Lena McEwan (1927–2011) was a trailblazer in Australian surgical history, becoming the nation’s first female plastic surgeon. Born in South Australia to immigrant parents, McEwan overcame significant barriers to pursue a surgical career. After completing her MBBS in 1949 and training at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, she advanced her skills in England, earning her FRCS (Eng) in 1954. Returning to Australia, she achieved her FRACS in 1958 and trained under Dr. Sir Benjamin Rank in Melbourne, Australia’s leading plastic surgeon at the time. McEwan made significant contributions to plastic surgery, including pioneering early nerve repair in children, demonstrating superior outcomes over delayed interventions. She played a critical role in refining surgical margins for melanoma treatment and was part of a pioneering team performing gender reassignment surgery in 1976, co-authoring an early publication on male-to-female gender affirmation surgery. As president of the Victorian Medical Women’s Association, McEwan championed the advancement of women in medicine, inspiring future generations of female surgeons. Her work at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital, and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre left a lasting impact on surgical practice and mentorship. In recognition of her contributions, a fellowship through the Winston Churchill Trust was established in her name alongside Dame Joyce Daws DBE to support projects in surgery and surgical nursing. Lena McEwan’s legacy is a testament to resilience, innovation, and inclusivity, expanding the boundaries of plastic surgery and promoting equity in surgical practice.