Description

Founded by Mike & Karen Klaassen in 2012, we provide an urban plastic surgery service and also a regional provincial service to Hamilton and Cambridge in the Waikato region and Whakatane in the Bay of Plenty region and Rotorua / Taupo in the Lakes region. We accept referrals and direct contact for opinions and surgical advice. We always communicate with the patients' family doctors, general practitioners, nursing and medical specialists after seeking consent from the patient. 
 
Mike Klaassen was born in Otahuhu, Auckland in 1956. After graduating from Otago University he trained in many surgical disciplines (paediatric, general, orthopaedic and surgical research) before settling on plastic surgery as his craft. He completed his New Zealand plastic surgery training in 1990 and headed to England and Europe for 3 years before accepting an appointment at Waikato Hospital in 1993. In 2004 he was appointed to one of Sydney’s largest teaching hospitals, St George Hospital in Kogarah and in 2008 he returned to his hometown Auckland. After various locum positions on both sides of the Tasman he set up Parnell Surgeon in April 2012 and this practice provides a wide spectrum of patient-focused surgical services. He spends 3 days at the East Bay Specialist Centre in Whakatane every second week. 
 
As well as years of international experience Mike was an examiner in plastic and reconstructive surgery with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons from 2000 - 2008. He continues to be committed to the training of younger surgeons with regular postgraduate courses run from the practice including preparation / coaching courses for the final fellowship exam FRACS(Plast), held twice a year in March and July. These are timed to prepare candidates for an optimal performance prior to this final hurdle in training.
 
He is also part of a surgical group leading a project to offer modern Cadaver Lab Workshops for learning advanced surgical anatomy in Auckland. His research interests have resulted in The Bodyline Marker Kit for planning breast and body contouring surgery in collaboration with Viscot Medical Inc of New Jersey, USA and more recently collaboration with Dr Kumar Mithraratne PhD at Auckland University's Bioengineering Institute in developing a computer generated model of facial ageing and rejuvenation.
 
Our philosophy in this practice is: doctors first, surgeons second. We aim to offer a personalised, tailor-made and discreet approach to your plastic surgery needs. Please click on the link to learn more about our practice.
 
We offer: consultations, second opinions, medicolegal reports, minor surgery, major surgery, complex surgery and surgical education. Procedures we offer include:
  • Skin tumours (benign & malignant)
  • Skin cancer & melanoma
  • Traumatic defects face, hand, limbs and trunk
  • Breast Surgery, Reconstructive and Rejuvenative
  • Hand Surgery
  • Wounds, ulcers and difficult healing problems
  • Facial and Body rejuvenation
  • Rhinoplasty
  • Otoplasty (Plus: non-surgical molding of ear deformities in the newborn)
  • Gynaecomastia in the male breast
  • Breast Reduction
Some of the questions we are frequently asked can be found here.
 
 
What is Plastic Surgery?
 
A unique medical specialty that understands and respects the beautiful normal.
A branch of medicine based on science, art and surgical craft.
It restores body image, self confidence and hope.
Patients have a right to look as good as they feel.
 
Plastic surgery covers a wide range of different surgical procedures that repair, reconstruct or replace structures in many different parts of the body including the skin, face and head, hands, breast and stomach. Plastic surgery does not involve the use of plastic materials.
Plastic surgery can generally be divided into two main types:
 
  • Reconstructive surgery: is performed on parts of the body that are abnormal or have been affected by a birth defect, accident or disease. This includes cleft lip and palate repair, scar revision or reconstruction (including skin grafts) following burns. Surgery is usually performed to improve function, but may also be performed to bring the appearance of a part of the body as close as possible to normal. It is that half of plastic surgery which aims in Sir Harold Gillies' words 'to achieve the normal.'
 
  • Aesthetic or cosmetic surgery: improves appearance or body image by reshaping features of the face or body e.g. breast enlargement, face lift, liposuction. It is that other half of plastic surgery which aims in Sir Harold Gillies' words 'to surpass the normal'.

Consultants

Referral Expectations

What to expect
You will be coming for a consultation (30 – 45 mins), a consultation and minor surgery (See and Do Session 90 mins) or a short follow-up (15 – 20 mins).
 
What to bring
  • A copy of the referral letter, report or radiology films is useful for our records.
  • Old photographs of yourself if it is an aesthetic problem.
  • Previous opinions that you may have sought.
  • A list of questions that you want answered. 

You will be expected to pay for your consultation and treatment on the day, unless you have prior approval from your health insurer.

You will receive a full and comprehensive copy of the records that we make in regard to your condition.

You can drive home after minor surgery in most cases but we tailor this to each patient, their age, medical status and what type of minor procedure they are having.
 
My PA Karen Klaassen will email additional instructions, regarding where to go and what to remember when attending your appointment, when you make your appointment, or phone you.

Procedures / Treatments

  • Cleft Lip & Cleft Palate

    A cleft lip occurs when there is a failure of normal structures to join together during formation of the lip, resulting in a gap in the lip.… More

  • Haemangiomas

    Also known as port wine stains or strawberry haemangiomas, these are non-cancerous, vascular skin lesions.… More

  • Naevi

    A naevus is a common skin growth composed of special pigment-producing cells.… More

  • Breast Reconstruction

    When a breast has been removed (mastectomy) because of cancer or other disease, it is possible in most cases to reconstruct a breast similar to a natural breast.… More

  • Hand Surgery

    Problems with the appearance or function of the hand can be the result of injury, birth defects or degenerative conditions.… More

  • Scar Revision

    Scar appearance can be improved by various methods including a surgical procedure known as scar revision.… More

  • Skin Lesions

    Skin lesions can be divided into two groups: benign (non-cancerous): e.g.… More

  • Skin Grafting

    If the scar to be revised or skin lesion being removed is particularly large, a skin graft may be performed.… More

  • Breast Enlargement

    Surgery to increase breast size involves inserting silicone sacks (implants) filled with silicone gel or salt water (saline) under the chest muscle and skin.… More

  • Breast Lift

    This is an operation that can lift and reshape sagging breasts.… More

  • Breast Reduction

    Surgery to reduce breast size involves making a cut (incision) around the areola (the dark area around the nipple) straight downwards and along the crease beneath the breast.… More

  • Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

    This procedure involves removing excess skin and fat from the stomach and tightening the muscles of the stomach wall.… More

  • Liposuction

    This procedure removes unwanted pockets of fat from under your skin in specific parts of the body such as the chin, neck, upper arms, stomach, hips and thighs.… More

  • Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

    Excess skin and/or fat can be surgically removed from your upper and/or lower eyelids to give your skin a less wrinkled and puffy appearance.… More

  • Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty)

    Surgery can be carried out to improve the appearance of your nose e.g.… More

  • Ear Surgery (Otoplasty)

    The appearance of ears that are misshaped or protruding (‘bat ears’) can be improved surgically.… More

  • Lip Enhancement

    A surgical procedure can be performed to make your lips to appear fuller without having foreign material injected into them.… More

  • Face Lift

    A face lift can include several different procedures such as a neck lift and/or a brow lift, all designed to reduce lines and wrinkles and lift sagging skin.… More

  • Body Contour Surgery

    For more information about body contour surgery please click here More

Charges

Mr Klaassen is a Southern Cross Affiliated Provider for various services as detailed below:

  • Orthopaedic Services
  • Carpal tunnel release, Carpal tunnel release - bilateral under sedation/local anaesthetic, Carpal tunnel release - unilateral under sedation/local anaesthetic
  • Hemi-knee replacement
  • Skin cancer diagnosis & surgery
    • Comprehensive skin examinations (including dermoscopy), Incisional biopsy, Punch biopsy, Skin cancer diagnosis and treatment, Skin cancer surgery. 

    Document Downloads

    • Instructions (JPG, 58.4 KB)
      My PA Karen Smith (pictured) will contact you by phone, email or text with instructions for your appointment.

    Public Transport

    The Auckland Transport website is a good resource to plan your public transport options.

    Website

    www.parnellsurgeon.co.nz

    Contact Details

    19 Knox Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton

    Waikato

    My personal assistant is Karen Klaassen.

    Her contact phone number is 0800 444 054

    19 Knox Street
    Hamilton
    Waikato 3204

    Information about this location

    View on Google Maps

    Get directions

    Street Address

    19 Knox Street
    Hamilton
    Waikato 3204

    Postal Address

    PO Box 137301
    Parnell
    Auckland 1052

    80 Bassett Road, Remuera

    Central Auckland

    More details…

    Phoenix House, Pyne St, Whakatāne

    Bay of Plenty

    More details…

    This page was last updated at 10:41AM on October 20, 2020. This information is reviewed and edited by Michael Klaassen PLASTIC SURGEON.