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Overview
The patient is deep asleep and pain-free (general anesthesia). A lower midline incision is made in the abdomen. Sometimes, the surgeon will use a lateral lower transverse incision instead.
Review Date 3/15/2021
Updated by: Debra G. Wechter, MD, FACS, General Surgery Practice Specializing in Breast Cancer, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.