Plastic and reconstructive surgery

Our plastic surgeons perform both reconstructive and cosmetic procedures.

St Vincent’s Private Hospitals offer a wide range of plastic and reconstructive surgery related services, for details of the plastic and reconstructive surgery services at your local St Vincent’s Private Hospital, click here.


Plastic and reconstructive surgery is a specialty that is dedicated to reconstructing parts of the face and body

These issues can result from birth disorders, trauma, burns or disease. Plastic surgery is intended to correct and reconstruct areas of the body that are not functioning properly. 

At St Vincent’s Private Hospitals we have specially trained surgeons who perform procedures to reconstruct breasts following breast cancer surgery. They also repair areas of the skin that have been burned, treat cleft palate, defects in various parts of the body, and seek to improve the appearance of scars.

Common cosmetic surgery procedures include breast reduction, facelifts, eyelid surgery, hair transplants, nose or lip enhancements, reducing fatty deposits and reshaping the abdomen.

Our plastic and reconstructive surgeons

Our plastic and reconstructive surgeons manage a range of conditions with particular emphasis on reconstructive services for head and neck cancer, orthopaedic surgery, breast cancer, sarcoma management, dermatology and maxillofacial surgery.

Our Services

Please check your relevant hospital below for their specific services. **Not all services are available at all hospitals.

  • Skin tumour surgery, with minor and major reconstruction
  • Breast reduction, augmentation and reconstruction after mastectomy
  • Endoscopic surgery, for facial, abdominal and breast procedures
  • Hand surgery following injury, and for Dupuytren’s contracture, nerve/tendon compression and other established disorders
  • Microsurgery including free tissue transfer, nerve reconstruction, facial reanimation and tissue replantation after amputation


  • Facial cosmetic surgery, including rhinoplasty, upper and lower eyelid surgery, facelift, ear, brow and other facial rejuvenative surgery
  • Abdominal reduction ‘tummy tuck’, standard or ultrasonic liposuction and liposculpture (fine filament fat injections)
  • Maxillofacial surgery for post-traumatic, neoplastic and aesthetic conditions
  • Surgery for prominent ears and for other congenital disorders, especially of the face and hand.

Breast reconstruction

Breast cancer can be a confronting and challenging illness. If you have a complete mastectomy, breast reconstruction may be an option for you. Our breast care nurses will provide you with information about your condition and support you with expert care. They’ll share information about what to expect throughout your treatment period and discuss your treatment plan with you.

Some women choose not to have the breast(s) reconstructed, others decide to have an implant, or a flap reconstruction using tissue from their buttock or tummy.

Breast reconstruction

Dupuytren’s (finger) contracture surgery

A common hand injury can cause scar tissue to form under a finger and/or the palm of your hand. One or more of your fingers may curl up making it difficult for your hand to function properly.

If conservative measures fail, surgery may help to restore your hand’s function. There are several surgical procedures for this condition that you can discuss with one of our plastic surgeons.

Disclaimer

This information is of a general nature, which may not be relevant to you. Any surgery or invasive procedure carries risk. We encourage you to speak with your doctor about your condition.

Find a hospital near you offering plastic and reconstructive surgery

Our Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery unit is involved in all forms of reconstructive surgery. We have surgeons with a special interest in microsurgical techniques, head and neck procedures, hand surgery, breast reconstruction and oral-maxillofacial surgery.

Our procedures include:

  • Melanoma excisions
  • Reconstruction 
  • Hand surgery
  • Breast reconstruction following mastectomy
  • Cosmetic surgery

We pride ourselves on delivering excellent care while respecting your confidentiality and privacy.

Our specially qualified and skilled staff are supported through ongoing education and development programs

We have mostly private rooms.

Our East Melbourne Hospital has a longstanding history of excellence in plastic surgery dating all the way back to 1899 when one of our surgeons, William ‘Gerry’ Moore published the first English language text book on plastic surgery.

Today our unit is home to leading surgeons in the areas of breast surgery, sarcoma surgery, head and neck surgery, microsurgery, lymphoedema, maxillofacial surgery and hand surgery.

Your GP can refer you to one of our plastic and reconstructive surgeons.

Find details of our plastic and reconstructive surgeons here

Contact Us

Our Plastic and Reconstructive surgeons and experienced nurses will be supported by a multidisciplinary team, including physiotherapist as well as allied health clinicians.

What We Offer

  • Skin cancer surgery and skin grafts where required
  • Reconstructive and breast surgery
  • Rhinoplasty and facial surgery
  • Paediatric plastic surgery
  • Hand and microsurgery

Your GP can refer you to one of our plastic and reconstructive surgeons.

Find details of our plastic and reconstructive surgeons here

Contact Us

The specialists in our Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department manage the full spectrum of reconstructive and aesthetic (cosmetic) conditions including reconstructive services for head and neck cancer, breast cancer, trauma, burns, orthopaedic surgery, tumours and sarcoma management, maxillofacial surgery, dermatology and other diseases.

Our specialists also perform a range of aesthetic procedures.

Procedures are performed as an inpatient, either in the main operating theatres or in our day surgery unit in the case of minor procedures.

All our plastics and reconstructive surgeons are Fellows of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and members of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. They work very closely with many other specialties including; ear, nose and throat, head and neck, breast, orthopaedics and general surgeons.

The collaborative and multidisciplinary approach between the various surgeons, nursing staff and allied health team throughout your journey ensures that we provide you with comprehensive and holistic care.

Your GP can refer you to one of our plastic and reconstructive surgeons.

Find details of our plastic and reconstructive surgeons here

Contact Us

We offer rhinoplasty, septoplasty, skin cancer removal, medically-required breast reductions, breast augmentations and cosmetic surgery. We also perform dermatology and maxillofacial procedures.

Procedures are performed as an inpatient, in the peri-operative unit or (in the case of minor procedures), in the surgeon’s consulting room.

Our approach to your care

You will be welcomed as part of St Vincent’s family offering excellent patient care by our local staff.

As you are able to remain local, your recovery will be assisted alongside family and friends able who can visit regularly

Leading edge facilities in a comfortable local environment

Our state-of-the-art facilities include the latest in technology will assist in your procedure and ongoing care.

For your added comfort we offer:

  • Single private rooms with ensuites for privacy
  • An extensive menu with all meals freshly prepared on site and made to order
  • Free wifi
  • Peaceful gardens with spaces for quiet reflection
  • Access to pastoral care services for all faiths and a chapel with services held monthly
  • Coffee shop offering beverages, light meals and the opportunity to socialise with visitors
  • Access to overnight stays where required

We have a pharmacy where prescriptions can be filled. We also offer allied health assessments and referral to community services where required.

Your GP can refer you to one of our plastic and reconstructive surgeons.

Find details of our plastic and reconstructive surgeons here

​Contact Us

Our Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department manages a range of conditions including reconstructive services for head and neck cancer, orthopaedic surgery, breast cancer, sarcoma management, dermatology and maxillofacial surgery.

  • Skin cancer: melanoma, common skin cancers, skin cancer surgery and repair
  • Breast: reconstruction following mastectomy,
  • Breast reduction
  • Face: oculoplastics (region surrounding the eye), ear correction
  • Body: head and neck, lower limb reconstruction, repair of abdominal muscles after pregnancy, lymphoedema surgery
  • General: skin grafts, scar revision, removal of moles

Melanoma Institute Australia

Housed on the Mater campus, The Poche Centre is home to Melanoma Institute Australia, the largest single tumour cancer centre in Australia. It is an integrated facility and expands existing Mater cancer services whilst providing the best possible care for melanoma patients. The Poche Centre houses over 70 clinicians, clinical trials staff and researchers, plus the largest melanoma patient database and integrated tumour bank in the world. The institute's multidisciplinary treatment team is all under the one roof with specialists in surgical oncology, head and neck surgery, plastic surgery, medical and radiation oncologists.

Clinical trials are an important part of melanoma research with over 1,000 patients participating at The Poche Centre this year. In order to advance studies into the cause of melanoma and treatment, it is necessary to recruit large numbers of people from the community. Patients may be eligible and are encouraged to participate.

Your GP can refer you to one of our plastic and reconstructive surgeons.

Find details of our plastic and reconstructive surgeons here

Contact Us

Our Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department manages a range of conditions including reconstructive services for head and neck cancer, orthopaedic surgery, breast cancer, sarcoma management, dermatology and maxillofacial surgery.

All our surgeons are Fellows of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and members of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Your GP can refer you to one of our plastic and reconstructive surgeons.

Find details of our plastic surgeons here
Contact us

Our Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery unit is involved in all forms of reconstructive surgery. We have surgeons with a special interest in microsurgical techniques, head and neck procedures, hand surgery, breast reconstruction and oral-maxillofacial surgery.

Our procedures include:

  • Melanoma excisions
  • Reconstruction 
  • Hand surgery
  • Breast reconstruction following mastectomy
  • Cosmetic surgery
  • We pride ourselves on delivering excellent care while respecting your confidentiality and privacy.

Our specially qualified and skilled staff are supported through ongoing education and development programs

We have mostly private rooms.

Your GP can refer you to one of our plastic and reconstructive surgeons.

Find details of our plastic and reconstructive surgeons here

Contact Us

Better and fairer care. Always.

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