Wellington Plastic Surgery Institute

Meet our expert team

The Wellington Plastic Surgery Institute has been set up by experienced plastic and reconstructive surgeons as a centre of excellence in plastic surgery.

Our practice offers a full range of plastic surgery using up-to-date advanced surgical techniques. Our surgeons are experienced, highly trained and registered by the New Zealand Medical Council as specialist plastic and reconstructive surgeons.

Our surgeons and medical support staff regularly update their skills and stay up-to-date with international developments in their fields of expertise, so you can be assured you are always receiving the highest standard of care.

We look forward to meeting with you to discuss your needs.

Mr Craig MacKinnon

Mr Craig MacKinnon

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon

Mr Christopher Adams

Mr Christopher Adams

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon

Dr Sarah Usmar

Dr Sarah Usmar

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon

Mr Craig MacKinnon

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon

enquiries@wpsi.co.nz

Craig MacKinnon is a Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon. He has been a director at the Wellington Plastic Surgery Institute since 2002 and bases his private practice here.

In addition to general plastic and reconstructive surgery, he has a specialist interest in:

  • aesthetic (cosmetic) surgery of the face, breast, and trunk
  • cleft lip and palate surgery
  • head and neck cancer surgery
  • skin cancer surgery
  • craniomaxillofacial surgery.


Training, qualifications, and memberships

Craig graduated from Otago Medical School in 1989 and subsequently trained in Plastic and Reconstructive surgery in Wellington and Hamilton. He became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) in 1999.

He then spent time overseas, where he:

  • completed a fellowship in craniofacial surgery in Adelaide, Australia
  • worked in private practice in Adelaide
  • continued his specialist training in cosmetic surgery in London, where he completed a fellowship in aesthetic surgery.

He has also worked in Hamburg, Germany; then in Asia:

  • at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
  • at the Chang Gung Craniofacial Centre in Taipei, Taiwan.


Professional memberships

Craig is a member of :

  • New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgeons (NZAPS)
  • Australasian Cleft Lip and Palate Association (ACLAPA)
  • Court of Examiners (PRS) , RACS
  • NZ Censor's Committee (RACS)
  • Australia and New Zealand Head and Neck Society (ANZHNS)
  • American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)


Current practice

As well as his private practice, since 2002 Craig has been a Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at Wellington Regional Plastic Surgery, Burns, and Maxillofacial Unit, Hutt Hospital, where he is clinical director for the regional service for Cleft lip and Palate surgery, and is a member of the Head and Neck Cancer Service.
Craig is currently Deputy H.O.D, Wellington Regional Plastic, Maxillofacial & Burns Unit.
His hospital accreditations include Hutt Hospital, Wakefield Hospital and Bowen Hospital.


Volunteering

Craig is involved in Interplast Australia and New Zealand, volunteering his time to work in the Asia-Pacific region to provide treatment and deliver medical training in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
In 2015 Craig was named as a Paul Harris Fellow by The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International in recognition of his volunteer work.


Publications: C MacKinnon

1. Lee R, MacKinnon C, Aburn N, Tan ST
Orbital Immunoglobulin IgG4 – related inflammatory fibrosclerosing lesion treated with pentoxifylline and α- tocopherol: case report
Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2015 Feb, 53:197-199

2. Lindford A, McIntyre B, Marsh R, MacKinnon CA, Davis C, Tan ST
Outcomes of the treatment of head and neck sarcomas in a tertiary referral center
Front Surg (2015); 2:19

3. Lee R, MacKinnon CA, Aburn N, Tan ST
Treatment of Orbital IgG4 - Related Disease
Int J Ophthalmol Clin Res. (2015); 2:019

4. Guidera A, Kelly B, Rigby P, MacKinnon C, Tan ST.
Early oral intake after reconstruction with a free flap for cancer of the oral cavity
Br J Oral and Maxillofac Surg. 2012 July; 51 (2013) 224-227

5. Tan ST, Staiano J, Itinteang T, McIntyre B, MacKinnon C, Glasson D
Gold weight implantation and lateral tarsorrhaphy for upper eyelid paralysis.
J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2012 July; 4 (2013) e49-e53

6. Itinteang T, Lambe GF, MacKinnon C, Agir H
Spontaneously reduced isolated orbital roof fracture
J Craniofac Surg. 2012 Jul; 23(4):1200

7. Tan ST, Rajpal K, MacKinnon CA
Smoking cessation in patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer
NZ Med J 2011 Jan; 124(1328)130-1

8. Agir H, MacKinnon C, Tan ST.
Li-Fraumeni syndrome: a case with 4 separate primary sarcomas and 5 sequential free flaps in the maxillofacial region.
J Oral Maxillofacial Surg. 2008 Aug; 66(8):1714-9

9. Agir H, Adams BM, MacKinnon CA.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the palm: a case report.
Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc. 2007 Aug-Oct; 41(4): 321-5. [Turkish]

10. Agir H, Aburn N, Davis C, MacKinnon C, Tan ST
W(h)ither orbital pseudotumour
J Craniofacial Surg.2007 Sep; 18(5):1148-53

11. Agir H, Unal C, Isil E, MacKinnon C.
A novel method to prevent tissue dessication during burn surgery: saline spray.
Burns. 2007 Sep;33(6):804-5.

12. Tan ST, MacKinnon CA.
Deep plane cervicofacial flap: a useful and versatile technique in head and neck surgery.
Head Neck. 2006 Jan;28(1):46-55.

13. Choudhary S, MacKinnon CA, Morrissey GP, Tan ST.
A case of giant nasal pyogenic granuloma gravidarum.
J Craniofac Surg. 2005 Mar;16(2):319-21

14. Porter CJ, Simcock JW, MacKinnon CA
Necrotising fasciitis and cellulitis after traditional Samoan tattooing: case reports.
J Infect. 2005 Feb:50(2):149-52

15. Tofield CE, MacKinnon CA.
Cleft palate repair in spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita: minimizing the risk of cervical cord compression.
Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2003 Nov;40(6):629-31

16. MacKinnon CA
A pedicle forearm fillet flap aided by subperiosteal proximal dissection in shoulder disarticulation.
Plast Reconst Surg. 2003 Jun; 111(7):2474; author reply 2474-5.

17. MacKinnon CA, David DJ, Cooter RD.
Blindness and severe visual impairment in facial fractures: an 11 year review.
Br J Plast Surg. 2002 Jan;55(1):1-7

18. MacKinnon CA, David DJ
Oblique facial clefting associated with unicoronal synostosis.
J Craniofac Surg. 2001 May; 12(3):227-31.

19. MacKinnon C, Klaassen M, Widdowson P.
Reconstruction of a severe chest and abdominal wall electrical burn injury in a pediatricpatient.
Plast Reconstr Surg. 1999 May; 103(6):1775-7;quiz 1778. Review.

20. MacKinnon C, Lovie M.
An alternative treatment for Frey syndrome.
Plast Reconstr Surg. 1999 Feb;103(2):745-6.

Mr Christopher Adams

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon

enquiries@wpsi.co.nz

Chris Adams is a Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon. He has been a director of Wellington Plastic Surgery Institute since 2003 and bases his private practice here.

In addition to general plastic and reconstructive surgery, he has a specialist interest in:

  • Aesthetic (cosmetic) surgery of the face, breast, and trunk
  • Reconstructive breast surgery
  • Surgery for melanoma and skin cancers
  • Burn reconstruction and hand surgery.
  • Chris consults privately in Wellington and Nelson.


Training, qualifications, and memberships

Chris graduated from Otago Medical School in 1990 and subsequently trained in Plastic and Reconstructive surgery in Auckland, Hamilton, and Wellington. He became a fellow of the Royal College of Australasian Surgeons (FRACS) in 2001. He then spent a further 2 years training in the United Kingdom, where he completed fellowships in:

Aesthetic surgery at the Wellington Hospital, St John's Wood, London
Breast surgery at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol
Hand surgery, Microsurgery, and Burns surgery at the St Andrew's Centre, Chelmsford.


Professional memberships

  • New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgeons (NZAPS)
  • Australian and New Zealand Burn Association (ANZBA)
  • American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
  • New Zealand Society for Surgery of the Hand (NZSSH)
  • Academy of Surgical Educators, RACS
  • Chris is the current President of the New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgeons (NZAPS)


Current practice

As well as his private practice, Chris is a Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at Wellington Regional Plastic Surgery and Burn Unit, Hutt Hospital. His main areas of interest are: breast reconstruction; acute and reconstructive burn surgery; and the surgical management of melanoma. He currently chairs the Wellington Regional Multi-disciplinary Melanoma Clinic.

He consults monthly in Nelson at Specialists@132, 132 Collingwood Street.
Chris is credentialed as a visiting specialist at: Wakefield Hospital, Wellington; Boulcott Hospital, Lower Hutt; Manuka Street Trust Hospital, Nelson; and Nelson Hospital, Nelson.
Chris regularly teaches as faculty on clinical courses for surgical trainees. He has also undertaken volunteer work in the Pacific with Interplast Australia and New Zealand.


Publications: C Adams

1. Adams CD
Future development of plastic and reconstructive surgery in Australasia
Australas J, Plast Surg. Volume 5, number 1, March 2022

2. Jayakar R, Yassaie E, Adams CD
Outcomes following therapeutic lymphadenectomy for Stage 111 malignant melanoma in a single unit.
New Zealand Medical Journal: Volume 131, number 1474, May 2018

3. Cleland H, Greenwood JE, Wood FM, Read DJ, Wong She R, Maitz P, Castley A, Vandervord JG, Simcock J
Adams CD Gabbe BJ
The Burns Registry of Australia and New Zealand: progressing the evidence base for burn care.
Medical Journal of Australia: Volume 205, number 5, March 2016

4. Ghosh SJ, James SE, Adams CD, Dziewulski PD
The Use of an island posterior calf fasciocutaneous flap for sensate cover of the burnt knee
Burns: Volume 29, number 7, November 2003

5. Davis C , Adams CD Duncan G
Prepuce Pollicization: A Warning
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: Volume 107, number 4, April 2001 [Correspondence and Brief Communications]

6. Adams CD , Januszkiewicz J, Judson J
Changing Patterns of Severe Craniomaxillofacial Trauma in Auckland over eight years
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery: Volume 70, number 6, June 2000
Presented RACS Annual Scientific Meeting, Auckland, NZ, May 1999

7. Adams CD, Timms FJ, Hanlon M
Phoenix Date Palm Injuries: A review of injuries from the Phoenix Date Palm at the Starship Children’s Hospital
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery: Volume 70, number 5, May 2000

8. Adams CD, Rees MJW
Congenital Trismus Secondary to Masseteric Fibrous Bands - A case study with Endoscopically assisted exploration.
Journal of Craniofacial Surgery: Volume 10, number 4, July 1999
Presented RACS Annual Scientific Meeting, Auckland, NZ, May 1999

Dr Sarah Usmar

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon

enquiries@wpsi.co.nz

Sarah Usmar is a Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon. She has been part of the Wellington Plastic Surgery Institute since 2016 and bases her private practice here.


In addition to general plastic and reconstructive surgery, she has a specialist interest in:

  • hand surgery
  • aesthetic (cosmetic) surgery of the face, breast and trunk
  • cleft lip and palate surgery
  • paediatric plastic surgery


Training and qualifications:

Sarah graduated from Otago Medical School in 2003 and subsequently trained in Plastic and Reconstructive surgery in Auckland and Wellington. She became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) in 2015.


She has spent time overseas

  • completing a hand fellowship in Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney
  • continuing specialist training in Boston, USA and Toronto, Canada


Current practice:

In addition to her private practice, Sarah has also been a Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at Wellington Regional Plastic Surgery, Burns and Maxillofacial Unit since 2015 where she specialises in adult and paediatric hand surgery as well as cleft lip and palate surgery. Her hospital accreditation includes Wakefield Hospital, Hutt Hospital and Boulcott Hospital.


Volunteering:

Sarah is a member of Interplast Australia and New Zealand, she volunteers her time to work in the Pacific Region.

 Dr Sandhya Deo

Dr Sandhya Deo

Plastic & Reconstructive surgeon

Julie Boyd

Julie Boyd

Practice Manager

Angela Winder

Angela Winder

Registered Nurse

Dr Sandhya Deo

Plastic & Reconstructive surgeon

enquiries@wpsi.co.nz

Sandhya Deo is a Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon. She has been part of the Wellington Plastic Surgery Institute since 2018 and bases her private practice here.

In addition to general plastic and reconstructive surgery, she has a specialist interest in:

  • Hand Surgery
  • Reconstructive Breast Surgery
  • Aesthetic (Cosmetic) Surgery of the breast, trunk and face
  • Surgery for skin cancers, including melanoma
  • Burn Reconstruction


Training and Qualifications

Sandhya graduated from Auckland Medical School in 2003 and subsequently trained in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington. She became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) in 2013.


She then spent a further 2 years of sub-specialist training in Toronto, Canada, where she completed fellowships in:

  • Breast Reconstruction & Microsurgery at Women’s College Hospital, Toronto General Hospital and Mt Sinai Hospital
  • Aesthetic Surgery at Toronto Plastic Surgery / The Cumberland Clinic
  • Paediatric Plastic Surgery at The Hospital for Sick Children
  • Hand surgery at Toronto Western Hospital


Professional memberships:

New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgeons (NZAPS) - Councillor


Current practice:

In addition to her private practice, Sandhya has been a Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at the Wellington Regional Plastic Surgery, Burns and Maxillofacial Unit at Hutt Hospital since 2016, where she specialises in Breast Reconstruction Surgery, Hand Surgery and Paediatric Burn Surgery.

Her hospital accreditation includes Hutt Hospital, Wakefield Hospital, Bowen Hospital and Boulcott Hospital.

Julie Boyd

Practice Manager

enquiries@wpsi.co.nz

Julie is the Practice Manager at Wellington Plastic Surgery Institute. She joined us in February 2019 and is responsible for:

  • Financial Management
  • Planning
  • HR
  • IT
  • Communications
  • General management

Julie comes to us with a background in Financial Management within the Real Estate Industry.

Angela Winder

Registered Nurse

enquiries@wpsi.co.nz

Angela is a senior Practice Nurse and has been with us since 2012.  She has a wealth of experience in operating theatres and is a valued member of the team. 

Lucy Brustad

Lucy Brustad

Nurse

Natasha Rodda

Natasha Rodda

Registered Nurse

Phillippa Ward

Phillippa Ward

Medical Secretary

Lucy Brustad

Nurse

enquiries@wpsi.co.nz

Lucy comes to us with a background in Plastics from HVDHB.  Her experience covers a wide range of Plastic Surgery nursing skills, support and knowledge.  She is an integral part of the nursing team. 

Natasha Rodda

Registered Nurse

enquiries@wpsi.co.nz

Natasha is a registered nurse and has been with us since early 2021. She divides her time between Wakefield Hospital theatres and being a Practice Nurse here with us at Wellington Plastic Surgery.

Natasha is a respected member of our team.

Phillippa Ward

Medical Secretary

enquiries@wpsi.co.nz

Phillippa joined us as a Medical Secretary/Typist and administrator in November 2021

She has a wealth of experience in medical typing and administration, having worked in both the public and private sector. Phillippa is a key member of our support team.

Shelley McIlvride

Shelley McIlvride

Specialist Cosmetic Nurse Injector

Gemma Parry

Gemma Parry

Medical Receptionist

Shelley McIlvride

Specialist Cosmetic Nurse Injector

enquiries@wpsi.co.nz

Shelley is our cosmetic injector and is a registered nurse.  She is very passionate about her work and definitely results driven.  She can make a wonderful difference for you and is a great addition to our fabulous team of Plastic Surgeons. 

Gemma Parry

Medical Receptionist

enquiries@wpsi.co.nz

Gemma ( from Oxford, England) joined us at the beginning of February 2023.  Gemma comes with a solid background from the hospitality industry.

She is a pivitol member of the team and the first person to welcome  you when you arrive at our practice.  She has brought to the business many transferrable skills and is a customer service superstar.

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