Prof. Dr. Nathalie ROCHE studied medicine in Rotterdam, the Netherlands at the Erasmus University. She trained in general and plastic surgery in Nieuwegein, Gouda, Amsterdam (NL) and Ghent and graduated in 2000 from the training program of the department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Ghent under guidance of Prof. Dr. S. Monstrey. She successfully passed the final examinations and obtained the titles of Fellow of the Collegium Chirurgicum Plasticum and Fellow of the European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. From 2001 to 2004 she worked as full-time staff member in the department of Plastic Surgery in the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam (NL), where she mainly performed pediatric plastic surgery, head and neck reconstructions and craniofacial surgery. From 2004 she works as Associate Professor in the department of Plastic Surgery of the University Hospital Ghent. As member of the surgical team that performed the first successful face transplant in the Benelux in 2011, she wrote her PhD thesis "Face Off: Multidisciplinary Approach to Facial Transplantation" in 2015. Since August 2018 Dr Roche also works as a consultant in Cosmed Kliniek, Bosch en Duin (NL). She is an active member of the RBSPC, NVPC, NVEPC, EURAPS and NVSCA.

Prof. Dr. N. Roche is author of more than 100 clinical and scientific papers and presented at several national and international meetings. She also performs charity work as a volunteer plastic surgeon in the developing countries for mainly cleft lip and palate and burn surgery.

Her main fields of interest are pediatric plastic surgery, facial plastic surgery (aesthetic and reconstructive) and breast surgery (aesthetic and reconstructive).

She is team member of the Facial Center UZ Ghent, that was founded in 2020 for a multidisciplinary approach in complex head and neck reconstructions.

Specialties

Cleft lip and palate surgery

Prof. Dr. Roche has special interest and dedication in cleft lip and palate surgery and gained more than 20 years experience in this field. She is member of the multidisciplinary cleft team of the Ghent University Hospital, where total care is provided for cleft patients, starting with parental prenatal counseling until final surgery at adult age in personalized approach. Every year she travels to developing countries to perform surgery in children born with cleft lip and palate in humanitarian setting.

Pediatric plastic surgery

Pediatric plastic surgery is offered in the childfriendly and specialized setting of the Children's Hospital "Princess Elisabeth" of the Ghent University Hospital. Treatments vary from surgery for prominent ears, congenital giant naevus, congenital deformities and vascular anomalies.

Eyelid surgery

Upper and lower eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty are common performed procedures. Most indications are for aesthetic reasons; in some specific cases of upper eyelid surgery, reimbursement by the health insurance is possible. Upper blepharoplasty is performed under local anesthesia, lower eyelid corrections under general anesthesia.

Rhinoplasty

Correction of the nose is another special interest of Prof. Dr. Roche. She performs this surgery on a regular basis; indications can be of primary aesthetic or functional/reconstructive reasons such as in cleft lip patients, posttraumatic or nasal obstruction. Prof. Dr Roche also performs revisional rhinoplasty. All rhinoplasties are performed under general anesthesia with an open approach as this provides maximal visibility of the deformity and precise correction.

Reconstructive and aesthetic breast surgery

Reconstructive breast surgery is performed for correction of congenital breast deformities or deformities after oncological surgery on the breast. Many options are available and the best option is chosen together with the patient based on individual needs. For breast reconstruction implants are an option or autologous tissue (of the patient self). In our department there is a strong preference for autologous tissue for many reasons, such as natural and better long-term results, durability and less future complications.

Aesthetic breast surgery includes corrections such as breast augmentation and breast lift. These procedures are not reimbursed by the health insurance.

Non-surgical facial rejuvenation

Treatments with injectables (fillers and muscle relaxants) are very popular aesthetic non-surgical treatments for facial rejuvenation to eliminate or fill up deep facial lines and improve facial appearance. These procedures are performed office-based and immediate return to daily activities is possible.

Contact

For appointments in Belgium: please contact the secretary office of the Ghent University Hospital, tel +32 9 332 32 78.
For appointments in the Netherlands, please contact the SAM kliniek, Van der Palmkade 148, Amsterdam, tel +31 20 261 46 88 or via www.samkliniek.nl
E-mail: info@nathalieroche.be

Links

www.vier.be/topdokters
www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20170404_02816964/maak-kennis-met-deze-4-nieuwe-topdokters
Lecture in the series "De Maakbare Mens" by Dr. Nathalie Roche about the first face transplantation in the Benelux
www.uzgent.be/nl/zorgaanbod/mdspecialismen/Plastische-heelkunde
www.uzgent.be/nl/zorgaanbod/gezondheidsdossier/Schisis
www.schisis-cranio.nl
www.researchgate.net
www.samkliniek.nl
www.tessunlimited.nl