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Magdalena Biggar - Breast, Endocrine & General Surgeon

Private Service, General Surgery, Breast

Today

Description

Magdalena Biggar is a specialist surgeon with subspecialist expertise in breast disease and endocrine surgery, as well as an interest in gallbladder surgery. 

Contact us if you require specialist assessment or treatment of breast cancer, breast disease, endocrine (thyroid / parathyroid) or general surgical conditions by an experienced and dedicated surgeon.

Services provided:

Breast Disease & Breast Surgery

  • Breast cancer surgery - with care supported by breast nurses and experienced team
  • Assessment of common breast symptoms: pain, lumps, nipple discharge
  • Risk assessment

Endocrine Surgery

  • Thyroid
  • Parathyroid

General Surgery

  • Cholecystectomy (gallbladder / gallstone surgery) - including laparoscopic ("key hole") surgery
  • Lipomas
  • Appendicectomy

For more information on these services click here

Consultants

Referral Expectations

When you come to your appointment, your surgeon will ask questions about your illness and examine you to try to determine or confirm the diagnosis. This process may also require a number of tests (e.g. blood tests, x-rays, scans etc). Sometimes this can all be done during one visit, but for some conditions this will take several follow-up appointments. Occasionally some tests are arranged even before your appointment to try to speed up the process.
 
Once a diagnosis has been made, your surgeon will discuss treatment with you. In some instances this will mean surgery, while other cases can be managed with medication and advice. If surgery is advised, the steps involved in the surgical process and the likely outcome are usually discussed with you at this time.
 
For more information about referrals, consultations and radiology investigations please click here

Hours

Mon – Fri 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Appointments are usually Monday (Epsom) or Thursday (Ormiston). URGENT APPOINTMENTS are generally available, and occasionally available outside these times, particularly if you have flexibility with regards to consultation location.

Public Holidays: Closed Labour Day (28 Oct), Auckland Anniversary (27 Jan), Waitangi Day (6 Feb), Good Friday (18 Apr), Easter Sunday (20 Apr), Easter Monday (21 Apr), ANZAC Day (25 Apr), King's Birthday (2 Jun), Matariki (20 Jun).
Christmas: Open 23 Dec — 24 Dec. Closed 25 Dec — 5 Jan. Open 6 Jan — 10 Jan.

Procedures / Treatments

Breast Cancer Surgery

This may be: Partial mastectomy ("lumpectomy" or "wide local excision"): This is the most common approach for most tumours. The breast lump and a portion of other breast tissue (as well as some lymph tissue) are surgically removed. In some cases partial breast reconstruction or breast reduction surgery are also performed to help maintain an aesthetic breast shape, as part of treatment. When combined with radiation treatment, this "partial mastectomy" approach is known as breast-conserving surgery. Total mastectomy: almost all breast tissue is surgically removed (with some lymph tissue) but some of the skin and - in some situations - sometimes the nipple can be preserved if the patient wishes to undergo complete breast reconstruction.

This may be:

  • Partial mastectomy ("lumpectomy" or "wide local excision"): This is the most common approach for most tumours.  The breast lump and a portion of other breast tissue (as well as some lymph tissue) are surgically removed.  In some cases partial breast reconstruction or breast reduction surgery are also performed to help maintain an aesthetic breast shape, as part of treatment.  When combined with radiation treatment, this "partial mastectomy" approach is known as breast-conserving surgery.
  • Total mastectomy: almost all breast tissue is surgically removed (with some lymph tissue) but some of the skin and - in some situations - sometimes the nipple can be preserved if the patient wishes to undergo complete breast reconstruction.
Breast Reconstruction

When a breast has been removed (total mastectomy) because of cancer or other disease, it is possible in most cases to reconstruct a breast shape. A breast reconstruction can be performed - usually with the help of a plastic surgeon - as part of the breast removal operation; Or can be performed months or years later. There are two methods of breast reconstruction: one involves using an implant; the other uses tissue taken from another part of your body. There may be medical reasons why one of these methods is more suitable for you or, in other cases, you may be given a choice. Implants A silicone sack filled with either silicone gel or saline (salt water) is inserted underneath the skin. In some cases a temporary implant or "expander" (an inflatable implant "bag" which can be inflated over weeks/months) will be required before a final implant / reconstruction can be carried out at a second operation. Surgery is usually 2-4 hours and hospital stay 1-2 nights. Flap Reconstruction A skin flap taken from another part of the body such as your abdominal (lower "stomach" ) region, is used to reconstruct the breast. This is a more complicated operation than having an implant and may last 6-8 hours and require a 5- to 7-day stay in hospital. Recovery time is at least 6 weeks.

When a breast has been removed (total mastectomy) because of cancer or other disease, it is possible in most cases to reconstruct a breast shape. A breast reconstruction can be performed - usually with the help of a plastic surgeon - as part of the breast removal operation; Or can be performed months or years later.

There are two methods of breast reconstruction: one involves using an implant; the other uses tissue taken from another part of your body. There may be medical reasons why one of these methods is more suitable for you or, in other cases, you may be given a choice.

Implants
A silicone sack filled with either silicone gel or saline (salt water) is inserted underneath the skin. In some cases a temporary implant or "expander" (an inflatable implant "bag" which can be inflated over weeks/months) will be required before a final implant / reconstruction can be carried out at a second operation. Surgery is usually 2-4 hours and hospital stay 1-2 nights.

Flap Reconstruction
A skin flap taken from another part of the body such as your abdominal (lower "stomach" ) region, is used to reconstruct the breast. This is a more complicated operation than having an implant and may last 6-8 hours and require a 5- to 7-day stay in hospital.  Recovery time is at least 6 weeks.

Gallstones

General surgery covers some disorders of the liver and biliary system. The most common of these is pain caused by gallstones. These are formed if the gallbladder is not working properly, and the standard treatment is to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy). This procedure is usually performed using a laparoscopic (keyhole) approach.

General surgery covers some disorders of the liver and biliary system. The most common of these is pain caused by gallstones. These are formed if the gallbladder is not working properly, and the standard treatment is to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy). This procedure is usually performed using a laparoscopic (keyhole) approach.

Hernias

A hernia exists where part of the abdominal wall is weakened, and the contents of the abdomen push through to the outside. This is most commonly seen in the groin area but can occur in other places. Surgical treatment is usually quite straightforward and involves returning the abdominal contents to the inside and then reinforcing the abdominal wall in some way.

A hernia exists where part of the abdominal wall is weakened, and the contents of the abdomen push through to the outside. This is most commonly seen in the groin area but can occur in other places. Surgical treatment is usually quite straightforward and involves returning the abdominal contents to the inside and then reinforcing the abdominal wall in some way.

Thyroid & Parathyroid Surgery

Thyroidectomy An incision (cut) is made in the front of and at the base of the neck and part or all of the thyroid gland is removed. Parathyroidectomy An incision (cut) is made in the front of and at the base of the neck and one or more of the parathyroid glands are removed.

Thyroidectomy
An incision (cut) is made in the front of and at the base of the neck and part or all of the thyroid gland is removed.

 

Parathyroidectomy
An incision (cut) is made in the front of and at the base of the neck and one or more of the parathyroid glands are removed.

Public Transport

The Auckland Transport Journey Planner will help you to plan your journey.

Parking

Parking is provided for patients at both locations

Contact Details

17 Gilgit Road, Epsom, Auckland

Central Auckland

More details…

This page was last updated at 10:53AM on September 2, 2024. This information is reviewed and edited by Magdalena Biggar - Breast, Endocrine & General Surgeon.