Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

The Plastic & Hand Surgery Unit at Northern Health is committed to delivering outstanding care for the community. Our people are passionate about the work they do and strive to offer high quality and safe care. The unit is also dedicated to education with a solid training program and participation in teaching opportunities such as other units’ programs, internship mentorship program, medical school lectures and research projects. Surgical training is key and the unit has trainees in multiple levels of their training, providing a career pathway for those interested in surgery. We foster collaborative work with nurses, allied health professionals and other departments and we are keen to develop further synergy with the community.

The unit provides treatment for a wide range of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery disorders, both elective and emergency with a high work load of trauma related injuries, including:

Wound Clinic
Skin Cancer
Hand Surgery
Breast Reconstruction
Facial Trauma
General Plastic Surgery
Wound Clinic

We aim to maintain, restore or improve function and appearance, either in the treatment of injuries or for medical conditions.

What to expect from the service?

We foster collaborative work with nurses, allied health professionals and other departments and we are keen to develop further synergy with the community.

Our service provides:

Clinic appointments with specialists and nurses
Communication with your GP
Provision of interpreter service
Provision of medical photography
Hospital admission
Emergency surgery (via Emergency Department)
Home visits with nurses
Periodic review for some conditions

Appointment information

How to refer:

A referral is required. Please visit your GP clinic

What to bring:

All relevant investigation results and accurate list of medications
Details of your GP and/or specialist
Any medical reports related to the problem
Radiology films (X-ray, Ultrasound, Scans and MRI) to appointments
Medicare card
Any splints, medications or devices currently used

The Department of Health and Human Services has developed Statewide referral criteria to assist GPs and clinicians referring patients to Specialist Clinics. These referral criteria have been developed to improve access to Specialist Clinics in public hospitals by improving the quality and appropriateness of referrals.

Carpal tunnel and other nerve compression syndromes – Carpal tunnel and other nerve compression syndromes | src.health.vic.gov.au
Dupuytren’s contracture – Dupuytren’s contracture | src.health.vic.gov.au
Hand fractures and infections – Hand fractures and infections | src.health.vic.gov.au
Melanoma – Melanoma | src.health.vic.gov.au
Skin Lesions and other skin cancers – Skin lesions and other skin cancers | src.health.vic.gov.au
Stenosing tenosynovitis including trigger finger – Stenosing tenosynovitis including trigger finger | src.health.vic.gov.au

Exclusion criteria for referral:

(Services not offered by Northern Health Plastic Surgery Service)

Removal of lesions below the neck should be directed to general surgery
Divarication of Recti (Diastasis recti) should be referred to a private surgeon as repair is deemed a cosmetic treatment
Sarcoma referrals should be directed to St. Vincent’s Hospital
Severe burn contractures in paediatrics should be directed to Royal Children’s Hospital
Cosmetic conditions/procedures
Patients who are being treated for the same condition at another Victorian public hospital

Inclusion criteria for referral:

(not an extensive list):

Lesions

Melanoma
Skin Lesions and other cancers

General

Abdominal skin excess
Burns and burn scar management
Foreign body removal
Hidradentis suppurativa (only when referred by dermatologist)
Scar revision and management

Hand

Carpal tunnel and other nerve compression syndromes
Dupuytren’s contracture
Hand fractures and infections
Hand/finger osteoarthritis
Stenosing tenosynovitis including trigger finger

Face

Eye conditions (i.e. blepharochalasis, dermatochalasis, ectropion)
Other faciomaxillary abnormalities
Nasal/facial fractures
Nasal reconstruction

Breast

Breast reconstruction
Breast reduction

How to refer:

Please follow the instructions on the link: Referrals to Specialist Clinics

For detailed referral criteria and required supporting information please see HealthPathways Melbourne via the link below:
HealthPathways Melbourne – Plastic & Hand Surgery

Other Links:

http://www.cancervic.org.au

http://www.surgeons.org

http://www.plasticsurgery.org.au