Dr Elijah Cai is a board-certified plastic surgeon and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Glasgow. He has a special interest in cleft and craniomaxillofacial reconstruction, and manages a wide spectrum of conditions including facial trauma, tumours, and congenital malformations. His clinical expertise also includes breast reconstruction following cancer surgery, complex wound management, and aesthetic surgery.
Dr Cai has received numerous recognitions for his work, including the prestigious College of Surgeons Gold Medal Award. He is actively involved in academic research and has authored multiple publications in the field of craniomaxillofacial reconstruction. He has also contributed a book chapter on the use of surgical navigation in facial trauma reconstruction. In addition, he serves as a reviewer for several international journals, including Archives of Plastic Surgery, the official journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Passionate about innovation in surgery, Dr Cai is a founding member of the Holomedicine Association. He plays an active role in advancing the use of intra-operative navigation, mixed reality, and 3D printing technologies in complex reconstructive procedures. He is also among the international pioneers in applying mixed reality technology for the reconstruction of congenital facial malformations.
Dr Cai is committed to medical education and mentorship. He has served as Chairperson of the Residents’ Research Committee and has mentored undergraduate students from the Division of Industrial Design at the National University of Singapore (NUS). He believes strongly in transforming ideas and innovations into practical clinical devices that enhance patient care and surgical outcomes.
Dedicated to teaching, Dr Cai is actively involved in the training of medical and dental undergraduates. He has directed numerous surgical workshops for trainees and serves as a Clinical Tutor at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS. He previously served as Convenor for the Bachelor of Dental Surgery programme at NUS.
Dr Cai also participates regularly in international conferences to exchange knowledge with specialists worldwide. He has taken part in multiple surgical mission trips across Asia as part of professional exchange programmes. His work has been featured in major media outlets, including The Straits Times for the surgical treatment of Crouzon Syndrome and Lianhe Zaobao on the topic of aesthetic surgery.
