If I decide to have prophylactic mastectomy, what kind of follow-up care will I need?

If you choose not to have reconstruction, you will need to see your doctor a few weeks after the surgery to check your incisions and the progress of your healing. If you do have reconstruction, you’re likely to have a series of two or three additional surgeries in the months after mastectomy, followed by office visits to check on your healing. There are different approaches to doing reconstruction, so your exact schedule will depend on the type of surgery you have.
Not all breast cells can be removed with prophylactic mastectomy, so there is still a very small remaining risk for developing breast cancer. You will need to continue seeing your doctor for annual exams.
Reviewed by Jill Stopfer, MS

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