Mr Jonathan Wheeler Plastic Surgeon volunteers his time to a Craniofacial mission with Operation Smile
I was recently invited to be one of two Plastic and Craniofacial Surgeons involved with the first Craniofacial mission to the southern Phillipines province of Mindanao organised by Operation Smile Australia and supported by Operation Smile Phillipines-Mindanao. Our objective was to work with the local Plastic Surgeons and Neurosurgeons to treat complex congenital craniofacial disorders.
We operated on a number of patients who had frontal encephalocoeles. A frontal encephalocoele is a condition where abnormal brain tissue herniates through into the face and occurs before birth. This causes significant social and personal distress for the patient and family despite the fact that most children are otherwise normally developed. It is a complex process to treat these patients. It requires an operation that combines Plastic Surgery and Neurosurgery to remove the abnormal tissue and restore the face to a more normal appearance. Typically this surgery has to be performed in a specialised hospital which is usually in developed countries. The children and parents are required to travel out of their country and stay at least a month for recovery. This mission was special as we were able to treat these patients in their home country with their own families at their sides with much of the longer term follow-up performed by the local surgeons.
I was one of two volunteers from New Zealand with another Kiwi from Wellington who is a neurosurgeon. The remainder of the 12 strong team was from Australia including the Plastic Surgery Team Leader, an Intensivist, an Anaesthetist and intensive care nurses.
I enjoy volunteering my time for these international initiatives. It is rewarding to be able to use the knowledge and skills I have acquired in my training and current work to help children from less advantaged backgrounds. I enjoy working with the medical staff from Operation Smile Phillipines and we all share a common bond of professionalism and commitment to the safe care of these patients with craniofacial conditions.
If you would like to find out further information about Operation Smile, please visit the website: www.operationsmile.com.au
Mr Jonathan Wheeler joins the NZ Institute of Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery
The New Zealand institute of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery is very pleased to announce that Mr Jonathan Wheeler has joined the practice.
Mr Wheeler is a New Zealand trained Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon who won the Mentor Aesthetic Surgery Prize for Australia and New Zealand in 2007. He worked in Brisbane, Australia as a Fellow and then a Visiting Plastic Surgeon at several of the Private Hospitals. He then travelled with his family to Toronto, Canada to take up a prestigious year-long Plastic and Craniofacial Fellowship at the internationally renowned Hospital for Sick Children.
He is currently appointed as a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at Middlemore Hospital with a sub-specialty interest in Craniomaxillofacial Surgery. He cares for patients with Skin Cancers and has an interest in Plastic Surgery of the Breast. He has a passion for Plastic Surgery of the Face and Nose with his in depth knowledge of Craniofacial Surgery. He continues to pursue his interest in research and Plastic Surgical education.
Mr Wheeler brings with him a commitment to the highest level of surgical skill and patient care, a philosophy integral to the Institute.
With the Inclusion of Mr Wheeler the New Zealand institute of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery strengthens its position as New Zealand's largest and most comprehensive Plastic and Cosmetic Surgical practice.
Mr Wheeler is now available for private consultations. Please phone 09 529-5785 for an appointment or email jsw@plasticsurgeons.co.nz
