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Dr. de Chalain

MSc. MB ChB. FCSSA. FRCSC. FRACS
Tristan Blandin de Chalain is a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon who has been in private practice since 1997, initially in parallel with his academic commitments at Middlemore Hospital, but in full-time private practice only, for the past ten years. Tristan particularly specialises in facial restoration after trauma or cancer resection, body contouring, complex reconstructions and paediatric plastic surgery. He also offers a comprehensive range of breast and hand surgeries. As an aesthetic surgeon he is best known for his work on restoring the aging face, offering a range of non-surgical and surgical approaches to rejuvenation of the eyelids, the face, the mid-face, the neck, mouth and chin and the brow.
Born in Canada, Tristan trained as a Biologist, completing BSc., BSC (Hons) and MScdegrees before switching to Medicine. He completed his medical and surgical degrees in South Africa (MBChB, FCSSA). He then undertook 5 years of advanced Fellowship training at the prestigious Emory Clinic in Atlanta, Ga., USA, and at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, where he took the Canadian Fellowship in Plastic Surgery (FRCSC). This training included the latest techniques for body contouring and facial rejuvenation, as well as endoscopic and micro-surgical reconstruction, paediatric and cranio-facial surgery, and surgery of congenital malformations such as vascular anomalies and cleft lip and palate. At Emory, he also helped to develop and teach endoscopic techniques for facial rejuvenation.
In 1997, he was invited to move, with his family, to New Zealand, to join the senior staff in the Plastic Surgery Unit at Middlemore Hospital, where he focused on cleft lip and palate surgery, facial trauma and chest wall reconstruction. Here he also took the Australasian Fellowship in Plastic Surgery (FRACS). Prior to leaving the public hospital to pursue a full-time private practice, he was director of training in the Plastic Surgery department and served as vice president of the New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgeons and President of the Foundation for Cosmetic Plastic Surgery.
Tristan has received numerous respected awards and scholarships including an American Fulbright Scholarship and has more than 40 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters to his credit. Despite the breadth and depth of his training and experience, a key passion remains facial restoration following skin cancer, injury or ageing. Travelling annually to the Philippines, he treats underprivileged children with cleft lip and palate conditions pro bono for Operation Restore Hope NZ, a Charitable Trust he and his wife Lauren, a physiotherapist, established in 1999. He also offers his time and expertise gratis at the Auckland Regional Charitable Hospital and is still involved with teaching trainees in Plastic Surgery.
In his spare time he enjoys tinkering in his shed, writing and reading. He is happily married with two young adult children.
Degrees & Training
• BSc(Hons) 1977 – Natal University and MSc. (with distinction) – University of Cape Town 1980, South Africa
• MBChB- University of Cape Town 1984.
• Emory University – Resident and Fellow in Plastic Sugery 1993-1995
• Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada – Specialist Certificate in Plastic Surgery Sept 1995
Fellowships
• Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) 1997
• South African College of Surgeons (FCSSA) 1992
• Royal Canadian College of Surgeons (FRCSC)- Nov 1995
• University of Toronto – Paediatrisc& Adult Craniomaxillofacial Surgery July 1996 – June 1997
Memberships
• New Zealand Foundation for Cosmetic Plastic Surgery (Past President)
• International Society for Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
• International Society for Aesthetic Surgery
• Australian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
• New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgeons

Procedures