Mastectomy in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is a mastectomy?
A mastectomy is surgery that removes the breast tissue from the chest wall. The term covers several operations that differ in how much skin, how much of the nipple area and how many lymph nodes are removed alongside the breast tissue. The type chosen depends on the cancer, your body and whether you want a reconstruction.
| Type | What is removed | Often chosen when |
|---|---|---|
| Total (simple) mastectomy | Breast tissue, nipple and areola, with the skin closed flat | No reconstruction is planned, or it is planned later |
| Skin-sparing mastectomy | Breast tissue, nipple and areola, keeping most of the skin envelope | Reconstruction happens in the same operation |
| Nipple-sparing mastectomy | Breast tissue only, keeping the skin, nipple and areola | Selected cases away from the nipple, with reconstruction |
| Modified radical mastectomy | Breast tissue plus the lymph nodes of the armpit | Cancer has already been found in the armpit nodes |
At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, mastectomy is performed in-house by the general surgical team as part of breast surgery.
Who needs it
Mastectomy is usually advised when a breast cancer is large compared with the breast, when cancer is present in several separate areas of the same breast, when the breast has already had radiotherapy, or when radiotherapy is unsuitable for you. Some women with a cancer suitable for a lumpectomy choose mastectomy instead, and that preference is respected. Women with a strong family history or a known inherited gene change sometimes discuss risk-reducing mastectomy after genetic counselling.
The alternatives include breast-conserving surgery with radiotherapy, and, for some cancers, treatment given before surgery by the oncology team to shrink the tumour so that a smaller operation becomes possible. Your surgeon explains which options fit your diagnosis and what each involves, and the decision is made with you.
Reconstruction is a separate choice. It can happen in the same operation, at a later date once other treatment is finished, or you may prefer to stay flat, with or without an external breast form. Breast reconstruction is carried out at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, and a reconstruction consultation before your mastectomy keeps every option open.
What happens
Mastectomy is done under general anaesthesia. The surgeon usually makes an oval-shaped incision across the breast, taking in the nipple area unless a nipple-sparing operation is planned, and lifts the breast tissue away from the chest muscle.
The armpit is checked at the same time. For most women with no known spread, a sentinel lymph node biopsy removes only the first draining nodes; where nodes are already known to contain cancer, a larger group is removed. If immediate reconstruction is planned, it follows in the same anaesthetic.
One or two thin plastic drains are placed under the skin to carry away fluid that collects as the tissues settle, and the wound is closed with dissolving stitches. Most women stay in hospital for a night or more, and nurses show you how to look after the drains before you go home.
Preparing for it
A pre-operative assessment, blood tests and an anaesthetic review confirm you are ready. Bring a full list of your medicines and supplements; blood thinners and diabetes medicines each need a plan, and you receive clear fasting instructions.
Practical preparation helps a great deal. Pack front-opening tops and a soft bra or crop top, a small cushion to place between the seatbelt and your chest for the drive home, and a bag or pouch for carrying drains. Place everyday items at waist height at home, because reaching up is easier after the first days. Arrange help with children, cooking and housework.
Emotional preparation matters too. Bring someone you trust to your consultations, ask to see what the scar usually looks like, and ask about a temporary soft breast form so you can wear your usual clothes when you leave. Female staff can be requested when you book. If surgery falls near Ramadan, raise it early so fasting and medicines can be planned.
Afterwards
Tightness across the chest and numbness in the skin of the chest and inner upper arm are common, because small skin nerves are divided during the operation. Sensation often changes gradually over the following months. A soft, lightweight breast form can be worn inside a bra from the start; a weighted, fitted prosthesis follows once the wound has fully healed.
Drains stay in until the fluid slows, and a nurse reviews them in clinic. Begin the arm and shoulder exercises you are shown from the day after surgery to keep your full range of movement. In the Sharjah heat, keep the wound and drain sites dry, wear loose cotton clothing and drink plenty of water. Your surgeon gives you a personal timeline for driving, lifting and return to work.
The pathology report is reviewed at a results appointment, and the oncology team decides whether further treatment is needed.
Contact the hospital promptly if the wound becomes hot, red or leaks, if a drain stops draining or falls out, if swelling builds up under the scar, or if you develop a fever. **Go to the emergency department straight away if the chest wall swells rapidly and tensely, or if you become short of breath or feel faint.**
Cost and insurance
Most UAE insurance plans cover mastectomy for breast cancer after pre-approval, supported by the biopsy report and imaging. Immediate reconstruction, breast forms, specialist bras and risk-reducing surgery are handled differently between policies and sometimes need separate approval. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you check your cover and start the approval early on 06 599 7777.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
What are the risks of a mastectomy?
Mastectomy carries the risks of any major operation, including bleeding, infection, a reaction to the anaesthetic and blood clots. Fluid can collect under the scar and may need draining in clinic. Numbness of the chest wall and inner arm is common, and shoulder stiffness or arm swelling can follow, especially when armpit lymph nodes are removed. Your surgeon explains how these apply to you.
Can I have breast reconstruction at the same time as a mastectomy?
Breast reconstruction can often be done in the same operation as a mastectomy, or later once other treatment is finished. The timing depends on your cancer treatment, including whether radiotherapy is planned, and on your health and preference. A reconstruction consultation before the mastectomy explains the options at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah.
Is a mastectomy safer than a lumpectomy?
For suitable early breast cancers, lumpectomy with radiotherapy and mastectomy are both established treatments, so mastectomy is a choice rather than an automatically safer option. Mastectomy may mean radiotherapy is avoided in some cases, but regular follow-up is still needed either way. Your surgeon explains which operation fits your diagnosis.
Will I need chemotherapy or radiotherapy after a mastectomy?
Some women need chemotherapy, hormone therapy or radiotherapy after a mastectomy, and others need none. The oncology team decides once the laboratory has reported on the cancer and the lymph nodes, and explains the reasons for their recommendation.
What is a breast prosthesis?
A breast prosthesis is an external breast form worn inside a bra after a mastectomy to restore shape under clothing. A soft, lightweight form is used while the wound heals, and a fitted, weighted prosthesis is usually worn once healing is complete.
Will I have feeling in my chest after a mastectomy?
Feeling in the chest skin is usually reduced after a mastectomy, because small nerves are divided when the breast tissue is removed. Some sensation may return gradually over months, and some areas often stay numb long term.
Is mastectomy covered by insurance in the UAE?
Most UAE insurance plans cover mastectomy for breast cancer after pre-approval. Reconstruction, breast forms and risk-reducing surgery vary between policies. Confirm your cover with Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah on 06 599 7777 before your operation.
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