When deciding between lumpectomy and mastectomy, you may want to consider: Risk reduction: Because a mastectomy removes more breast tissue than lumpectomy, it can reduce your risk of breast cancer developing or recurring (coming back). Need for radiation therapy: People who have a lumpectomy usually need radiation therapy afterward, while people who have a mastectomy may not. Recovery time: The recovery time for a lumpectomy is much shorter than for a mastectomy, typically taking 2 to 4 weeks vs. 3 to 6 weeks. A lumpectomy is usually an outpatient procedure, whereas a mastectomy requires a hospital stay of 1 to 5 days. Body image: Since lumpectomy saves a large portion of the breast, including the nipple and areola, you typically do not need breast reconstruction surgery afterward.