01 · MINIMAL INCISION
Minimal Incision
Performed through an incision of only a few millimeters, so suturing is often unnecessary and the scar burden stays low. The site and size of the incision follow the position and size of the lesion.
MAMMOTOME · INFORMATION
Mammotome: What It Is, From Principle to Recurrence
What vacuum-assisted excision of a breast lump involves, which lumps it applies to and which it does not, how it differs from open excision, and what the published literature reports about complications and recurrence.
Umnagumo does not perform Mammotome
Umnagumo is a plastic surgery clinic for breast augmentation and related breast surgery. We do not perform Mammotome. Vacuum-assisted excision belongs to breast surgery (general surgery) practice. This page is reference material for people researching the procedure, not a page offering it at our clinic.
If you can feel a lump, the first step is a breast surgery consultation with ultrasound to establish what it is. We can see you for the condition of an existing breast implant or for changes following breast augmentation.
WHAT IS MAMMOTOME
What Mammotome Is — Vacuum-Assisted Excision Without a Large Incision
Mammotome is a vacuum-assisted method of excising benign breast masses. The lesion is watched in real time on ultrasound while a fine excision probe aspirates and removes the tissue, so both the incision size and the scar burden can be kept smaller than with the conventional wide-incision approach. Whether the procedure is appropriate, and how it is performed, is judged by the specialist from imaging and clinical examination.
02 · ULTRASOUND-GUIDED
Ultrasound Guidance
Because the lesion is excised under real-time ultrasound, removing several masses through a single insertion can be considered. Eligibility is judged after clinical review.
03 · LOCAL ANESTHESIA
Local Anesthesia
Usually carried out under local anesthesia with a short procedure time, and same-day return to daily life is common. Recovery varies with the size and number of lesions.
INDICATIONS
When It Is Considered
Mammotome is considered chiefly for breast masses that have been diagnosed as benign, or that are presumed benign. The examples below are those commonly cited; the actual decision on whether — and how far — to proceed is always made by the specialist from imaging and clinical examination.
Fibroadenoma
The most common benign mass; excision is weighed by size, number, and the degree of discomfort.
Benign Cysts and Masses
Masses with benign features on ultrasound that are growing or causing symptoms.
Lesions Requiring Biopsy
Where tissue must be obtained for diagnosis, biopsy and excision can be reviewed together.
Mammotome is a method for excising benign masses; it does not substitute for the treatment of malignant disease such as breast cancer. Where malignancy is suspected, further testing and the appropriate specialist care are required.
INDICATIONS & LIMITS
Which Lumps Are Candidates for Mammotome — Indications and Limits
Mammotome begins not with excision but with sorting lesions. Set out here are the general criteria that separate suitable lesions from unsuitable ones; the judgment in any individual case is made through clinical examination.
01 · GOOD CANDIDATES
When It Is Indicated
Well-defined masses with benign features on ultrasound — most typically the fibroadenoma — are the lesions reviewed for excision.
02 · NOT THE ANSWER
When Mammotome Is Not the Approach
A lesion in which malignancy is suspected or confirmed belongs to surgical excision and dedicated specialist treatment — Mammotome does not take their place.
03 · DIAGNOSIS FIRST
Diagnosis First
Imaging and examination establish eligibility first; depending on the findings, observation over time can be more appropriate than excision.
When excision is considered — the typical candidate is a well-defined mass with benign features on ultrasound, such as a fibroadenoma. Excision may also be considered when a mass has grown during follow-up, when it can be felt and causes discomfort or anxiety, or when tissue confirmation is needed. Yet even among identical benign findings the approach can differ with size, position, and number — so the decision to excise is made by weighing the imaging and the examination together.
When Mammotome is not the approach — a lesion in which malignancy is suspected or confirmed belongs to surgical excision and the specialist treatment that goes with it. Mammotome is not a procedure that substitutes for these, and should such findings emerge during our work-up, breast surgery and oncology care take priority.
Why diagnosis leads — imaging (ultrasound) and clinical examination establish eligibility first, and a biopsy precedes the procedure where needed. Not every lump is removed as a matter of course; depending on the findings, watching a lesion over time can serve you better than excising it. If a consultation treats removal itself as the goal, it is worth asking why.
VS OPEN EXCISION
Mammotome and Open Surgery — What Actually Differs
Both methods excise breast masses, but they differ in purpose and in how they proceed. Neither is superior in every case — which one fits depends on the findings of the lesion itself.
Mammotome (Vacuum-Assisted Excision)
The lesion is excised through a few-millimeter incision under ultrasound view, usually under local anesthesia, and a same-day return to daily life is common.
Open Excision
The method required when a lesion must be removed whole, in a single piece — it involves a skin incision and sutures.
Mammotome (vacuum-assisted excision) — performed through an incision of a few millimeters, so the scar burden stays small. The lesion is watched in real time under ultrasound guidance as it is excised; the procedure is usually done under local anesthesia with little need for sutures, and a same-day return to daily life is common. The excised tissue is sent for biopsy where needed, and the result is followed through with you.
Open excision — the method needed when the lesion must come out whole, as one intact specimen — for instance, where malignancy is suspected. It involves a skin incision and closure, and the recovery differs accordingly, yet depending on the nature of the lesion this can be the more suitable choice.
In the end, the size, position, and findings of the lesion decide which method fits — the diagnosis, not preference, determines how a lesion is excised. Which one fits can only be judged with the ultrasound in front of you, so a breast surgery consultation is where that is settled.
The Procedure and Recovery
After local anesthesia, the lesion is located with ultrasound and the excision probe is introduced through a small incision, where vacuum assistance aspirates and excises the tissue. The procedure time varies with the size and number of lesions.
Afterward, compression is applied for hemostasis together with aftercare, and a same-day return to daily life is common. Bruising and swelling generally subside with time, though the course varies by individual.
The excised tissue can be examined by biopsy where needed, and any management that follows from the result is guided through your consultations.
Mammotome Cost in Korea — Quote Factors and Insurance
The cost follows the size and number of the lesions, their location, and whether a biopsy accompanies the excision. Because the procedure itself differs case by case, a single posted price does not describe it well.
Umnagumo does not perform Mammotome, so it appears on no price board of ours. Any figure you compare should come from the clinic that would actually carry out the procedure, after the ultrasound findings and intended scope have been reviewed.
Whether insurance applies can depend on the nature of the lesion, the diagnosis, and the terms of the policy you hold, so no clinic can state coverage up front. Confirm the diagnosis code and the documents available, then check with your insurer.
IMPLANTS & BREAST HEALTH
Breast Implants, Screening, and Benign-Lump Excision
Having breast implants does not remove the need to assess a new lump or continue breast screening. Ultrasound helps define the breast lesion and its relationship to the implant and capsule before observation, biopsy, Mammotome excision, or another pathway is chosen.
01 · ASSESS THE LUMP
Screening Still Comes First
A palpable or imaging-detected mass is evaluated on its own findings. Not every benign-appearing lesion requires removal, and a suspicious finding needs further diagnostic care rather than automatic Mammotome excision.
02 · MAP THE ANATOMY
Locate the Implant and Capsule
Ultrasound is used to review where the lesion sits relative to the implant shell and surrounding capsule. This relationship is part of deciding whether vacuum-assisted access is feasible.
03 · PLAN CASE BY CASE
Choose an Access Route After Imaging
When a benign lesion is considered suitable, the insertion route is planned with the implant in mind. Eligibility cannot be confirmed from implant status alone and depends on the lesion’s size, position, number, and imaging features.
FOR INTERNATIONAL PATIENTS
International Patient Flow for Mammotome in Korea
Preliminary records can be discussed before travel, but Mammotome eligibility is confirmed only after in-person examination and imaging. The usual clinical sequence is consultation, ultrasound assessment, the indicated procedure, and follow-up planning.
01
Pre-travel consultation
Share your medical history and any existing ultrasound report or images. Remote review can prepare the visit, but it cannot establish the final diagnosis or procedure plan.
02
Examination and ultrasound
The physician reviews the lesion’s imaging features, size, position, and number. Observation, biopsy, Mammotome excision, or additional diagnostic care is selected from those findings.
03
Ultrasound-guided procedure
If indicated, local anesthesia is given and the probe excises tissue through a small incision under real-time ultrasound. Excised tissue can be sent for pathology where needed.
04
Compression and follow-up
Compression is applied for hemostasis and aftercare instructions are reviewed. Leaving the clinic the same day is common, but recovery, pathology review, follow-up, and onward-travel timing are arranged individually.
Same-day departure from the clinic does not mean that same-day international air travel is appropriate. Your travel timing follows the examination, procedure extent, and planned review of symptoms or pathology.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I have Mammotome done at Umnagumo?
No. We do not perform Mammotome. It is carried out in breast surgery (general surgery) practice, and this page is reference material for people researching the procedure. We can see you for the condition of an existing breast implant or for changes following breast augmentation.
Q. Does Mammotome leave a large scar?
It is often performed through a small incision of only a few millimeters, so suturing is rarely required and the scar burden tends to be small. The location and size of the incision vary with the position and size of the lesion, and recovery varies by individual.
Q. I have several lumps — can they be addressed in one session?
Because excision is carried out under real-time ultrasound guidance, excising several masses through a single insertion can be considered. Whether this is actually possible is judged after examination, depending on the position, size, and number of the lesions.
Q. Can a tissue biopsy be done at the same time?
The excised tissue can be examined by biopsy where needed. Any subsequent management based on the biopsy result is advised through medical consultation.
Q. How long is the recovery?
It is usually performed under local anesthesia, so same-day return to daily life is possible in many cases. Bruising and swelling generally subside over time, though this varies by individual depending on the size and number of lesions.
Q. Does removal by Mammotome prevent recurrence?
The excised lesion itself is removed, but by the nature of breast tissue a new mass can arise in a different area, so regular follow-up observation is recommended. Recurrence and follow-up management are advised through medical consultation.
Q. It could be malignant (breast cancer) — can Mammotome treat that?
Mammotome is a method for excising benign masses and obtaining tissue for diagnostic purposes; it does not replace the treatment of malignant disease. If malignancy is suspected, additional testing and appropriate medical care are required.
Q. Is it covered by insurance?
Whether insurance (such as indemnity insurance) applies can vary with the nature of the lesion, the diagnosis, and the terms of your policy, so it cannot be stated uniformly. No clinic can state coverage up front: confirm the diagnosis code and the documents available with the clinic performing the procedure, then check with your insurer.
Q. How is follow-up done after a Mammotome procedure?
The healing of the excision site and any residual or newly arising tissue are checked periodically with ultrasound. The follow-up schedule depends on the nature of the lesion and the findings after excision, and is advised individually by the clinic performing the procedure.
Q. I have breast implants and a lump was found — is Mammotome still possible?
Even with implants in place, feasibility can be assessed according to the location and findings of the lesion. A medical team that also performs breast augmentation and revision plans the access route and the procedure with the risk of implant damage in mind, and the actual decision is made after imaging and examination.