Making a real difference with plastic surgery
For many Batswana, the term ‘plastic surgery’ carries an air of mystery.
Most dismiss it with a sense of suspicion, assuming it’s a luxury reserved for the wealthy or even vain celebrities, aging Hollywood types desperately trying to regain the good looks of their youth
But as Dr. Uamunovandu Tjinyeka explains in this feel-good feature, plastic surgery is far more than that!
One of Botswana’s first fully-trained plastic and reconstructive surgeons, to him it is about saving lives, restoring dignity and helping people reclaim parts of themselves they feared were gone forever.
At just 41, Dr. Tjinyeka already stands as a pioneer in this misunderstood but much-needed field.
The Maun native’s path to becoming a plastic surgeon began in a South Africa and a baptism of fire.
After completing his Master of Medicine in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Wits University in 2020, he trained in some of the country’s busiest and most demanding hospitals.
At Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, the third largest hospital in the world, the young surgeon saw it all.
“You see everything under the sun there. Burns, accidents, deformities, cancer cases, everything. It prepares you for real work!”
After such an intense grounding and eye-opening introduction to medicine, one might have expected Dr. Tjinyeka to remain abroad.
Instead, he retraced his steps home, joining Princess Marina Hospital as a consultant surgeon and later lecturing at the University of Botswana (UB).
Before his return, Botswana had very limited plastic surgery services. Many patients relied on annual volunteer missions or had to scrape together money to travel outside the country.
The result was that burn survivors, breast cancer patients, accident victims, and children born with deformities often suffered in silence.
“There was a big void. Imagine a woman who lost her breast after cancer, or a child born with a hand deformity, and they have nowhere to go. That’s what pushed me to come home,” he explains.
In 2021, motivated by the need for accessible specialist care, he opened his private practice, Dr Tjinyeka Plastic Surgery, operating out of both Gaborone Private Hospital (GPH) and Sidilega.
Today, Dr. Tjinyeka sees a wide range of patients, from those with life-threatening injuries to those seeking confidence and comfort in their own bodies.
His cases range from: burn reconstruction, breast reconstruction after cancer, hand and nerve injuries, paediatric deformities, chronic wounds, limb reconstruction and cosmetic procedures like tummy tucks, liposuction and breast lifts.
But his work also includes something many people overlook: helping ordinary men and women who simply want to feel whole again.
He sees mothers whose abdominal muscles no longer work after childbirth, road accident victims, children bullied for deformities and cancer survivors.
Each one comes searching for relief, not vanity.
“The confidence people gain is life-changing; I can’t turn patients away. Sometimes I’m the only one who can help! Loose skin cannot be fixed by exercising. No amount of gym can repair separated abdominal muscles after pregnancy. That’s why some people need a tummy tuck,” notes Dr. Tjinyeka.
He also challenges the idea that plastic surgery is only for the rich.
“Our prices depend on the procedure and are very reasonable compared to South Africa. I want my services to be accessible to the average Motswana,” says the surgeon.
However, he is quick to emphasis that cosmetic surgery should never replace a healthy lifestyle – it should complement it!
“Start with good eating, exercise, and then surgery comes at the end. It’s a journey.”
It is one aspect Dr. Tjinyeka does not budge on.
Smokers must quit. Blood pressure must be controlled. Patients with high BMI must reduce weight first.
“If a patient is not medically ready, I refuse to operate. Honest conversations build trust. It’s better to delay than risk complications,” he explains, adding complications, though rare, are managed quickly with a full medical team.
His days are packed, some spent entirely in theatre, others dedicated to consultations, wound care and emotional support.
“We walk the entire journey with them; surgery is just one part of the process!”
He also handles revision surgeries for patients unhappy with procedures done elsewhere.
“It’s tough work,” he admits. “But if we can help, we do. People deserve a second chance.”
Every burn survivor who finally stretches their hand again, every child who can now walk without pain, every woman who sees wholeness in her reflection after cancer, each one represents a new chapter for Botswana’s healthcare story.
Plastic surgery is not about superficial changes. It is about mobility, confidence, mental health and quality of life. It is about giving people their lives back.
Beyond the operating room, Dr. Tjinyeka is passionate about training the next generation of surgeons and hopes to help push Botswana forward in reconstructive and aesthetic medicine.
He dreams of a future where Botswana no longer relies on visiting specialists or cross-border referrals; a future where young medical students can choose plastic surgery as a specialty and train right here at home.
“I want Botswana to reach a point where plastic surgery is normal, accessible, and understood not feared, misunderstood, or seen as foreign,” he says.
Despite the long hours and difficult cases, the doctor remains humble.
“It’s not about titles or recognition,” he says. “It’s about how many lives you touch while you’re still alive.”
Every thank-you message, every patient who walks into his office with pain and leaves with hope, reminds him why he chose this path.
