Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: A Brief History

The Department of Plastic Surgery was established as an independent entity in 1994, with Professor Anil Madaree appointed as Chair. Originally located at Wentworth Hospital, the department moved to the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital in March 2003. Professor Madaree significantly advanced the department, focusing on cleft lip and palate surgery and collaborating with Operation Smile to provide care in underserved regions. Prof. Madaree retired as head of the department in 2023 and was succeeded by Prof. Daya, who has served as acting head since then. Prof. Daya has a diverse range of interests, including sarcoma surgery and head and neck reconstruction. He joined the department in 1994 as a registrar and has been a consultant and principal specialist since 1998.

Early History

In the 1940s, Major Jack Penn and Lt. Colonel Norman Petersen, the first South African plastic surgeons, trained in the UK under pioneers like Sir Harold Gillies and Archibald McIndoe. Penn returned to Johannesburg, utilizing Harry Oppenheimer’s home for a military hospital dedicated to plastic surgery. Petersen treated injured airmen in Durban before moving to Cape Town post-war.

Following the war, Penn continued to support plastic surgery in Durban, with templates of care evolving at Addington Hospital. In the early 1950s, Franklin (Barney) Bishop became the first plastic surgeon at Addington Hospital while navigating conflicts with general surgeons over surgical specialties.

In 1956, Bishop established a dedicated ward for plastic surgery at Wentworth Hospital, which became the nucleus for the current Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department. The unit was initially a subdivision of the General Surgery department at Natal University, staffed by both full-time specialists and surgeons in training.

Barney Bishop facilitated training for Michael Harris, who subsequently joined him in practice, expanding the plastic surgery service across multiple hospitals. The unit was officially recognized as a sub-department of Surgery in 1969, thanks to the efforts of Bishop and Harris.

Growth and Development

In the 1970s, Willie de Villiers took over the plastic surgery department at R K Khan Hospital, initiating a Journal Club that remains active today. He, along with others, established a Craniofacial Unit, which relocated to Wentworth Hospital in 1995.

Edward Bowen Jones became head of the department in 1982, launching specialized clinics focusing on cleft lip and palate, burns surgery, and microsurgical services. He advocated for a full professorial chair in Plastic Surgery at the University of Natal and stepped down in 1991 to enter private practice.

Professor Anil Madaree was appointed as the first full-time Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Natal in 1994. A former registrar in the department, he trained abroad at the University of Pennsylvania and went on to develop a strong focus on craniofacial surgery and cleft repair, a field in which he made significant contributions until his retirement in 2023. Following his retirement, he has continued to work part-time in the department, contributing his expertise in craniofacial surgery. Professor Mahendra Daya subsequently assumed the leadership of the department and continues to serve as its head to the present day.

Current Status

The Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery remains committed to high standards of patient care and education, addressing complex surgical needs while expanding its role in both clinical and academic domains