Plastic surgery

The Paediatric Plastic Surgery Unit at Monash Children’s Hospital provides a service for the assessment, diagnosis and care of children with a large variety of congenital (birth) differences and defects. This includes reconstructive surgical procedures for many conditions and surgery to repair and reconstruct after traumatic injury.

The unit has three main areas of specialty:

General Paediatric Plastic Surgery Service

This clinic offers assessment and care for children who present with deep tumours or lesions on or under the skin, including all types of vascular and lymphatic malformations. Multidisciplinary assessment and care is coordinated for these children before advising on surgical care, whether tumours are in the head and neck area, trunk or limbs. We also treat congenital chest wall and breast deformity as well as abdominal wall and back defects and scars. The General Paediatric Plastic Surgery clinic manages a wide range of traumatic injuries to locations including the hand, head and neck and trunk, including minor burn injuries.

Multidisciplinary Cleft and Craniofacial Anomalies Clinic

This service is described in more detail here and involves specialists in a variety of fields. Members of the Paediatric Plastic Surgery Clinic play a pivotal role in the management of these patients who present to the clinic after birth with a variety of facial and cranial anomalies and differences. The clinic prefers to see patients soon after birth to give parents the best assessment and opportunity to discuss their child’s future management and provide support in the early stages after diagnosis.

Children with facial and cranial anomalies seen at this clinic include children with facial clefting conditions, cranial (skull) differences, facial bone anomalies such as hypertelorism, hemifacial microsomia and congenital nasal deformities. Treatment is provided for congenital ear anomalies including protruding ears, malformed ears and underdeveloped ears. We also treat children with eyelid deformities, such as congenital ptosis (drooping eyelid) and congenital and acquired facial paralysis (ie Moebius Syndrome).

Congenital Hand Anomalies Service

The Congenital Hand Anomalies Service within the Paediatric Plastic Surgery Unit is dedicated to children with congenital or acquired hand differences and deformities. We assess and care for children born with a variety of hand differences to offer support and possible surgical intervention aimed at improving function as well as appearance. We have the support of a variety of hand therapists and other ancillary staff to improve hand function with or without surgery. We manage all traumatic injuries to the hand and support patients through to optimal functional outcomes.

Children seen at the Congenital Hand Clinic, include children with polydactyly (extra digits), absent or hypoplastic thumbs or digits, syndactyly (fused digits), macrodactyly (overgrown digits) and amniotic band syndrome. We assess and care for children with brachial plexus palsy and hand deformities in cerebral palsy. Referral of these patients soon after birth allows us to provide a clear diagnosis and management plan to the child’s parents although surgery is often not recommended until after six months of age.

All members of the Paediatric Plastic Surgery Clinic have undergone advanced fellowship training in various children’s specialty interests at leading international paediatric hospitals.

Specialist Paediatric Plastic Surgeons

Surgical specialty and areas of interest

Mr Nelson Low
Head, Paediatric Plastic Surgery Clinic

Cleft care, craniofacial anomalies, congenital hand reconstruction, facial reanimation, general plastic surgery

Mr Charles Baillieu
Deputy Head, Paediatric Plastics Surgery Clinic

Craniofacial anomalies including cranial vault reconstruction and orthognathic surgery

Mr James Leong

Cleft care, craniofacial anomalies, congenital hand reconstruction, general plastic surgery

Dr Sian Fairbank

Craniofacial anomalies including facial reanimation and ear reconstruction, congenital hand reconstruction

Mr David Ross

Cleft care, craniofacial anomalies, ear reconstruction, congenital hand reconstruction, general plastic surgery

Mr George Pratt

Congenital hand reconstruction, vascular anomalies, general plastic surgery

Dr Will Alexander

Congenital hand reconstruction, general plastic surgery

Mr Ian Loh

Craniofacial anomalies, general plastic surgery

Ms Danielle Nizzero

general plastic surgery, congenital hand reconstruction, burn surgery

Mr Robert Capstick

general plastic surgery, craniofacial anomalies, facial fractures