Not sure if this is the same type of surgery I had -- mine was using the DaVinci robotic system. Three small (less than one inch) incisions were made at the right side of my breast. The surgeon(s) (2 in my case) worked from consoles to control the "arms" which included a camera. My surgery was minimally invasive compared to the trans-sternal approach.

I can truthfully say that I was only in pain for the first 24 hours -- mostly due to the drainage tube. Once that was removed the day after surgery I did not require any pain medication at all. Operation was on a Friday and I came home on Monday. I had been in the hospital prior to surgery due to a crisis which required plasma exchange.

I got a written copy of the surgeon's report which was quite interesting reading.

Do you have a thymoma? I had one which was about 4cm.

Good luck with your surgery.