About — Dr James Doherty | Specialist Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon

Profile

FRACS(Plast) · MBBS(Syd) · GDAAD · BEng(Hons)(Melb)

Ahpra registration MED0001785748 (specialist registration in surgery — plastic surgery)

Dr James Doherty is a Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon based in Sydney. His practice spans reconstructive microsurgery, craniomaxillofacial trauma and hand surgery, alongside aesthetic surgery of the face, breast and body.

His reconstructive microsurgery work covers breast, head and neck, and lower limb reconstruction. He works as a co-surgeon in a high-volume DIEP-flap breast reconstruction service, and brings sub-specialty experience from a 2025 reconstructive microsurgery fellowship at Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent in Belgium.

Before medicine, Dr Doherty completed an Honours degree in mechanical engineering — a background he still draws on in surgical planning, 3D modelling and the design of patient-specific implants. He approaches every consultation with care, attention to detail and a strong evidence base, taking the time to understand each patient’s goals, anatomy and circumstances before recommending a surgical plan. He is actively involved in teaching the next generation of surgeons.

Dr James Doherty, Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon — Dr James Doherty · Sydney

Qualifications

FRACS (Plast.)
Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in Plastic Surgery — 2023
MBBS
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery — University of Sydney, Concord Clinical School (2012)

GDAAD
Graduate Diploma of Advanced Anatomy by Dissection — University of New England (2014–2015)
BEng (Hons)
Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical & Manufacturing), First Class Honours — University of Melbourne (2008)

Training Pathway

Australian-trained, internationally fellowship-trained

Dr Doherty completed accredited Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery training in New South Wales through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons SET Program, achieving Fellowship in 2023. His training included rotations at Prince of Wales, Royal Prince Alfred, Liverpool, St Vincent’s, Westmead, Royal North Shore, Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick, Sydney Hand Hospital, Sydney Adventist and Fairfield Hospitals.

He has since undertaken further fellowship training in aesthetic plastic surgery and reconstructive microsurgery:

Reconstructive Microsurgery Fellowship — Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent, Belgium (2025). Breast, head and neck reconstructive microsurgery; DIEP and lumbar artery perforator flap breast reconstruction; hybrid and revision techniques; virtual surgical planning and 3D printing workflows.
ASAPS Accredited Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Fellowship — St Luke’s Hospital, Potts Point (2023–2024). Aesthetic breast surgery, facial aesthetics, body contouring and post-weight-loss surgery, with a caseload of 330 procedures over six months.

He has also held consultant appointments at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Sunshine Coast University Hospital, covering general plastic surgery, reconstructive microsurgery, maxillofacial trauma and hand surgery.

Areas of practice

Reconstructive microsurgery — DIEP, PAP, TUG and lumbar flap breast reconstruction
Lower limb reconstruction for orthopaedic trauma and oncology
Head and neck reconstruction
Craniomaxillofacial trauma
Hand surgery — trauma, fractures and compression neuropathies
Skin cancer surgery and post-Mohs reconstruction
Aesthetic surgery of the face, breast and body
Virtual surgical planning and 3D printing for complex reconstruction

Professional affiliations

Member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons

Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and Member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (Full Membership 2024–2026).

Hospital Appointments

Where Dr Doherty operates

Dr Doherty holds Visiting Medical Officer appointments at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse (Camperdown), Mater Hospital (North Sydney), North Shore Private (St Leonards), East Sydney Private (Woolloomooloo), Hunters Hill Private, Strathfield Private, Prince of Wales Private (Randwick) and Double Bay Day Hospital.

Chris O'Brien Lifehouse

119 Missenden Road, Camperdown — comprehensive cancer hospital where Dr Doherty performs reconstructive microsurgery and skin cancer reconstruction.

Mater Hospital

Rocklands Road, North Sydney.

North Shore Private

Westbourne Street, St Leonards.

East Sydney Private

75 Crown Street, Woolloomooloo.

Hunters Hill Private

9 Mount Street, Hunters Hill.

Strathfield Private

3 Everton Road, Strathfield.

Prince of Wales Private

Barker Street, Randwick.

Double Bay Day Hospital

New South Head Road, Double Bay.

Innovation

Spark Surgical — virtual surgical planning

Dr Doherty is the founder of Spark Surgical (2017–present), a virtual surgical planning service producing patient-specific titanium plates for reconstructive microsurgery and facial trauma. The service is designed to bring precision pre-operative planning into routine reconstructive practice.

Teaching and research

Dr Doherty held a Conjoint Associate Clinical Lecturer appointment at the University of New South Wales from 2014 to 2021 and is involved in the supervision and mentoring of junior doctors and surgical trainees. He has published and presented on reconstructive techniques, hand trauma, burns care and surgical planning; a list of selected publications and conference presentations is available on request.

About Dr James Doherty