Dr Heath Wilms is a New Zealand–trained subspecialist oncoplastic breast and general surgeon. In Wellington he works in private practice at Wakefield Hospital and at The Breast Centre at Bowen Hospital. He also works within the public health system for BreastScreen Aotearoa and at Wellingon, Kenepuru and Hutt Hospitals, reflecting his commitment to making surgical care widely accessible.
- Dr Wilms is available for rapid triple assessment of breast problems and aims to provide same-week urgent review where possible.
- Excellent communication with patients and referrers is a core focus, as are timely diagnosis and compassionate care.
He treats the full spectrum of benign and malignant breast conditions:
- Breast Cancer
- Benign Breast Conditions
- Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy
- Therapeutic Mammoplasty
- Fat Grafting
- Breast Reduction
- Revisional Breast Surgery following Reconstruction
- General Surgery including Hernia Repair & Gallbladder Removal
His main interests are oncoplastic breast surgery and breast reconstruction. Oncoplastic surgery is an area of breast surgery which combines removal of breast malignancy with restoration of form using plastic surgical techniques such as breast reduction. The goal is to enable preservation of the breast after removal of malignancy.
Originally from New Plymouth, Dr Wilms first studied finance at the University of Otago before deciding to pursue a career in medicine. He completed his medical degree at the University of Auckland, where he discovered his passion for surgery, and trained at centres throughout New Zealand. To further advance his expertise in Breast Surgery he undertook a fellowship at the Edinburgh Breast Unit, the largest and busiest in the United Kingdom, gaining extensive experience in advanced oncoplastic breast techniques while working alongside internationally recognised specialists.
He is dedicated to providing compassionate, patient-centred care that combines the highest standards of cancer surgery with techniques designed to preserve form and function. While breast surgery is his primary focus, he also offers a broad range of general surgical services. His practice emphasises clear communication and shared decision-making, helping patients feel informed, supported, and confident in their treatment journey.
