Undergraduate: MB.ChB, University of Stellenbosch 2003
Postgraduate: MMed (Plast Surg), University of Free State 2014
Registrations: Health Professional Council of South Africa
I am a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in private practice in the city of George. My rooms are located at the George Surgical Centre, which is a state of the art medical facility and day hospital in the Garden Route. I also provide a service at the George Mediclinic, and I travel once a week to Mossel Bay to consult and operate at the Life Bay View Hospital. As we are based in a smaller city I am exposed to a broad spectrum of plastic and reconstructive demands, including trauma surgery, cancer reconstructive surgery, as well as a variety of cosmetic surgery procedures. I am comfortable with the full range of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery and I regularly attend local and International congresses to stay up to date with the latest techniques. My clinical interests include reconstructive microsurgery, and cleft lip and palate surgery.
God has blessed me with the most amazing family. Grethe, my wife is my best friend, my rock-solid support and the love of my life. I know that without her sacrifices, support, prayers and love I would not be where I am today. We have a daughter, Christi, and a son, Ben. And We believe that this practice belongs to God and that He has a specific plan for us in George. It is therefore our goal and desire to serve, honour, and glorify Jesus Christ through whatever we do and to be allowed to serve our community through Him.
What does a Spitfire have to do with Plastic Surgery? Well, more than you may think. For those of you who do not know, the Supermarine Spitfire is a fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force during the late 1930’s through to the middle 1950’s. When the prototype first took to the air in 1936, it was praised for its sleek lines and beautiful design. Soon it also proved itself as formidable fighter during the air battles of the Second World War, and it was feared and held in very high regard by those who had to fight against it. Sadly, thousands of young men died and many more sustained terrible injuries, especially facial and hand burns, while flying the spitfire during that conflict. Those who survived were treated by legendary Plastic Surgeons, like Dr Arcibald Mcindoe, who helped these men not only with the physical reconstruction of their bodies, but also with the psychological injuries that they sustained. Those who flew the Spitfire described it as "The most perfect balance between aesthetic grace and functional purpose". Now, when you think about it, is that not what Plastic Surgery is all about?
As a Plastic Surgeon I am always striving to achieve the optimal balance between beauty and function in every procedure I perform. The world out there/media do not use the same measuring scale when they compare a large cancer reconstruction result to an aesthetic facelift result for example, but to our patients there is no difference. They want the best possible result. Therefore, the principles I apply while performing a procedure remain the same, be it cosmetic or reconstructive: Aesthetic grace with functional purpose.
