It’s a well-established fact that New Zealand’s plastic surgeons are among the finest in the world both in the past and present.
Local people are fortunate to have one of their most experienced, Dr Martin Rees, based two days a week at Marina Specialists, in the Compass Building at Half Moon Bay Marina.
He has lived locally for about a decade. After many years at Half Moon Bay, Mr Rees now lives in Whitford, so he is readily available to his patients.
A Cosmetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon, who has been in private practice since 1988, he founded the Auckland Plastic Surgical Centre in Remuera in 1996.
His two practice partners are Dr Tristan de Chalain and Dr Alessandra Canal. With the assistance of Dr Bruce Page, Mr Rees established the Marina Specialists in 2009.
After graduating from Otago Medical School in 1972, Mr Rees began his plastic surgical training at Middlemore Hospital under the tutelage of Sir William Manchester passing his final exam for his Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 1979.
Advanced specialty training in Britain and Australia saw Mr Rees develop and publish new techniques for studying vascular anatomy and super-specialising in cleft / craniofacial / head and neck surgery and micro-vascular free fl ap reconstructive surgery.
Returning to New Zealand in 1985, he co-founded the Cranio Facial Clinic at Middlemore Hospital, specialising in cleft / cranio maxillo facial surgeries. His pioneering work with facial and jawbone distraction technology has enabled Mr Rees and others to effectively treat previously untreatable conditions.
The main focus in establishing Marina Specialists was to provide efficient and quality Plastic Surgery for the Howick district locals.
“It has been very, very successful with over twenty specialists working there, now. Last year a second plastic surgeon, Dr Amber Moazzam, joined our team. We also have two excellent theatre nurses on site (Alayne and Marianne) and we work alongside dermatologists, Dr Paul Jarret and Dr Karen Agnew.”
“People appreciate the convenience of the Marina location and enjoy being there in a very nice destination – complete with shops, cafes, restaurants and excellent parking and boating facilities,” he explains.
The bulk of Mr Rees’ work at Half Moon Bay covers skin cancer. “Not surprisingly, located in a haven for boaties, we frequently treat skin cancers, including Melanoma, Squamous and Basal Cell Carcinomas.”
But, his field of expertise also encompasses cosmetic facial, breast and abdominal surgeries, liposculpture, cleft lip and palate, cranio maxillo facial, micro-vascular and hand surgery. His main interests now are facelifts, blepharoplasty (eyelids), rhinoplasty (noses), otoplasty (ears), hand and skin cancer surgery.
“Minor surgeries for skin cancers, hand surgeries and minor cosmetic procedures can be done under local or intravenous anaesthetic in the Marina Specialists Theatre. While I can do consultations and after-care for major surgeries at Marina Specialists, patients who need a general anaesthetic are treated though my Auckland Plastic Surgical Centre rooms and Remuera Surgical Care in the OneHealth Building at 122 Remuera Road. We have two ‘GA’ theatres there with excellent overnight ward facilities.”
Mr Rees has a word of caution for those drawn by the lure of cheap cosmetic surgery with exotic holidays in Thailand.
“New Zealand Plastic surgeons see a steady trickle of people who need botched ‘over-seas surgery’ fixed up and the long-distance travel/surgery combinations come with lots of risks,” he says.
“If you are considering surgery, do see a local plastic surgeon for high quality work and great follow-up care. Our surgeons are among the best trained in the world.”
Mr Martin Rees
Plastic, Cosmetic & Hand Surgery,
Marina Specialists,
Compass Building, The Marina,
Half Moon Bay. Phone 534 4040.
