About Dr Joe Slabbert

• A Fellow of the College of Surgeons of South Africa
• Registered as a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon with the Health Professions Council of South Africa
• Registered as a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon with the South African Medical Association
• A Full Member of The Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons of Southern Africa (APRSSA)

Dr Joe Slabbert graduated at the University of the Witwatersrand as a medical doctor (1986) and completed his medical internship at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital. For the first six months at Baragwanath, he was involved in general medicine and for the second period, he focussed on general surgery training.

From 1991-1994, Dr Slabbert underwent Surgical Registrar training at both at Baragwanath and Groote Schuur Hospitals. The focus was on general, vascular and trauma surgery.

In the following five year period (1994-1999), Dr Slabbert completed his Plastic Surgery Registrar training at the University of the Witwatersrand with practical training at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic, Baragwanath and the Helen Joseph hospitals. During this time he honed his surgical skills in the following areas:

• General plastic surgery
• Cranio facial
• Hand surgery (trauma & elective)
• Lower limb reconstruction
• Head and neck surgeries
• Paediatric surgeries including cleft lips and palate, cranial facial and burns
• Microsurgery (nerve repair, small vessel repair, free tissue transfer)

Dr Slabbert was mentored by three renowned plastic surgeons namely:

• Dr Gereth Edwards (surgery, cosmetic, reconstructive and microsurgery)
• Dr Tom Ford (general plastic surgery, breast, facial cosmetic and abdominoplasty)
• Dr Colin Song – Head of Department - Wits Plastic Surgery (microsurgery, reconstructive, burns, hand surgery including nerve/tendon repair)

Dr Slabbert gained extensive experience in dealing with major trauma and cancer reconstruction cases at the Netcare Milpark Hospital. In fact, in 2017, he received an award for 25 years of service to the Trauma Department of the hospital.

Dr Slabbert has lectured extensively and provided weekly tutorials to medical students during their trauma block including soft tissue and facial injuries. He also lectured on burns management and breast cancer reconstruction.

As a registrar he regularly presented papers at the APRASSA Congress. Post-registrar he has presented on breast cancer plastic surgery at the Warsaw Congress and on chemical burns at a symposium in Rivonia, Johannesburg. He has also lectured on nerve repair at various symposiums.

Dr Slabbert is dedicated to the welling of his patients and believes in providing personalised attention throughout the surgical journey with each and every person under his care.

"Very often, the plastic surgeon and his or her patients will spend prolonged periods of time with each other. This has taught me a few things:"

"It is extremely important to avoid risky or excessive surgery.
It is essential to give patients as much information as they can deal with. The more the patient knows, the better.
Communication and understanding are vital elements in the relationship with patients.
If any complications occur, early diagnosis and prompt surgical response are essential."

"The principle of “Do no harm” remains the paramount role of surgery."