About Dr. Bolitho

After observing his father's work as a physician in a South African missionary hospital, Dr. Bolitho knew no other dream than medicine. "I was impressed by the impact of simple medical interventions on patients' quality of life," says Dr. Bolitho. Since then, he has explored the practice of general, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.

Dr. Bolitho received his medical degree from the University of the Witwatersrand (cum laude) in 1986. He was awarded several prizes, including the prize for Surgery, and the final year student demonstrating the most clinical ability.

He then completed surgical training over a twelve year period including residency at the University of Cape Town and Emory University in Atlanta for plastic surgery training. During this time he was awarded a PhD in organ transplantation research, a diploma in primary emergency care and numerous other awards for laboratory and clinical research.

His clinical fellowships in hand and microsurgery, aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery, and surgical oncology prepared him for his current practice. In addition to aesthetic surgery, he maintains an active interest in breast reconstruction after mastectomy.

He has made numerous contributions to textbooks and journals on plastic surgery in the fields of pediatric hand surgery, facial aesthetic surgery and tumor reconstruction.

After completion of his training in plastic surgery at Emory University, he remained in university practice as Assistant Professor in the Division of Plastic Surgery at Emory University. After moving to San Diego, Dr. Bolitho was appointed to the faculty at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, where he is currently an associate professor (non-salaried) in Plastic Surgery.

His hospital affiliations include Scripps Memorial La Jolla, Sharp Memorial, and Mary Birch Hospital.

He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of the California Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and a member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic surgeons. He is quadruple board certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery in the United States, Britain, Canada and South Africa. Dr. Bolitho is Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Bolitho is the current Chief of Plastic Surgery at Scripps Memorial Hosptal, La Jolla and was voted as one of San Diego's top plastic surgeons by his peers in conjunction with the San Diego County Medical Society 2012.

From his La Jolla practice, Dr. Bolitho performs aesthetic, breast, hand and micro vascular surgery. He combines enthusiasm for his chosen field with a wealth of surgical training to deliver quality care to all his patients.

Education

MBBCh (Cum Laude) University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1986
Diploma in Primary Emergency Care, 1989
PhD thesis in liver transplantation, 1991
General and Plastic surgery residency, University of Cape Town, 1990 - 1995
Fellowship in Hand surgery, University of Cape Town, 1996
Fellowship in Plastic surgery, Emory University, Atlanta 1997-1998
Fellowship in Surgical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta 1998-1999
Board Certification in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in South Africa, 1995
Board Certification in Plastic Surgery in the United Kingdom, 1998
Board Certification in Plastic Surgery by the Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians of Canada, 2002

Board Certifications

Board Certification in Plastic Surgery (United Kingdom), 1998
Board Certification in Plastic Surgery (Canada), 2002
Board Certification in Plastic Surgery (SA), 1995
Board Certification in Plastic Surgery (USA), 2011

Memberships

Member, American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
Member, California Society of Plastic Surgeons
Member, San Diego Society of Plastic Surgeons
Fellow, American College of Surgeons
Fellow, Royal College of Surgeons of Canada
Fellow, College of Surgeons of South Africa
General Medical Council, United Kingdom
American Medical Association
San Diego County Medical Association

Hospital Affiliations

Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, CA
Mary Birch Hospital for Women, San Diego
Sharp Memorial Hospital
Children's Hospital of San Diego

Dr. Bolitho's Online MD Profiles:

Articles written by Dr. Bolitho:

Textbooks

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Publisher: Lawren Products
2 volumes, 674 pages
An overview of plastic and reconstructive surgery, to aid in the preparation for the final fellowship in Plastic Surgery.

Textbook Chapters

Compressive neuropathies in the upper extremity. DG Bolitho. Emedicine online textbook of Plastic Surgery Aesthetic blepharoplasty and ancillary techniques. P Cajano MD, M Fossarello, MD (Eds).
Tendon transfers in Hand Surgery. DG Bolitho. Emedicine online textbook of Plastic Surgery.
An overview of plastic and reconstructive surgery, to aid in the preparation for the final fellowship in Plastic Surgery.
Flexor tendon injuries. DG Bolitho. Emedicine online textbook of Plastic Surgery.
Extensor tendon injuries. DG Bolitho. Emedicine online textbook of Plastic Surgery.
Congenital hand surgery. DG Bolitho. Emedicine online textbook of Plastic Surgery.

Journals

Operative Techniques in Plastic Surgery. Quality Medical Publishing. Guest editor of edition entitled "Paediatric hand surgery".

Publications

Liver regeneration after hepatic ischaemia and reduced liver autotransplantation in the rat. Glynn Bolitho, Gert Engelbrecht, Zoe Lotz, Marilyn Tyler, Heather McLeod, Kaz Jaskiewicz, Rosemary Hickman. Hepatology 1993; 17: 273-279.
Does hepatic ischaemia influence hepatic regeneration in rats? DG Bolitho, GHC Engelbrecht, Zoe Lotz, Marilyn Tyler, Rosemary Hickman, J Terblanche. S Afr J Surg 1991; 29 ; 168.
Integrins and connective tissue matrix proteins may regulate liver regeneration. C Tilbury, K Jaskiewicz, S Robson, M Voigt, DG Bolitho, D Kahn, R Hickman, R Kirsch. S Afr Med J 1992; 81: 113-114.
Hepatocyte proliferation and DNA synthesis after reduced-size liver auto- and allotransplantation in rats. DG Bolitho, GHC Engelbrecht, Zoe Lotz, Marilyn Tyler, Rosemary Hickman, J Terblanche. S Afr J Surg 1992: 30; 137.
Regeneration after in situ flushing of partially hepatectomized rat livers. DG Bolitho, GHC Engelbrecht, Z Lotz, M Tyler, H McLeod, R Hickman. S Afr J Surg 1995: 33; 78-81.
The superficial temporal venous island flap for eyebrow reconstruction. DG Bolitho, DA Hudson. Eur J Plast Surg 1996.
Primary epineural repair of the median nerve in children. DA Hudson, DG Bolitho, K Hodgetts. J Hand Surg (Br) 1997; 22(1); 54-56.
Primary epineurial repair of the ulnar nerve in children. DG Bolitho, M Boustred, DA Hudson, K Hodgetts. J Hand Surg (Am) 1999: 24(1); 16-20.
Septic arthritis of the small joints of the hand: management and prognosis. AM Boustred, M Singer, DA Hudson, DG Bolitho. Ann Plast Surg 1999: 42(6); 623-629.
Negative-pressure dressings in the treatment of hidradenitis suppuritiva. ET Elwood, DG Bolitho. Ann Plast Surg 2001; 46(1); 49-51.
Breast cancer after augmentation mammaplasty: Treatment by skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate reconstruction. Grant W Carlson MD, Bridgett Moore MD, James F. Thornton MD, Mark Elliott MD, Glynn Bolitho MD. Plast Recontr Surg 2001:107 (3); 687-692.
Results of immediate breast reconstruction after skin-sparing mastectomy. Carlson GW, Losken A, Moore B, Thronton J, Elliot M, Bolitho G, Denson D. Ann Plast Surg 2001: 46(3); 222-228.
Phlegmasia cerulea dolens of the upper extremity. DG Bolitho, E Elwood, Roberts F. Ann Plast Surg 2000; 45(6); 644-646.
Endoscopic harvesting of four muscle flaps: safe and effective techniques. Seify H, Sigurdsen L, Sherif A, Refky M, Bolitho G, Bostwick J, Jones G. Ann Plast Surg (in press).

In The News

Television

Dr. Bolitho has become a respected resource with media on topics related to cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. He has appeared as a medical advisor and community resource with San Diego's and the national electronic media on the following topics:

Discovery Channel. Dr. Bolitho was featured in a segment regarding breast reconstruction.
NBC 7/39 Evening News. Dr. Bolitho was featured in a segment about the large number of women who get breast implants each year.
KFMB Local 8 Early Edition. Dr. Bolitho was featured in a live studio on the possibility of the FDA lifting the ban on silicone implants.
KFMB Local 8 at Four. Dr. Bolitho was interviewed on the topic of America's growing obsession with plastic surgery.
KFMB local 8 at Four. Dr. Bolitho was featured on how to choose a plastic and reconstructive surgeon.
KFMB Weekday Evening News. Dr. Bolitho participated in feature story on the FDA's possible approval of silicone breast implants.
KUSI Morning News. Dr. Bolitho was interviewed live in studio on FDA's consideration of the approval of silicone breast implants.
KUSI Weekend Morning News. Dr. Bolitho was interviewed live on set concerning the FDA regulation of liposuction and dieting.
KUSI Morning News. Dr. Bolitho was interviewed live on set on the topic of ear piercing.
FOX 6 Morning News. Dr. Bolitho was interviewed live on set on the topic of neck liposuction.
FOX 6 Morning News. Dr. Bolitho was interviewed on the topic of saline and silicone breast implants.
FOX 6 Morning News. Dr. Bolitho was featured live on set to discuss breast reduction surgery and the problems associated with large breasts.