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School of Medicine

Mahendra Daya

Mahendra Daya

Mahendra Daya

Head of Discipline Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

EMAIL
dayam@iafrica.com

TELEPHONE
031-240-2134

CAMPUS
Medical School Campus

Biosketch

Professor Mahendra Daya is the distinguished Head of the Discipline of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at UKZN and Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH). He is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa and is an active member of the Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons of South Africa, also presently completing his PhD research titled “Paper Tape Application in Skin Tissue Expansion and Abnormal Scar Modulation,” a study aimed at advancing innovative and practical approaches to scar management and tissue expansion in reconstructive surgery.

Prof Daya completed his undergraduate medical training at UKZN and following his internship at King Edward VIII Hospital in 1990, he was appointed as a lecturer in the Department of Anatomy at the then University of Natal. This early academic appointment marked the beginning of a long and productive career in medical education and surgical training.

In 1992, Professor Daya commenced his registrar training in General Surgery at King Edward VIII Hospital. Three years later, in 1995, he entered the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery training programme, a specialty in which he immediately felt at home. He has often reflected that his affinity for the field was influenced by a family heritage in tailoring – a background that nurtured an appreciation for precision, craftsmanship, and aesthetic detail, qualities that align closely with the principles of reconstructive surgery.

He completed his specialist training in 1998, qualifying as a Fellow of the College of Plastic Surgeons of South Africa. In 1999, he was appointed as a Specialist Plastic Surgeon at Wentworth Hospital, where he further developed advanced expertise in hand surgery, microvascular surgery, and cleft lip and palate reconstruction. In addition to these areas of focus, he maintained a broad practice in general plastic surgery in order to meet the wide-ranging demands of the public health sector.

In 2001, Professor Daya was appointed as UKZN’s Principal Specialist and Deputy Head of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Throughout his academic career, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to clinical research and evidence-based surgical practice. His work has contributed meaningful new knowledge to the field of reconstructive surgery.

At IALCH, Professor Daya played a pivotal role in developing multidisciplinary surgical services. In collaboration with colleagues from other specialties, he helped establish the Breast Oncoplastic Unit, the Head and Neck Cancer Unit and the Orthoplastic Unit which focuses on complex reconstructive challenges affecting both the upper and lower limbs. In 2009, he also partnered with a General Surgeon and an Oncologist to establish a dedicated Sarcoma Unit.

Professor Daya’s academic career has been both productive and influential. He has presented or authored more than 50 papers at national and international scientific congresses and has published 17 original research articles in internationally recognised peer-reviewed journals. In addition, he contributes to the advancement of scientific scholarship by serving as a guest reviewer for several international medical journals.

Research Interest

  • Microsurgical reconstructions
  • Cleft lip and palate surgery
  • Amniotic Band Syndrome
  • Burn contractures and underlying joint and skeletal deformities
  • Reconstruction in head and neck, upper limb, lower limb, and Breast reconstruction
  • Perforator flaps in reconstruction
  • Treatment of Vascular malformation and Haemangioma
  • Hand surgery
  • Scar management
  • Scar resurfacing by Serial tissue Expansion by Pretaping Technique
  • Soft tissue sarcoma extirpative surgery and reconstructions
  • Complex microsurgical reconstructions
  • Platelet Rich Plasma in complex wound therapy
  • Mechano-wound therapy
  • Regenerative medicine and surgery

List of Publications

  1. 1.     M Daya, A Madaree, O Mahomva, Multistaged reconstruction of the oral     commissures and upper and lower lip with island submental flap and nasolabial flap, Plast Reconstr Surg. 2001 Sep 15;108(4):968-71  
  2. 2.     Daya M, Madaree A, Recreation of the natal cleft by reverse Z- plasty, Br J Plast Surg. 2001 Dec;54(8):729-31
  3. Daya M, Mahomva O, Madaree A, Cronwright K, Application of reduction mammoplasty in giant fibroadenoma in adolescent females: Report of cases and literature review. S Afr J Surg. 2003 May;41(2);39-43
  4. Simango s, Madaree, Mahomva M, Daya M, Lalbahadur. To drain or not to drain? Does suction drainage still have a role in breast reduction, ANZ J of Surgery. 2003;73:A265
  5. Moodley M, Daya M, Moodley J, Vaginal malignant Melanoma: A case report and literature review, Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2004 Jul-Aug;14(4):687-9
  6. Daya M, Nair V. Reconstruction of the severely deformed hand using a thinned anterolateral thigh flap, J Reconstr Microsurg. 22(4),2006 Jul
  7. Daya M, Nair V. Total lower lip reconstruction: Clinical series, J Reconstr Microsurg. 22(4),2006 Jul
  8. Daya M. Clinical experience and analysis of length gain with the use of seven-flap plasty in burn contractures. Burns. 34(7):1022-6, 2008
  9. Daya M. Nostril stenosis corrected by release and serial stenting. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 62(8):1012-9, 2009
  10. Daya M. Peroneal artery perforator chimeric flap: changing the perspective in free fibula flap use in complex oromandibular reconstruction. J Reconstr Microsurg. 24(6):413-8, 2008
  11. Daya M, Nair V. Traction-assisted dermatogenesis by serial intermittent skin tape application. Plast Reconstr Surg. 122(4):1047-54, 2008
  12. Daya M. Amniotic band syndrome with persistent sciatic artery: a case report. Ann Plast Surg. 61(5):549-51, 2008
  13. Daya M. External skin expansion: reply to editor. Plastic Reconstr Surg. 123(6):1895-6, 2009
  14. Daya M, Nair V. Free radial forearm flap lip reconstruction: a clinical series and case reports of technical refinements. Ann Plast Surg 62(4):361-7, 2009
  15. Daya M. Simultaneous total upper and lower lip reconstruction with a free radial forearm-palmaris longus tendon and brachioradialis chimeric flap. J Plast Reconstr aesthet Surg. 63(1):e75-6,2010. Epub 2009 Apr 3
  16. Daya M. Complete resolution of a recurrent giant pyogenic granuloma on the palm of the hand following single dose of intralesional bleomycin injection. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 63(3):e331-3,2010. Epub 2009  Jul 26
  17. Daya M, Balakrishnan T. Advanced Marjolin’s ulcer of the scalp in a 13 year-old boy treated by excision and free tissue transfer: Case report and review of literature. Indian J Plast Surg. 42(1):106-11, 2009
  18.  Daya M, Barnes N. The use of VAC therapy and sternal plating in the treatment of sternotomy wound dehiscence. Eur J Plast Surg. 32(6):287-91,2009
  19. Daya M, Johnson S, Thomson SR, Madensein R. In Total oesophageal reconstruction try, try and try again. S Afr J Surg.47(4):134-6
  20. Daya M, Makakole M. Congenital vascular anomalies in amniotic band syndrome of the limbs. J Paediatr Surg. 46(3):507-13,2011
  21. Daya M. Abnormal scar modulation with the use of micropore tape. Eur J Plast Surg. 34:45-51,2011
  22. Nel CP, Daya M. Buttock reconstruction in sarcoma surgery: An esthetic Sigmoidplasty closure for large circular defect using double opposing skin flaps. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob open. 13;4(10):e1039, 2016
  23. Daya M. Treatment of constriction bands of limbs by fat injection: An additional modality. Plast Surg. 25(3):218-221, 2017
  24. Ogawa R, Daya M, Orgill DP. Discussion: Percutaneous Mesh Expansion: A Regenerative Wound Closure Alternative. Plast Reconstr Surg. 141(2):458-459, 2018
  25.  Daya M, Pillay D. Voice prosthesis related expanding tracheosophageal puncture repair: Microsurgical reconstruction to pedicled pectoralis major muscle flap. South African Journal of Surgery. 56(4):30-33, 2018
  26. Daya M, Balakrishnan T. Surgery for tumours of breast: A 15 year review. South African Journal of Surgery. 56(3):30-36, 2018
  27. Daya M. Pillay T. Head and Neck microsurgical reconstruction using the superficial temporal vein for antegrade and retrograde drainage: A clinical series. European Journal of Plastic Surgery. 42(3):235-242, 2019
  28. Daya M, Madaree, Rabe SE. Diprosopus: A review of the aetiology and case report of early surgery in a 7-week -old infant with a partial facial duplication. European Journal of Plastic Surgery. 42(3):213-222,2019
  29. Young W, Daya M, Govender P. Functional outcome using early controlled active motion in rehabilitation of a replanted hand: A case report. J Hand Ther. 33(3):426-434, 2020
  30. DP Orgill, M Daya Technological Advances to Simplify Lower Extremity Reconstruction Handbook of Lower Extremity Reconstruction, 93-99, 2020
  31. M Daya, C Aldous Acute tissue expansion by pretaping to achieve elliptical excision and closure for skin tumours and soft tissue tumours European Journal of Plastic Surgery 43 (1), 19-28, 2020
  32. Daya M. Intra-tendinous platelet rich plasma injection therapy for healing wounds and exposed tendons: A clinical series. European Journal of Plastic Surgery.46(3): pages, 2023