AWSA 2025

Dr Ramin Shayan

Brighton Plastic Surgery

Associate Professor Ramin Shayan is a registered medical practitioner holding both general and specialist registration in plastic surgery. He performs a complete range of plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic surgery procedures for both men and women and joined Brighton Plastic Surgery in 2014. A/Prof Shayan is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and Director of The O’Brien Institute at St Vincent’s Institute, investigating tissue engineering and the molecular science behind diseases of cancer survivorship and regenerative medicine. A/Prof Shayan provides treatment in general plastic surgery, all facets of skin cancer and melanoma surgery (including lymph node surgery) hand surgery, microsurgery and reconstruction of the breast, head and neck and limbs after cancer removal. He treats patients for aesthetic surgery of the body, breast and face and has an interest in resection of breast implants and capsules (capsulectomy) and breast reconstruction using the patient’s own tissues. A/Prof Shayan also provides specialist treatment for patients suffering lymphoedema, a chronic condition that causes swelling when the lymphatic system is not able to drain fluid properly.

This includes microsurgery (lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) surgery), free vascularised lymph node transfer (VLNT), fat grafting and Lymphedema liposuction of the arms and legs, depending on the stage of the disease.

A/Prof Shayan is also well known internationally for his pioneering work with Lipoedema patients, offering surgical options for the under-recognised complex condition, commonly affecting women. A/Prof Shayan was the subject of two international National Geographic Documentary Series (Miracle Hospital) that featured his clinical and research work on Lymphoedma and Lipoedema and treats patients from interstate and internationally for these conditions. A/Prof Shayan received his medical degree from the University of Melbourne in 2001 and also obtained a PhD from the University of Melbourne in 2005-2007 studying the molecular biology of Lymphoedma, the lymphatic system and cancer metastasis. At the University of Melbourne he was a student representative to the AMA. He was awarded the University of Melbourne medal in Surgery and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons JP Prize for top candidate in Surgery.

During his PhD he was awarded the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Raelene Boyle Cancer Scholarship and Surgeon Scientist Scholarships and won the Ludwig Institute Prize, the Melbourne Health Prize and the Plastic Surgery Research Prize for three consecutive years. A/Prof Shayan undertook specialist training in Victoria, Australia and was awarded the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons Examination Prize for an Essay in Fat Grafting. He undertook international training in Vienna and London and in 2015, A/Prof Shayan became the director of Australia’s leading Surgical Research and Microsurgery Institute, the O’Brien Institute. He is now Director of the OBI Department, St Vincent’s Institute for Medical research and has published over 50 academic papers in journals ranging from leading Clinical Plastic Journals to journals Nature, Cancer Cell and Nature Reviews.

A/Prof Shayan is an editor on seven international journals and sits on the educational committee of the Australasian Society of Plastic Surgeons. He was convenor of the Plastic Surgery Section of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress 2020-21.

BACK TO THE SPEAKERS PAGE