The questions patients actually ask

Yes. The robotic approach does not change the fundamental oncological principles - it is a superior means of executing the same operation. Skin- and nipple-sparing resections have equivalent local recurrence and survival to radical mastectomy in appropriately selected patients, and this programme's published series achieved 100% negative margins with 0% re-excision and 0% recurrence at follow-up.

Incisions are placed in natural skin creases - around the areola, in the inframammary fold, or in the armpit - and heal to become virtually invisible over 6-12 months. For latissimus dorsi reconstruction, the tissue is accessed through the axillary port used for the mastectomy, so there is no scar on the back at all.

It is a technique pioneered by Dr Malhotra in which a fluorescent dye (ICG) is injected around the tumour and then made to glow under the da Vinci's near-infrared Firefly camera. This is especially valuable for non-palpable lesions - including tumours that vanished on scans after chemotherapy - letting the surgeon find and remove exactly the right tissue with clear margins while sparing healthy breast.

The published series had a mean operative time of 70 minutes for the excision itself. A robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate LD flap reconstruction runs longer - typically 3-4 hours of total operating time including reconstruction. Anaesthesia time is quoted in your written surgical plan.

Yes. Conversion to open dissection is always available if intra-operative findings require it. It is uncommon in properly selected cases, but the safety net is always in place - and the surgical team is trained in both approaches.

Robotic lumpectomy is day-care or one night. Nipple- and skin-sparing mastectomy is typically 2-3 nights in a private hospital room. Mastectomy with immediate LD flap reconstruction is 3-4 nights. Discharge criteria are pain control, mobilisation, and stable wound drainage.

For a lumpectomy, most patients drive at 3-5 days. For a mastectomy with reconstruction, 10-14 days is more typical - once pain does not require narcotic analgesia and the seat belt is comfortable across the surgical site.

For lumpectomy patients, short-haul travel at 5-7 days is usually fine. For mastectomy with reconstruction, we recommend waiting 10-14 days before long-haul flights, primarily to reduce the DVT risk from prolonged sitting. The team gives a written clearance and a fitness-to-fly letter for airline records.

Any axillary surgery carries some lymphedema risk. Sentinel-lymph-node biopsy (used routinely here in place of full axillary clearance when appropriate) reduces the lifetime risk to under 5%. Post-op physiotherapy and early mobilisation of the arm further lower the risk; you leave hospital with a written physiotherapy programme.

In-person review at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months post-op. Follow-up MRI at 6 months and annually thereafter. Between visits, you have direct email and WhatsApp access to the team - most questions get answered within a working day.

That is the goal, and in most cases yes - a preserved nipple-areolar complex, hidden incisions, and either implant or LD flap reconstruction give a breast that looks and feels close to natural. Sensation over the nipple is preserved in the majority of NSM cases. Reconstruction settles over 3-6 months.

At CK Birla Hospital, West Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi, India - a tertiary-care private hospital equipped with the da Vinci robotic system and a full multidisciplinary breast cancer team. Consultations are held there too.

The NHS covers robot-assisted breast surgery without a fee where it is available, but waiting times for surgery vary widely and can extend into six to fourteen months for elective reconstructive cases. When time matters, private care (NHS-adjacent or international) is often the practical route.

For a lumpectomy, roughly 5-7 days including consultation, surgery, and one post-op review. For a mastectomy with reconstruction, plan for 10-14 days on the ground before a long-haul flight home. The team helps sequence the visit so the recovery buffer is realistic.

Yes. A visa invitation letter and treatment-plan documentation for embassy submission are issued on request. The international-patient package covers airport pickup and drop, ground transport, serviced accommodation for the patient and one companion, and interpreter support where needed.