Consultation

What does the consultation involve?

Your initial consultation is your chance to get to know the surgeon, discuss your reasons for wanting surgery, and to learn more about the surgery. This will take about 45 minutes and you will be given an information pack to take home.

The surgeon will ask about your medical history and conduct a physical examination. After your concerns are assessed, the options for achieving the result that you want will be discussed. Using the most advanced surgical techniques, dramatic or subtle changes can be made, depending on your personal goals and aims of the operation.

Photographs will be taken to allow for planning of the surgery and to assess results following your surgery and will be kept strictly confidential.

Modern surgery is typically safe but, despite highest standards of surgical practice, there are always potential risks and complications. These will be discussed during your consultation.

Do I need a referral for the consultation?

A referral from your GP is preferred as this provides us with your medical history. Your consultation fees may be partly rebateable from Medicare if you have a referral from your GP.

What do I need to bring to the consultation?

When you arrive, our staff will ask you to fill in a patient registration form. Please bring your Medicare card and health fund details, if any.

If you have any recent scans, ultrasounds or test results related to your procedure, please bring these with you as well.

It is also helpful to come prepared with a list of questions you may have.

How many consultations will I need before surgery?

Two consultations are necessary to help ensure a safe and successful procedure, however patients can opt have more.

Your pre-op appointment will take about 30 minutes and allows you to clarify any concerns you may have regarding the surgery. It also involves filling in hospital admission and consent forms and providing you with all the necessary information regarding your chosen hospital as well as pre and post op information.

Fees

What are the fees for surgery?

After your initial consultation with the surgeon, we will provide you with a quotation outlining the estimated fees for surgery and any possible rebates you may be entitled to.

These fees will be explained to you before you commit to surgery and will relate to the:

• Surgeon
• Assistant Surgeon
• Anaesthetist
• Hospital
• Implants (if any)
• Garments (if any)
• Ancillary (e.g. pharmacy)

What methods of payment do you accept?

We accept cash, all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and AMEX), direct deposit, cheques and money order.

Do you offer finance options?

No, we don't advocate cosmetic surgery loans as interest rates can be high and often have additional processing fees. We recommend patients seek financial advice from their own bank or credit union.

What is the 'gap'?

The 'gap' is the total amount of surgical fees minus any rebates you are entitled to receive after surgery. The gap is also known as 'out-of-pocket expenses'.

Are there any rebates from Medicare or health funds?

For initial and subsequent consultations, a rebate can be claimed from Medicare providing there is a current doctor's referral. Health funds do not provide rebates on consultation fees.

Medicare rebates are paid for surgical procedures which are related to a medical condition. These procedures will have a Medicare item number. If applicable, patients are also entitled to further rebates from health funds. It is the patient's responsibility to check their level of cover with their health fund.

For purely cosmetic procedures, there are no rebates from Medicare or health funds. However, there are many cosmetic surgery procedures which are accepted for medical reasons. In some cases, a breast augmentation will qualify for a rebate.

The surgeon will be able to advise if you qualify for a rebate and our staff can assist you with any questions you may have.