Breast reduction surgery involves the removal of excess skin and tissue to help reduce the painful physical symptoms of excessively large breasts. Mr Brandon Adams performs breast reduction surgery in Tauranga and Rotorua.
Under a general anaesthetic, large or heavy breasts can be reduced in size by removing excess skin, fat and glandular tissue. The nipple is then lifted and breast tissue reshaped to form smaller, less droopy breasts. Breast reduction surgery is usually needed when the size of the breasts are too large for the body frame, or the breasts are uneven in size. Liposuction may be used to reduce the breast or fatty excess on the side of the chest. Enquire about breast reduction surgery in Tauranga today.
Cost Of Breast Reduction In New Zealand
The estimated costs of having
Breast reduction
with Mr Adams at Grace hospital is approximately
$19,000 to $24,900
* In addition to surgical fees, these figures include an estimate of hospital and anaesthetic costs.

HOW LONG DOES THE OPERATION TAKE?
3 hours
WHAT DO I GET WHEN I PAY FOR PLASTIC SURGERY?
QUALITY
Plastic and reconstructive surgery is a specialised branch of medicine which requires many years of training. Following medical school, Tauranga hand surgeon Mr Adams undertook an additional 9 years of training and was awarded a Fellowship in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He then undertook 18 months training in Aesthetic (Cosmetic) surgery and complex reconstructive surgery with leading experts.
IMPLANTS AND GARMENTS
If your surgery requires implants or a special post operative garment then these will have a cost associated with them.
FOLLOW UP
Your follow up for 6 weeks, including any wound care and appointments are included in your surgeons’ fees. Costs for revision surgery are not included.
SAFETY
To perform safe surgery a high quality operating facility is required. Extensive surgery requires overnight hospital stays with skilled nurses.
Private hospitals charge for time used in the operating theatre, recovery time and day stay or overnight hospital stays. In addition they charge for all equipment used such as sutures, dressings, disposable instruments and drapes.
Tauranga plastic surgeon Mr Adams only operates at private hosptials with highly trained nursing staff who care for you after your operation in recovery and on the ward if you stay overnight.
SKILLED ANAESTHESIA
Any surgery requring a general anaesthetic (going to sleep for surgery) or sedation requires a skilled anaesthetist. Anaesthetists are skilled doctors who require at least 7 years training after medical school to achive the highest standards of skill and safely.
Your comfort and safety is the result of team work between all of the doctors and nurses who will care for you. If you have complex medical conditions you may need additional assessments prior to surgery.

WHAT IF I NEED REVISION SURGERY OR HAVE A COMPLICATION?
Most of the time surgery goes well and wounds heal without problems. However, no surgical treatment is completely risk free – if you are having elective or cosmetic surgery it is especially important that you understand this. The general complications of surgery which occur with some regularity include:
- InfectionDelayed healing
- BruisingProblematic or unsightly scars
- InfectionInjury to nerves, blood vessels, or surrounding structures
- PainDistortion of surrounding skin or other structures
- Allergic reactionsPoor cosmetic result
- Complications of sedation or general anaestheticFurther surgery or other treatments
If there is a complication that requires further surgery – you or your insurer will be responsible for any further costs.
FINANCIAL CONSENT
The estimates of cost provided are estimates only and are not based on what is needed by any particular patient. If surgery is unexpectedly complex it may take longer then hospital and anaesthetic costs will increase. If a complication occurs and requires surgery there will be costs associated with repeat surgery. Mr Adams does not control the hospital or anaesthetic costs
Breast Reduction Criteria NZ
Very large breasts can seriously affect lifestyle and daily activities – causing neck ache, upper back pain and dragging discomfort on the front of the chest, while bra straps can create deep grooves in the shoulders. Likewise, heat rashes, known as intertrigo, can develop beneath large, pendulous breasts.
Seeing the transformation in a woman’s life that a skillfully performed breast reduction produces is always a joy for everyone involved. The weight loss and reduction in size and discomfort in the breasts allows for a change in lifestyle from sedentary to active. This means further weight loss is often possible once regular exercise becomes possible and enjoyable.
The weight of tissue removed from both breasts may range anywhere from 300-2500 gms. Some health insurance policies cover a portion of the costs for this plastic surgery.
There are several main types of breast reduction depending on the volume of the reduction required. The most commonly used keeps a central ‘mound’ of breast tissue with the nipple attached at its apex. The remaining surplus gland and breast tissue are trimmed away until the desired size is obtained, and the skin is ‘tailored’ and trimmed to fit. The resulting ‘seams’ or incisions/suture lines are around the outside of the nipple/areola area, vertically below to the crease under the breast, and also a variable transverse incision in this crease, which is called the inframammary fold. This technique is commonly used for DD cup breasts and bigger.
Simpler procedures with shorter ‘seams’ or scars are done for C-D cup breasts. A different approach, which involves nipple grafting, is used for extremely large breasts.
Every breast reduction is individually planned to accomplish the desired result. What type of procedure would be right for you, how long it would take and the likely cost can only be determined after consultation with, and examination by one of our surgeons. During the consultation, you will also be shown pre and post-operative photographs of similar procedures so that you can see the results and the quality of our work. You will be given reading material describing the procedure to take away with you so that you will feel fully informed before making your decision about surgery.
Best Candidates
Breasts that are too large in proportion to their body frame
Back, neck and/or shoulder pain aggravated by the weight of the breasts
Indentions (grooving) in their shoulders from tight bra straps
Restriction of physical activity due to the size and weight of the breasts

What to Expect
During breast reduction surgery, liposuction is often a part of the process. It is important to maintain a good blood supply to the nipple areola complex as there is a risk of discolouration and loss of sensation when blood flow is restricted. Our doctors are very careful to ensure that this risk is minimized as much as possible. We will remove the extra loose skin and tighten the underlying tissue to form the newly shaped breasts. During surgery, we may use one of the following incision patterns depending on the breast reduction technique employed:
One around the areola.
One vertically from the bottom edge of the areola to the breast crease.
One horizontally in the breast crease.
After Surgery / Recovery
After breast reduction surgery, patients will immediately feel lighter on top. The amount of breast tissue removed during surgery will be based on the initial evaluation and the patient’s preference. Often, the reduction results in a cup or two smaller from the original breast size. For the first several weeks, our doctor will recommend the use of a compression bra to protect the breasts. Patients may go back to work within 7-10 days and may resume physical activities (such as exercise) between 6-8 weeks post-operative. Nipple sensitivity will return gradually within the first year.
Swelling and bruising can be assisted by applications of ice, remember to wrap the ice in several towels, not applying it directly to the skin or you may produce an ice burn. There may be a temporary loss of sensation around the breasts and on the nipples due to trauma to the local nerves. This usually settles in two to three month, however, may persist longer.
Do not be afraid to ask questions or to let the staff or your Surgeon know of any specific problems or worries that you may have. After drain removal, dressing check and bra fitting your progress will be followed up on a regular basis by our Nursing staff.