Hey Nicky. I understand your concerns. I just had a thymectomy, the transcervical where they go thru your neck right above the collar bone. From what I have read and been told the recovery time is much shorter. But it can also be harder for them to get all of the thymus. The only reason I decided to have this way was because he was 90% sure he could get it all w/o having to crack the sternum. So if this is at all an option for you I would look into it. I was told thru the breast area was not recommended. I guess its very hard to get it all that way. Anyway good luck with everything. Hope this helps.