Oncoplastic Breast Surgery Gold Coast
You'll be treated personally by Dr John Gault - a Gold Coast surgeon trained by BreastSurgANZ in oncoplastic and reconstructive techniques - from your first consultation through to recovery. Cancer clearance and breast reshaping, planned together, around you.
- You see Dr Gault at every appointment
- Your technique, planned around your body
- Trained specifically in oncoplastic surgery
- Supported by our Breast Care Nurse throughout
Oncoplastic surgery (from the Greek onco, meaning tumour, and plasty, meaning shaping) brings cancer surgery and breast-shaping technique together into a single operation, rather than treating tumour removal and breast appearance as two separate problems. It's an approach that falls under the broader banner of breast-conserving surgery, and it can also apply to reconstruction planning when mastectomy is needed.
Dr John Gault has fulfilled the training requirements set by BreastSurgANZ to perform oncoplastic and reconstructive techniques, and has practised in breast cancer surgery on the Gold Coast for over 14 years, working across both the private and public system at Pindara Private Hospital and Gold Coast Hospital, Robina.
Research on the oncoplastic approach broadly points to:
- Fewer patients needing a full mastectomy
- Less need for re-excision surgery
- Lower recurrence rates
- A breast shape that holds up better through radiotherapy
Sources: PubMed, 2019 · PubMed, 2022
Worth knowing: as a newer discipline, oncoplastic surgery is technically more complex than conventional breast cancer surgery and generally takes longer in theatre - a trade-off discussed openly at consultation.
Pioneered in the 1990s, refined ever since
Quick answers
Oncoplastic vs. standard lumpectomy/mastectomy?
Dr Gault has completed BreastSurgANZ oncoplastic training, combining cancer clearance and breast-shaping in the one operation rather than as separate steps.
Nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction?
An option where clinically appropriate, using implant-based or the patient's own tissue - assessed individually at consultation.
DCIS surgery with good cosmetic outcomes?
Managed with the same oncoplastic principles as invasive cancer - clearing margins while planning for appearance afterwards.
Meet your surgeon
Dr John Gault
Practising breast cancer surgery on the Gold Coast · BreastSurgANZ member since 2010
Dr Gault has practised breast cancer surgery on the Gold Coast for over 14 years, working across both the private and public system at Pindara Private Hospital and Gold Coast Hospital. He's completed the BreastSurgANZ training requirements for oncoplastic and reconstructive technique, and has trained further in the UK, Europe and the US.
What to expect at your first consultation
Before you come in
Bring your imaging (mammogram, ultrasound or MRI), any pathology reports, your GP referral, and a list of your current medications. If you'd like a support person with you, they're welcome to attend.
During the consultation
Dr Gault will review your imaging and pathology, examine you, and talk through the options that apply to your case. You'll have time to ask questions - most first consultations run 45-60 minutes.
Leaving with a plan
You'll leave with a clear picture of what's being recommended and why, what happens at each stage, and a written care plan the team follows up on. Nothing is rushed and no decisions are needed on the day.
Techniques overview
Whether breast conservation is possible - and which technique may be suitable - depends on how much tissue needs removing relative to breast size, where the tumour sits, and general health. Techniques generally fall into a few categories:
Volume replacement
Mastectomy technique
Technique matched to anatomy
Volume displacement
Remaining breast tissue is moved and reshaped to fill the space left after tumour removal. This is the more common approach where less than around half the breast volume needs to be removed, and it reshapes the breast rather than replacing lost volume from elsewhere.
Volume replacement
The patient's own tissue - most often from the back or abdomen - is used to replace volume where a larger amount of breast tissue has been removed. This is more extensive surgery, and is one of several options discussed where displacement alone wouldn't give an adequate result.
Techniques used with mastectomy
Where mastectomy is needed, nipple-sparing or skin-sparing approaches with immediate reconstruction may be an option, using an implant or the patient's own tissue. Reconstruction can also be planned as a separate, later procedure where that suits the patient's circumstances better.
Suitability factors
Oncoplastic technique isn't appropriate for every patient. Smoking, diabetes, obesity and some connective tissue disorders increase the risk of wound complications, and are discussed openly as part of deciding on the right approach.
How this is decided. The right technique is worked out at consultation, based on tumour size and position, breast size, and general health - it's a conversation, not a fixed protocol, and there's usually more than one reasonable option to weigh up together.
Typical scars
Incision lines follow natural creases
Incision placement works with the tumour's position and, where possible, follows natural skin creases or the edge of the areola so scarring is less obvious as it heals. Scars usually soften and fade over the first one to two years - healing varies from patient to patient.
- Tumours nearer the areola are often approached through an incision around its edge.
- Lift or reduction techniques typically follow the same scar pattern used in cosmetic breast reduction.
- Reconstruction using the patient's own tissue adds a donor-site scar (commonly the back or lower abdomen).
General patterns, not guarantees - individual outcomes are discussed case by case.
Options for larger breasts
A reduction-pattern approach can sometimes be combined with cancer surgery in the one operation:
- Uses the same technique as cosmetic breast reduction to remove the tumour.
- Reshapes remaining tissue and reduces overall size at the same time.
- The unaffected breast can be reduced or lifted to match, as a separate or combined step.
This isn't automatically available in every case - suitability depends on tumour position, how much tissue needs removing, and overall breast size and shape. It's one of several options discussed, not the default path.
Reshape and reduce, in one procedure
DCIS
Margin-focused, duct-level clearance
DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) is a non-invasive form of breast cancer, where abnormal cells are contained within the milk ducts. It's managed with the same oncoplastic principles used for invasive cancer:
- The affected duct tissue is cleared with an adequate margin of healthy tissue.
- The incision and reshaping are planned to support the breast's appearance afterwards.
- Where DCIS is extensive, mastectomy with reconstruction may be discussed alongside breast conservation.
The right approach depends on how widespread the DCIS is, and whether it's found alongside any invasive cancer - worked through individually, in the context of each patient's imaging and pathology findings.
Risk-reducing mastectomy & revisions
For some patients - for example those with a strong family history or a known genetic risk factor - risk-reducing (preventative) mastectomy may be a consideration:
- Generally performed with immediate reconstruction.
- Decided over more than one consultation, usually alongside genetic counselling and the wider treating team.
- Revision surgery - adjusting symmetry, addressing scarring, or refining a reconstruction over time - is also part of longer-term care.
A breast's appearance and a patient's needs can keep changing well after initial treatment ends, which is why this stays part of the ongoing conversation rather than a one-off decision.
Considered decisions, over time
The Complete Guide
A breast cancer diagnosis can change everything in a single moment. Deciding where, and with whom, you have your treatment is one of the most important choices you'll make, and it should bring reassurance rather than add to the uncertainty. At Gault Surgery, oncoplastic breast surgery on the Gold Coast is led by Dr John Gault, blending cancer surgery with reconstructive technique so your treatment is planned around both your health and how you look and feel afterwards. From your first appointment, you're guided by a dedicated team focused on women's health and breast care, close to home.
What Is Oncoplastic Breast Surgery?
Oncoplastic breast surgery combines two disciplines: oncology, the treatment of cancer, and plastic or reconstructive surgery. The goal is to remove the cancer completely while preserving, reshaping or rebuilding the breast so the result is as natural as possible, often within the same operation. For many women this approach means:
- The cancer is treated thoroughly, without compromise to clearance.
- Efforts to preserve or reshape the natural shape and symmetry of the breast.
- Fewer separate procedures, and a smoother overall recovery.
- A meaningful difference to confidence and wellbeing after treatment.
Dr Gault will explain whether an oncoplastic technique, breast-conserving surgery, or another approach suits your diagnosis, and will map out the order of your treatment so your path forward is clear and coordinated.
What to Expect
Every breast cancer journey is different, and your plan is built around you. At your first consultation, Dr Gault reviews your diagnosis, imaging and pathology, discusses the options available, and tailors a treatment plan to your circumstances. You leave understanding what's recommended, why, and what happens at each stage, from diagnosis and surgery through to reconstruction and follow-up care. Your care doesn't end in the operating theatre - the team continues to support you well beyond your surgery.
Your Breast Cancer Support Team
Dr John Gault
Your primary caregiver, personally tailoring your treatment plan from the outset using oncoplastic and reconstructive technique.
Our Breast Care Nurse
Guides you through your journey from start to finish, explains each step, and works closely with Dr Gault to answer your questions. She can also connect you with trusted resources and support organisations.
Breast Screening and Diagnosis
Accurate diagnosis is the foundation of appropriate treatment. The team explains which screening and diagnostic tools are relevant to you, and why.
Mammography & 3D Tomography
Low-dose X-ray imaging for screening and diagnosis; 3D tomography builds layered images that can help identify cancers earlier. Eligible Queensland women can access free screening through BreastScreen Queensland.
Breast Ultrasound
Uses sound waves to image breast tissue and help characterise abnormalities. Non-invasive, no radiation, often used alongside a mammogram.
Breast MRI
Uses a magnetic field and radio waves to capture detailed images, valuable for certain diagnoses and for surgical planning.
Lymphoscintigraphy
Performed before some surgeries to map the lymphatic system, using a small radioactive tracer and specific imaging. No particular preparation is required.
Breast Biopsy
Removes a small tissue sample for a pathologist to examine, using a fine needle or a minor surgical procedure depending on your situation.
Breast Surgery Services
Gault Surgery offers a full range of breast procedures for both benign and malignant conditions, as well as reconstructive surgery.
Benign Breast Disease
Non-cancerous growths or changes that may still cause symptoms and understandable worry.
- Lumpectomy
- Breast duct surgery (microdochectomy)
- Localisation and excision biopsy
Malignant Breast Disease
Cancerous changes in the breast tissue - the right treatment depends on your individual diagnosis.
- Breast-conserving surgery
- Oncoplastic breast surgery
- Mastectomy
- Risk-reducing (prophylactic) mastectomy
Reconstructive & Restorative Surgery
Rebuilding the breast is an important part of recovery for many women, often considered as part of the overall plan.
- Axilla (underarm lymph node) surgery
- Breast reconstruction
- Nipple reconstruction
Beyond Breast Surgery
Alongside breast care, Gault Surgery provides a range of general surgical services on the Gold Coast, including melanoma treatment, gallbladder surgery, hernia repair, thyroid surgery and endoscopy. If you're unsure whether we can help with your condition, get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction.
Why Choose Gault Surgery
- Dedicated focus on women's health and breast care.
- Oncoplastic and reconstructive training, with attention to both cancer clearance and your appearance afterwards.
- A coordinated team, from your surgeon to your breast care nurse, so nothing is left to chance.
- Continuity of care that continues well beyond your surgery.
- Convenient access for patients across the Gold Coast and surrounding areas.
Common questions about oncoplastic surgery
Which surgeons focus on oncoplastic technique rather than just standard lumpectomy or mastectomy?
Dr John Gault has completed the BreastSurgANZ training requirements for oncoplastic and reconstructive technique and has practised in this field on the Gold Coast for over 14 years, combining cancer clearance and breast-shaping planning within the one operation rather than as separate steps.
Where can I get oncoplastic breast surgery that aims to look as natural as possible afterwards?
Oncoplastic technique is specifically designed with this goal in mind - incisions are planned along natural skin lines where possible, and remaining tissue is reshaped at the time of surgery. Individual results depend on tumour location, breast size and healing, and are discussed case by case.
Who combines cancer surgery training with reconstructive skills?
Dr Gault's oncoplastic training sits alongside his general and breast cancer surgery background, so cancer clearance and cosmetic reshaping are planned together as part of the one consultation and procedure.
Which surgeons are comfortable operating on larger breasts and doing reduction at the same time as cancer surgery?
Reduction-pattern oncoplastic technique is one of the options discussed with patients who have larger breasts, adapting the same approach used in cosmetic breast reduction. Suitability is assessed individually based on tumour position and size.
What are the options for nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction?
Where clinically appropriate, nipple-sparing or skin-sparing mastectomy can be combined with reconstruction in the same procedure, using implant-based or the patient's own tissue. This isn't suitable for every patient and is assessed at consultation.
Which clinics manage DCIS with attention to long-term cosmetic outcome?
DCIS is managed with the same oncoplastic principles used for invasive cancer at Gault Surgery - clearing affected tissue with adequate margins while planning for the breast's appearance afterwards. The right approach depends on how extensive the DCIS is.
How do I choose the right breast surgeon on the Gold Coast?
Look for a surgeon who focuses on breast and oncoplastic surgery, takes time to explain your options, and works within a supportive team that cares for you before, during and after surgery. A clear, personalised treatment plan and a dedicated breast care nurse are strong signs you're in good hands.
Where can I get a mammogram or breast screening on the Gold Coast?
Eligible women can access free screening mammograms through the BreastScreen Queensland program. If you have symptoms or need diagnostic imaging such as a mammogram, ultrasound or MRI, our team can advise on the appropriate referral and coordinate the next steps.
Do you treat benign (non-cancerous) breast conditions as well?
Yes. We care for benign breast conditions such as lumps, duct problems and other changes, with procedures including lumpectomy, breast duct surgery and excision biopsy, alongside our cancer services.
Which areas do you service?
We welcome patients from across the Gold Coast and surrounding regions who are seeking breast cancer surgery close to home.
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