Profile

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

AHPRA Reg. No. MED0001785748

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

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

Dr Doherty's clinical foundation combines an Honours engineering background from the University of Melbourne, a medical degree from the University of Sydney, and accredited training and fellowships in plastic and reconstructive surgery across Australia and Europe. He approaches every consultation with care, attention to detail, and a strong evidence base — placing significant emphasis on understanding each patient's goals, anatomy and circumstances before recommending a surgical plan.

He is a hardworking team player committed to patient-centric care, and to the teaching and education of 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 August 2023. He has since undertaken further fellowship training in aesthetic plastic surgery and reconstructive microsurgery in Australia and Europe.

International & Sub-specialty Fellowships

  • Reconstructive Microsurgery Fellowship — Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent, Belgium (July–September 2025). Focus on breast, head and neck reconstructive microsurgery; DIEP and lumbar artery perforator flap breast reconstruction; hybrid reconstruction and revision techniques; high-volume gender-affirming care; iteration of in-house virtual surgical planning and 3D printing workflows.
  • ASAPS Accredited Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Fellowship — St Luke's Hospital, Potts Point (August 2023 – February 2024). Aesthetic breast surgery, facial aesthetics, body contouring and post-massive-weight-loss surgery. Caseload of 330 procedures over six months.

FRACS Surgical Education and Training Program

2018–2023 — ten six-month accredited rotations across NSW, including:

  • Prince of Wales Hospital · Royal Prince Alfred Hospital · Liverpool Hospital
  • St Vincent's Hospital · Westmead Hospital · Royal North Shore Hospital
  • Sydney Children's Hospital Randwick · Sydney Hand Hospital · Sydney Adventist Hospital
  • Fairfield Hospital (Hand Surgery)

Examinations completed: GSSE, Clinical Exam, EMST, CCrISP, ASSET, EMSB, PRSSP.

Recent Consultant Locum Roles

  • Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (April–October 2024). General plastic surgery, upper and lower limb, head and neck, breast reconstructive microsurgery, maxillofacial trauma, hand trauma and elective hand surgery.
  • Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Sunshine Coast University Hospital (February–March 2024). High-volume skin cancer surgery, breast reduction, ortho-plastic limb and head and neck reconstructive microsurgery.

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

Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
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 across major Sydney hospitals.

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 and chief innovator of Spark Surgical (2017–present), a virtual surgical planning service producing patient-specific titanium plates for reconstructive microsurgery and facial trauma cases. Spark's workflow reduces theatre time for demanding cases without the cost or lead-time barriers of traditional commercial VSP — bringing precision pre-operative planning into reach for routine reconstructive practice.

Education & Teaching

  • 2014–2021 — Conjoint Associate Clinical Lecturer, University of New South Wales (St George & Sutherland, Liverpool, and Prince of Wales Clinical Schools)
  • 2025 — RACS Induction for Surgical Supervisors and Trainers
  • 2025 — RACS Foundation Skills for Surgical Educators
  • 2025 — RACS Keeping Trainees on Track

Dr Doherty is actively involved in the supervision and training of pre-vocational doctors, unaccredited registrars and SET trainees, and provides ongoing mentorship and career guidance.

Selected Research & Publications

  • Doherty J, Lowe HC. Unfurling the Coronary: A Novel "Flyover" 3-Dimensional Optical Coherence Tomography Reconstruction Method. JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions, May 2013.
  • Contributing author. Treatment of partial thickness burns: a prospective, randomised controlled trial comparing Biobrane®, Acticoat®, Mepilex® Ag and Aquacel® Ag. Journal of Burn Care & Research, 2021.
  • Doherty J, Ngan P, Monty J, Chong M. The Development of Turbulent Pipe Flow. 16th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, 2007 (cited 62×).

Recent Conference Presentations

  • PSC 2025 — Posterior interosseous nerve palsy due to compression from lipoma: a rare cause and surgical challenge.
  • PSC 2025 — Breast haematoma secondary to CPR: a rare complication in DIEP flap reconstruction 13 years post surgery.
  • NZAPS 2023 — Persistent non-nasal velopharyngeal incompetence secondary to cicatrix: evaluation and management of a rare tonsillectomy complication.
  • ANZBA 2023 — Assessing the reliability of AI-powered burns first-aid advice: a study of ChatGPT's accuracy.
  • PSC 2022 — Is aqueous paint safer? Management of high-pressure paint gun injuries in the hand.
  • RACS ASC 2018 — Patient reported outcomes post fingertip reconstruction using the Segmüller homodigital V-Y neurovascular island flap.
  • PSC 2017 — 3D mandible printing for segmental mandibulectomy surgical planning: exploring the low-cost option.

Speak with Dr Doherty

Request an initial consultation at Mosman or Camperdown.

Request an Appointment