This article outlines surgical, financial, and psychosocial advantages of outpatient, definitive breast cancer surgery. The analysis of 118 patients who underwent outpatient breast cancer surgery between January 1991 and December 1993--20 modified radical mastectomy, 90 lumpectomy and axillary dissection or axillary dissection alone, and 8 partial or simple mastectomy--revealed only three patients with minor complications requiring admission. Same-day discharge was safely accomplished by early morning admission and using recovery room time for postoperative education. Outpatient cost was $1572 compared with an average 3-day inpatient cost of $6282, for a potential savings of $4710, or 75%, per patient for modified radical mastectomy. Outpatient cost was $1080 compared with an average 2-day inpatient cost of $4907, for a potential savings of $3827, or 78%, per patient for lumpectomy with axillary node dissection. Patients have indicated a high level of satisfaction with ambulatory surgery and experienced faster healing and recovery at home within the family milieu.