A simple (total) mastectomy removes the entire breast — the tissue, and in most cases the nipple-areola complex — while leaving the chest wall muscles untouched. For many patients it offers definitive, complete treatment when breast conservation isn't the right fit, and it can often be combined with immediate reconstruction in the very same operation, so you leave the theatre with your body already on the path to feeling like yours again. Medifly's senior breast oncosurgeons and reconstructive teams in Chennai perform this at NABH/JCI-accredited hospitals for $4,000–$18,000 all-inclusive — 60–85% less than the US, UK, or Europe.
Simple mastectomy (also called total mastectomy) is the surgical removal of the entire breast — all of the glandular breast tissue, and, in most cases, the nipple-areola complex — while the muscles of the chest wall underneath are left completely untouched. Unlike a modified radical mastectomy, a simple mastectomy does not routinely remove the axillary (underarm) lymph nodes, though a sentinel lymph node biopsy is often performed at the same time to check whether cancer has reached the nearest node.
It differs from breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy), which removes only the tumour and a margin of surrounding tissue and usually requires follow-up radiation. Simple mastectomy is chosen when the tumour is too large relative to the breast, when disease is spread across multiple areas of the breast, when a patient carries a high-risk genetic mutation, or simply when a patient prefers a single, definitive surgery over breast conservation plus weeks of radiation.
What has changed the experience of mastectomy over the last two decades is reconstruction. Skin-sparing and nipple-sparing techniques, combined with implant or the patient's own tissue (flap) reconstruction, mean that for many suitable patients, breast shape can be restored in the very same operation as the cancer surgery — or closely staged afterward. Where the breast cannot be safely spared or reconstruction isn't advisable yet, staged reconstruction remains an option at any later point. Learn more about breast-conserving surgery or breast reconstruction options if you're comparing your choices.
A breast cancer diagnosis brings fear about the disease itself, and separately, fear about surgery, body image, and cost. These are the questions we hear most often — and exactly how we work through them with you.
Not every breast cancer needs a mastectomy — but not every case is suitable for breast conservation either. The decision depends on tumour size relative to your breast, whether disease is in one area or spread through the breast, and your own priorities. A proper specialist review, not a rushed opinion, is what settles this question honestly.
Our breast oncosurgery tumour board reviews your imaging and pathology and gives you a clear, honest opinion on mastectomy versus breast conservation — within 48 hours of receiving your reports.
This is, understandably, the fear that weighs heaviest. Skin-sparing and nipple-sparing mastectomy, combined with immediate implant or flap-based reconstruction, means many patients wake up from surgery with breast contour already restored — not facing a second major decision months later.
We connect you with both a breast oncosurgeon and a reconstructive plastic surgeon before your operation, so your reconstruction options are clear from day one.
In the US, mastectomy surgery commonly runs $20,000–$60,000+ before reconstruction; in the UK, private pricing is typically £12,000–£22,000. In India, the same procedure costs $4,000–$18,000 all-inclusive — including reconstruction where chosen — performed by breast oncosurgeons with equivalent international training, at JCI-accredited hospitals.
You receive a clear, written, all-inclusive package before you commit to anything — no hidden charges, no surprises mid-treatment.
Carrying a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, or having a strong family history, significantly raises lifetime breast cancer risk. Prophylactic (risk-reducing) mastectomy, often combined with immediate reconstruction, is a well-established option that substantially lowers that risk for women who choose it after full genetic counselling.
We arrange genetic counselling review alongside your surgical consultation, so any decision about risk-reducing surgery is made with complete information.
Arranging cancer surgery in another country is daunting even without a health worry attached: visas, flights, choosing the right hospital and surgeon, language, accommodation for recovery, and someone to lean on. Medifly handles the entire pathway for you. From the moment you send your reports, a single coordinator who knows your case manages every step — diagnostic review, surgical planning, the operation, inpatient stay, and recovery before you're cleared to fly home, typically a total of 2 to 3 weeks in India.
Medical visa support, airport pickup, hospital matching, accommodation near the centre for pre- and post-op stays, multi-language coordinators, and lifelong follow-up coordination with your home doctor — all arranged for you. See how medical tourism with Medifly works →
Mastectomy itself is a well-established, precise procedure. Getting to the right surgical plan, the right reconstruction decision, and back home safely afterwards is where Medifly does the heavy lifting — so the only thing you have to think about is your recovery.
Your imaging, biopsy and receptor status are reviewed by a senior breast oncosurgery tumour board, who confirm the right surgical approach and reconstruction options for your case.
We match you to the right NABH/JCI-accredited breast oncosurgery centre and give you a clear, all-inclusive written package before you commit to anything.
For international patients we organise the full logistics — including the recovery window needed before flying is advisable after surgery.
Understanding exactly what happens removes most of the fear. Mastectomy follows clear, well-defined stages — with careful planning done before the operating room is ever booked.
Mammography, breast ultrasound and/or MRI map the extent of disease. A core needle biopsy confirms diagnosis and receptor status (ER/PR/HER2), and staging scans check whether cancer has spread beyond the breast.
A breast oncosurgeon, medical oncologist, and — where reconstruction is planned — a plastic surgeon jointly review your case to decide on mastectomy type, whether sentinel node biopsy is needed, and the reconstruction approach.
Under general anaesthesia, the surgeon removes the entire breast tissue through an elliptical incision, performs a sentinel lymph node biopsy where indicated, and proceeds directly to reconstruction in the same sitting if planned. Surgery takes roughly 1–3 hours alone, or 3–6 hours with immediate reconstruction.
A short hospital stay of 1–3 days is followed by 1–2 weeks of drain care at home. Final pathology confirms margins and staging, and the team coordinates any recommended chemotherapy, radiation, or hormonal therapy.
Not every mastectomy is the same operation. The extent of tissue removed and the reconstruction approach are chosen to match your diagnosis, anatomy, and personal preference. Below are the most common types offered at Medifly's partner centres.
Removal of the entire breast tissue and nipple-areola complex, with chest muscles and most lymph nodes preserved. The standard mastectomy for most localised cancers and risk-reducing surgery.
Most common · muscle-sparingPreserves most of the natural skin envelope of the breast while removing the gland and nipple-areola, giving reconstructive surgeons more to work with for a natural shape.
Reconstruction-friendlyPreserves the nipple-areola complex along with the skin, in carefully selected early-stage or risk-reducing cases, for the most natural cosmetic outcome.
Best cosmetic resultA total mastectomy combined with removal of level I and II axillary lymph nodes, used when cancer has already spread to the underarm nodes.
For node-positive diseaseRemoval of healthy breast tissue in BRCA1/2 carriers or other high-risk patients, to substantially lower future breast cancer risk.
For high genetic riskRemoval of the unaffected breast at the same time as treating a diagnosed cancer, chosen by some high-risk patients for symmetry and peace of mind.
Bilateral optionA tissue expander or direct implant is placed in the same operation as the mastectomy, restoring breast contour in a single or two-stage process.
Fastest reconstruction pathUses the patient's own tissue — typically a DIEP or TRAM flap from the abdomen — for a reconstruction that looks and feels the most natural and lasts a lifetime.
Natural, permanent resultIt is not the right option for every breast cancer diagnosis — but where it applies, it offers definitive, complete treatment. Here are the typical indications. Green is a strong fit, amber needs case-by-case review, red is usually not suitable as a first step.
Stage I–II breast cancer not suitable for breast-conserving surgery due to tumour size or location.
Ductal carcinoma in situ spanning more than one area of the breast, where a single margin cannot be achieved.
Where lumpectomy would remove too much tissue to leave an acceptable breast shape or size.
For risk-reducing (prophylactic) mastectomy in confirmed high-risk carriers, after genetic counselling.
Cancer returning in a breast already treated with breast conservation and radiation.
With extensive underlying DCIS that cannot be cleared with a limited excision.
Significant familial breast/ovarian cancer history, even without a confirmed mutation, considering contralateral mastectomy.
Choosing definitive single surgery over breast conservation plus several weeks of radiation therapy.
Usually requires neoadjuvant chemotherapy first to shrink and control disease before surgery is considered.
May need careful oncoplastic and reconstruction planning to achieve a good aesthetic outcome.
Systemic therapy is the primary treatment here; surgery is generally not the first step.
Usually needs chemotherapy first to shrink the tumour before any surgery is planned.
Mastectomy offers a genuinely definitive treatment for many breast cancers, but it is major surgery with lasting physical and emotional effects. Here is what to honestly expect, in plain language.
Most international patients plan for around two to three weeks in India, start to finish, including recovery. Here is the standard timeline.
WhatsApp +91 99449 38508 with your mammogram, ultrasound/MRI, biopsy report and any genetic testing results. Expert breast oncosurgery review within 48 hours. No fee, no obligation.
Surgical approach and reconstruction options confirmed by tumour board, written all-inclusive cost package, hospital matching, e-Medical Visa, attendant visa, flights and accommodation arranged.
Airport pickup, accommodation check-in, in-person consultation with your surgeon and, where relevant, your plastic surgeon, final imaging, blood work, and anaesthesia fitness clearance.
Your mastectomy, with or without immediate reconstruction, followed by 1–3 days on the ward with drain and wound care, and daily monitoring by the surgical team.
A short recovery period near the hospital before you're cleared to fly, then return flight arranged. Pathology results, staging confirmation, and any recommended chemotherapy, radiation or hormonal therapy are coordinated with your home doctor.
All prices below are indicative and current for 2026. The Medifly figure is all-inclusive for the full surgical package; your exact quote depends on whether reconstruction is included, and if so, whether it is implant-based or flap-based.
| Country / Region | Simple Mastectomy Surgery |
|---|---|
| 🇺🇸USA (private hospitals) | $20,000 – $60,000+ |
| 🇬🇧UK (private) | ~£12,000 – £22,000 |
| 🇩🇪Germany | ~€15,000 – €28,000 |
| 🇹🇷Turkey | $6,000 – $14,000 |
| 🇦🇪UAE / Dubai | AED 45,000 – AED 95,000 |
| 🇮🇳India (Medifly Partners) | $4,000 – $18,000 |
A typical patient travelling for mastectomy saves enough to comfortably cover visas, flights, recovery-period stay, immediate reconstruction, and follow-up care — often for the whole family travelling together.
The more complete your records are before arrival, the faster and safer your surgery — and your reconstruction plan, if you choose one — can be finalised. Here is the checklist we share with every patient.
For over 15 years, Medifly Healthcare has been the trusted partner for international and domestic patients seeking world-class breast oncosurgery and reconstruction in India. Read our story → · Meet our doctors →
Surgery only by surgeons with focused breast cancer and reconstructive experience — not general surgeons operating outside their specialty.
Treatment at top NABH (India) and JCI (international) accredited multispecialty hospitals with dedicated breast cancer and plastic surgery units.
Real doctors review your reports first — not call-centre staff. Your case is understood properly before it reaches the surgical team.
WhatsApp +91 99449 38508 any time. A real coordinator who knows your case responds — not an automated system or chatbot.
English, Arabic, French, Russian, Bengali, Tamil, Hindi, Swahili — communicate in the language you are most comfortable with.
After you return home, our team continues coordinating with your local doctor — surveillance imaging, adjuvant therapy, and onward care planning.
All Medifly partner hospitals are NABH-accredited, with most also holding JCI international accreditation. Each has a dedicated breast oncosurgery and plastic reconstruction unit experienced in complex mastectomies. Compare top cancer hospitals in Chennai →
MGM Healthcare
Multi-Specialty
Gleneagles Global
Breast & Reconstructive Surgery
Fortis Healthcare
Breast Oncosurgery
Kauvery Hospital
Comprehensive Care
Apollo Spectra
Surgical & Oncology
SIMS Hospital
Tertiary Surgical Care
These patients chose mastectomy in India when local options felt limited, when reconstruction wasn't confidently offered elsewhere, or when the cost abroad was simply out of reach. Start your story →
"Early-stage cancer, but too diffuse for breast conservation, I was told. Medifly's Chennai team walked me through a skin-sparing mastectomy with an implant, in the same surgery. Four months on, my scans are clean and I finally feel like myself in the mirror again."
"My US quote for a total mastectomy with flap reconstruction was over $65,000, with a long wait for the plastic surgery team. Medifly arranged both procedures together in Chennai for under $16,000. The care coordination between the two surgical teams was better than I expected anywhere."
"I'm from Patna. My local hospital could offer the mastectomy but not reconstruction. Medifly connected me with a Chennai team that did both together — three days in hospital, home within two weeks. ₹4.8 lakh, all in, and my family could stay close by throughout."
"BRCA1 positive, with a strong family history. I chose a prophylactic double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction rather than years of anxious screening. The Chennai team, plus a genetic counsellor beforehand, made a very difficult decision feel completely informed."
"My tumour was larger than my breast could reasonably accommodate with conservation surgery. Medifly's surgeon recommended a total mastectomy with staged reconstruction, explaining exactly why immediate reconstruction wasn't advisable in my case. I trusted that honesty completely."
"An NHS waiting list of several months for surgery felt unbearable after my diagnosis. Medifly arranged my mastectomy in Chennai within three weeks of my first message. The team still coordinates my follow-up scans and hormonal therapy with my GP back home."
According to the World Health Organization ↗, breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among women worldwide — and early, well-planned surgery remains central to long-term disease control.
Your tumour size, location, or spread across the breast means lumpectomy isn't a good fit, and a specialist second opinion would help clarify your real options.
If immediate reconstruction hasn't been confidently offered where you are, a joint breast oncosurgery and plastic surgery review can open up possibilities you may not know about.
If you have been quoted $20,000–$60,000+ in the US, £12,000–£22,000 in the UK, or a very high figure in the UAE, India offers the same surgical precision at $4,000–$18,000 all-inclusive.
If you're BRCA1/2 positive or have a strong family history, a specialist review can walk you through risk-reducing surgery alongside genetic counselling.
If breast cancer surgery in your country involves months of waiting, that delay can weigh heavily. Medifly typically arranges the full pathway within two to three weeks.
If your city or country has no dedicated breast cancer and reconstruction unit, Medifly arranges your full pathway in Chennai — from consultation through surgery to follow-up.
The decision deserves the best information. A senior breast oncosurgery tumour board reviews your reports within 48 hours and gives you a written, honest assessment — whether mastectomy is appropriate, what type and reconstruction option would suit you, what it will cost, and how soon we can arrange it. No fee. No obligation. Only clarity.
Send your reports today via WhatsApp. Within 48 hours, a senior breast oncosurgery tumour board tells you whether mastectomy is appropriate, what type and reconstruction option would suit you, exactly what it will cost, which Chennai hospital fits your case, and how soon we can arrange it. Then — if you choose to proceed — we coordinate every detail from visa to surgery to follow-up. Explore: breast-conserving surgery → · breast reconstruction → · patient blog →
