Breast or Lymph Node Clip Placement

Care instructions

About clip placement

During the procedure, a marker called a clip is placed in the breast, lymph node, or both. Clips mark areas of concern that your doctor found on a mammogram or ultrasound.

After chemotherapy shrinks the tumour and lymph node, the clips allow the doctor to find the areas of concern and remove them.

Before the procedure

The clip placement will take about 1 hour. On the day of your appointment:

• You may eat and drink as usual before the appointment.
• Do not use any moisturizer or deodorant.

Tell the radiologist or technologist if you:

• have a history of bleeding problems
• take blood thinners such as aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), or Xarelto
• take an anti-inflammatory such as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like Advil, Motrin, or Aleve
• are allergic to numbing medicine (similar to dental freezing), tape, latex, or pain medicine
• take herbal products such as glucosamine sulphate, vitamin E, ginkgo biloba

Medicines

Ask your healthcare provider if you need to stop taking anti-inflammatories before this procedure. These medicines can affect blood clotting, which can cause bleeding during or after the clip placement.

If you take blood thinners, talk to your healthcare provider before any procedure. Blood thinners can lead to a higher risk of bleeding.

You don’t have to stop taking blood thinners before your clip placement, but tell your radiologist or technologist if you’re taking them. You could have a higher chance of minor bruising after the procedure.

During the procedure

For the clip placement:

• You'll lie on your back on a padded table.
• An ultrasound of your breast, lymph node, or both will be done to find the area of concern.
• The skin over the clip-placement area will be cleaned with a cool antiseptic solution.
• Local anesthetic (numbing medicine that is similar to dental freezing) will be injected to numb the area where the clip will be placed. This may sting for 5 to 10 seconds.
• The clip will be guided into your breast or lymph node while the radiologist is doing the ultrasound. You may feel some pressure as the clip is being placed.

After the procedure

The clip-placement area will be covered with a light gauze dressing or bandage. You can take it off in 24 hours.

A gentle mammogram will be done after the clip placement.

Try to rest or do only light activities for the rest of the day. You can go back to your regular activities after the clip placement if you feel well enough.

If you have any discomfort, you may take acetaminophen (like Tylenol) if you need to.

These clips do not sound alarms and are not detectable by scanners such as at airport security. They are safe to have for MRI tests.

To see this information online and learn more, visit http://myhealth.alberta.ca/health/pages/conditions.aspx?Hwid=custom.ab_clipplacement_breastorlymph_inst.

For 24/7 nurse advice and general health information call Health Link at 811.

Current as of: April 13, 2026

Author: Diagnostic Imaging, Alberta Health Services

This material is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified health professional. This material is intended for general information only and is provided on an "as is", "where is" basis. Although reasonable efforts were made to confirm the accuracy of the information, Alberta Health Services does not make any representation or warranty, express, implied or statutory, as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness, applicability or fitness for a particular purpose of such information. Alberta Health Services expressly disclaims all liability for the use of these materials, and for any claims, actions, demands or suits arising from such use.