Pea-sized lump inside the breast near the surface under areola incision, 8 months post-op. Is this normal? Should I be worried?

The question comes up, what to do about breast lumps after breast surgery.Partially, the answer depends on whether the lump is surgery related and diminishing in size, or not.  If the surgeon and patient take a wait-and-see approach, often diagnostic studies are involved such as mammogram, ultrasound or MRI, or perhaps even a needle biopsy.  And everybody is a bit nervous until the lump is out or has been stable for so long that it can just be watched.We have seen patients who developed breast cancers after their surgery, and we did not assume the lumps were surgery related, but rather biopsied them, thankfully.Mammograms do not detect all cancers, just those with characteristic appearances (usually with characteristic calcium deposits).  Needle biopsies can miss cancers as well.So absolutely see your Gyn, and your plastic surgeon.However if in doubt, biopsy.

I suggest calling your PS and asking to be seen. It is most likely a cyst or a blocked or plugged milk duct, but better safe than sorry.