Dr Rahul V Jayakar
Plastic Surgeon
Lower Hutt · Porirua · Palmerston North
MBChB FRACS
My Background…
I am a Plastic Surgeon with a strong commitment to helping people maintain their health, restore function, and achieve outcomes that enhance their confidence and quality of life.
Whether surgery is required for medical, functional or cosmetic reasons, my focus is on providing personalised care and achieving the best possible result for each individual patient.
Throughout my medical training and advanced Plastic Surgery fellowship training in both New Zealand and Australia, I developed extensive experience across a broad range of specialist procedures.
My areas of expertise include:
- Head and neck cancer surgery, including cancers of the mouth, lips and salivary glands.
- Skin cancer surgery, including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and advanced skin cancers.
- Hand surgery, including carpal tunnel release and tendon surgery.
- Breast surgery, including breast reduction, breast augmentation (implants), breast lift and other reconstructive breast procedures.
- Cosmetic surgery of the face and body, including body contouring procedures.
- Reconstructive surgery, including skin grafts, local flaps and microvascular reconstruction.
While these are my primary areas of expertise, every patient is unique. I take the time to understand each person’s circumstances, concerns and goals before recommending the treatment option that is most appropriate for them.
My aim is to combine specialist surgical expertise with careful attention to detail, clear communication and quality care. My focus is to ensure each and every patient feels informed, supported and confident throughout their treatment journey.
I practise part of the week at Hutt Hospital as a Consultant as a member of the Plastic Surgery team.
My private practice covers 3 private clinics based across the greater Wellington region and Palmerston North.
At my private clinics, I provide the initial consultations with surgeries undertaken at Boulcott Hospital, Bowen Hospital, and Wakefield Hospital.
Specialist area | Head and neck cancer surgery
I have completed subspecialty training, including internationally renowned fellowships in the treatment of head and neck cancers.
I am a member of regional multidisciplinary teams managing head and neck cancer in the lower North Island, which provides me the ability to access to the region’s best facilities along with an expert team of colleagues.
Specialist area | Skin cancer surgery
One of my specialty areas is the treatment of skin cancer, which includes melanoma squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma.
Depending on each individual case, the surgery may require the need to remove one or all lymph nodes from the neck, arm or groin.
Qualifications and Training
Batchelor of Medicine and Batchelor of Surgery – MBChB – University of Auckland.
My initial surgical experience – Wellington region – furthering my experience in ENT surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery and Emergency medicine.
Further experience – specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery training at Hutt Hospital (Lower Hutt) and Middlemore Hospital (Auckland).
Further post-fellowship subspecialty training – head and neck surgery. 12-month fellowship in Head and Neck resection and microvascular reconstruction at Hutt Hospital (2023).
New Zealand Institute of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery in Remuera, Auckland (2024) – 6 months on fellowship.
Further post-fellowship subspecialty training – head and neck surgery – at the Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute at RPA and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse (2025).
Returned to Wellington (Dec 2025). I joined the Wellington regional Plastics, Maxillofacial and Burns team at Hutt Hospital as a Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. As part of this, I contribute to the Wellington and Mid-Central Head and Neck multidisciplinary meetings as well as being rostered as a Consultant for on-call plastic surgery.
Assisting the next generation of doctors
As part of my role as a Consultant at Hutt Hospital, I provide support and on-site training to the next generation of specialist Plastic Surgeons.
This includes:
- Regularly supervising trainees during elective surgical operating lists, trauma operations and during standard clinics.
- Regularly hosting a national teaching session for trainees across New Zealand
- Assisting in setting the standard for the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Science and Principles (PRSSP) Examination.
