Gynaecomastia Gland Excision Only (Gyno Surgery for a Small Gland, BB Grade 1) Cost in Newcastle NSW
This page covers one operation only: removing a small, firm breast gland with no liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy). In my grading system this is BB grade 1 gynaecomastia: small gland, little or no excess fat, skin not loose. If there is a fatty component as well, or the gland is large, a different operation and a different cost apply.
My surgical fee for gland excision only (gyno surgery, BB grade 1) is $4,990. That is the fee for the least complex cases. The anaesthetist and Maitland Private Hospital bill separately, and a written quote for your own operation follows consultation. As a guide, the total for a patient without private health insurance is around $10,500, and the out of pocket cost for an insured patient with a qualifying Medicare item is around $5,500, depending on the fund and policy.
I am Dr Bernard Beldholm M.B.B.S B.Sc(Med) FRACS, Specialist Surgeon, with more than 15 years performing gynaecomastia and male chest surgery. I operate at Maitland Private Hospital and see patients from Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, the Central Coast and regional NSW.
If you have lost a large amount of weight and have loose chest skin, see male chest surgery after weight loss cost instead.
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What my fee includes
The $4,990 surgical fee covers:
A second consultation at no cost before surgery
Including review of your blood results. This can be done remotely if you live outside the Hunter.
The operation itself
Removal of the breast gland through an incision at the lower edge of the areola, sent for histopathology as standard.
Two weeks of intense follow up straight after surgery
Then reviews at 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months.
The compression bandage
Applied in theatre and removed the next day. There is no ongoing compression garment for this operation, so no garment cost.
Scar care
Advice and silicone strips from 4 weeks.
What makes up your total cost
For gland excision only at BB grade 1, the total is made up of:
Surgical fee: $4,990
My fee, as set out above.
Anaesthetist’s fee, billed separately
This is a general anaesthetic. The anaesthetist bills for the planned operating time plus about 1 hour for induction and recovery. For this operation I plan around 1 hour in theatre, so the anaesthetist bills for around 2 hours. The pre anaesthetic consultation is by phone in most cases.
Maitland Private Hospital theatre and day stay fees
This is a day procedure. You come in the morning and go home the same day once the nursing staff and I are happy. No overnight charge.
No drain
Gland excision only does not need a drain, so there is no drain related cost.
Dressings
A Comfeel hydrocolloid dressing over the incision, applied in theatre. Included.
Histopathology
The removed gland goes to pathology. The pathology provider bills separately and Medicare covers most or all of this.
Adding liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) to remove fat around the gland changes the operation from BB grade 1 to BB grade 3, adds theatre time and a drain, and moves the cost to a different page. Whether that applies to you is decided at examination.
The $10,500 and $5,500 guide figures above come from these components at the hospital and anaesthetist rates I use for estimates. For an insured patient the out of pocket amount is the gap on my fee, the gap on the anaesthetist’s fee and your fund excess. Your own quote uses your fund’s figures.
Medicare and health funds
Gland excision for gynaecomastia may attract a Medicare item number where the criteria are met: item 31525 for one side or item 31526 for both sides. Whether you meet the criteria is assessed at consultation, not before, and I record the examination findings and photographs that the item requires.
Where an item applies, Medicare and your health fund contribute to my fee and the anaesthetist’s fee, and the fund usually covers the theatre and day stay charges at Maitland Private, less your excess. How much the fund pays depends on your policy and your level of cover.
Where no item applies, the operation is cosmetic. There is no Medicare or fund contribution, GST applies to my fee, and the hospital and anaesthetist charges are paid in full.
Revision surgery, if ever needed, is charged depending on your insurance position; this is covered in the full cost guide. The item descriptors, health fund tiers and worked examples are set out in gynaecomastia surgery cost guide.
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Your next step
You need a referral from your GP before I can see you. Long standing, unchanged gynaecomastia does not usually need hormone testing before surgery, so for most BB grade 1 patients the referral is the only step before consultation.
Consultations are held at my rooms in Lorn, Maitland. Telehealth is available for the first consultation if you are travelling from the Central Coast, Port Stephens or further afield, with examination on the day I see you in person.