Katherine Gale a qualified general surgeon with sub-specialisation in surgical oncology.  She is passionate about breast surgery and wants to offer women a more comprehensive service when faced with breast disease.  She holds a consultant position at Waitemata DHB in general surgery, oncoplastic breast and skin cancer surgical oncology.

Katherine is one of a few female specialist oncoplastic breast surgeons in New Zealand who practice all aspects of breast oncology and reconstruction. An expert in diagnostic and minimally-invasive treatment methods for all types of breast disease and, following a breast cancer diagnosis, she can offer a full range of partial and whole breast reconstruction options. Katherine believes in offering evidence based research to patients when tailoring a surgical solution, and has done extensive research in both breast oncology and reconstruction.

Katherine also offers skin cancer surgery including facial flap and graft reconstructions following cancer excision and melanoma surgery.

What is oncoplastic surgery?
Oncoplastic surgery merges the principles of oncologic surgery, in which cancerous tissue is removed, with those of some plastic surgical techniques which reconstruct an area of the breast removed in partial mastectomy or the whole breast if a mastectomy is necessary.  This can usually be done in one operation.

In oncoplastic breast conserving surgery, plastic surgery techniques such as breast reduction or breast lift (mastopexy) are used at the time of lumpectomy to restore or often improve the natural appearance to the breast shape.  In a smaller breast, local tissue flaps from the chest wall can fill in a defect left by the partial mastectomy to prevent deformity and hide scars off the breast mound itself.