site morbidity. All of this is discussed in detail before you consent.

  • What are the outcomes?

    Five-year survival for stage I breast cancer is above 95%, stage II around 80–90%, stage III 60–70%. Local recurrence after mastectomy is 3–8% depending on adjuvant therapy, margins and tumour biology. Patient satisfaction with reconstruction is 85–95% in modern series.

Related treatments

Looking for something else?