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The risks of any surgery are bleeding, infection, and injury to nearby tissues. Some postoperative pain and soreness are to be expected and can be effectively treated with medication.
The risks of local anesthesia are minimal, though there is the possibility of an adverse reaction. With general anesthesia, the risk of breathing and heart problems, as well as reaction to medication, is greater. But for a woman who is in otherwise good health, the risk of a serious complication due to general anesthesia is less than 1%.
Since a lumpectomy removes a portion of the breast, there may also be a change in the breast's appearance. Dimpling, a noticeable scar, or asymmetry of the two breasts may occur, depending on the size and location of the lump and the size of the breast.
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