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What is a bilateral mastectomy?

“Mastectomy” is a medical term that refers to surgical removal of the breast tissue. This specifically refers to the glands that produce milk within the breasts. These glands surround blood vessels that feed the skin which means that portions of the skin of the chest, including the nipples, also often need to be removed. 

A one-sided mastectomy is one of the most common treatments for breast cancer. A bilateral (two-sided) mastectomy is generally done if there is a significant risk of you developing cancer in the other breast, if you desire removal of the other breast for symmetry, or if you have a genetic condition (known as the BRCA gene) that gives you a nearly 60% chance of developing breast cancer at some time in your life. 

Bilateral mastectomies are also used for gender affirming surgery, this is the removal of the breasts to create a chest that has a more masculine appearance.

How is a bilateral mastectomy performed?

How long is a hospital stay for a double mastectomy?

How long does it take to recover from a double mastectomy?

How painful is mastectomy recovery?

Can you still get breast cancer after a bilateral mastectomy?

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

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Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure.You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed. Provider data, including price data, provided in part by Turquoise Health.

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