Patients

Contents

Your Consultation

For patients seeking plastic or cosmetic surgery, or simply wanting to assess their options, a consultation with one of our surgeons is the best first step.

You can either contact us online and we will call you back to arrange a time, or you can call our practice directly on (08) 9380 0333.

Cosmetic Surgery Procedures

From 1 July 2023, changes will be introduced to the cosmetic surgery journey for patients. Patients considering cosmetic surgery will be required to follow a comprehensive process that ensures their safety and well-being. This includes the following steps:

GP Referral: Patients must obtain a referral from a general practitioner (GP), preferably their usual GP, before attending their first pre-operative consultation with their surgeon.
Pre-operative Consultations: Patients are required to have a minimum of two pre-operative consultations, with at least one consultation conducted face to face. These consultations aim to discuss the surgical procedure, address any concerns or questions, and provide the patient with a clear understanding of the expected outcomes and potential risks.
Psychological Assessment: As part of the process, patients undergo an assessment to evaluate any underlying psychological conditions. This assessment helps ensure that patients are suitable candidates for surgery and that their expectations are realistic.
Cooling-Off Period: After the second consultation, patients are required to observe a mandatory cooling-off period of seven (7) days. During this period, they have the opportunity to reflect on the information provided, seek further advice if needed, and make an informed decision regarding their surgery.

Our team can provide guidance when booking your first consultation appointment as to whether the surgery will be classified as cosmetic or medically-necessary. However, for certain procedures that have specific or complex Medicare criteria, which determine their qualification as medically-necessary, it may be necessary to wait until your assessment during the consultation with your Specialist Plastic Surgeon.

The first consultation will cost approximately $300-$360, which is payable in full at the time of booking the consultation and will typically take 30-60 minutes depending on the procedure you are interested in. If a second consultation is required, this will cost approximately $150. Fees vary slightly per surgeon.

If a Medicare item number applies to your potential procedure, then you will be entitled to a rebate from Medicare of approximately $80 for the first consultation and $40 for the second.

Given the high demand for consultations, we ask that patients give us at least two (2) full working days notice if they are not going to be able to attend at their scheduled time to allow us to contact people on our waitlist to reallocate the time. If appointments are cancelled or rescheduled by the patient with less than two (2) full working days notice they will attract a charge of the full consultation fee. This will result in the forfeiture of your prepaid consultation fee. If you subsequently book another appointment, the normal consultation fee will apply.

GP referrals are valid for 12 months and Specialist referrals for 3 months. The referral starts from the date you first meet your surgeon, not the date issued.

Skin Cancer, Reconstructive or Other Medically-Necessary Surgical Procedures

Our surgeon consultation fee is approximately $250 for first consult and approximately $150 for any subsequent pre-operative consults that may be required. Fees vary slightly per surgeon. All consult fees are payable in full on the day of your consultation.

The same Medicare rebates as above apply, providing you have a valid referral from your GP or Specialist. Most of our surgeons provide discounted consultation fees to valid Australian Government Pensioner Concession Card holders.

Prior to you attending your surgeon consult, their secretary will send you an Appointment Confirmation letter and also ask you to complete our online Patient Registration Form. Hard copy appointment confirmation letters and Patient Registration Forms are available upon request.

Where you provide us with your mobile number, we will send you an SMS reminder of your appointment approximately three (3) days prior.

Your Surgical Costs

Once you have met with your surgeon and discussed the surgical options available to you, we will provide you with a detailed fee estimate that will indicate your surgeon’s fees and the likely out-of-pocket costs (also known as “the gap”) you will incur. Your out-of-pocket costs are the difference between your surgeon’s fee and the rebate you receive from Medicare and your private health insurance. Depending on the procedure, we may also be able to provide you with an estimate of other fees that will apply for your surgery including hospital, anaesthetist, pathology, prosthesis or implant costs. However, confirmation of these fees will need to be obtained by you from these providers and your private health insurance provider.

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) has also developed an information sheet to support patients of the issues surrounding surgical fees.

Informed Financial Consent

Part of the documentation we provide to you will include Informed Financial Consent information. This is your consent that you understand the costs and financial aspects of your surgery. You are entitled to ask us any questions in respect of it and we will be clear and transparent in all our communication with you in regards to costs. There is no obligation on you to book surgery after your first surgeon consult and you can take away all the information we provide to you to think about proceeding.

Cooling Off Periods

For all cosmetic surgery procedures, cooling off periods apply. These cooling off periods cannot be waived.

A three (3) month cooling off period applies for all patients under the age of 18 who are consenting to a major cosmetic surgical procedure.

A seven (7) day cooling off period applies for all adults who are consenting to a major cosmetic surgical procedure.

Your Surgical Procedure

When you decide to proceed with surgery, your surgeon or their secretary will discuss available times and hospitals with you. Your surgery with either be a day case or require an overnight stay, sometimes for several nights. Your surgery will require either a local anaesthetic (sometimes with sedation) or general anaesthetic. Most surgery bookings can be made within 4-6 weeks. Special arrangements will be made if your case is urgent. We will provide information to you that explains all aspects of your hospital admission, pre-operative instructions and any necessary arrangements that need to be made prior.

We understand that a situation may arise that could force you to reschedule, postpone or cancel your surgery. You will be provided with details on deposits and payment dates, including our refund policies.

Cosmetic surgery fees require pre-payment a minimum of 14 days before the procedure.

For other procedures, payment is required at your first post-operative appointment. This payment typically requires that you directly pay your surgeon’s out-of-pocket costs and we will collect the portion to be rebated from Medicare and your private health insurance provider.

Your Post-Operative Care

Your post-operative care up to 6 weeks is included as part of the cost of your surgery. Depending on the procedure, you will normally need to attend our rooms 2-3 times over this period for a consultation with our nurses and potentially your surgeon.

Our nurses are highly trained in plastic post-operative care and can monitor your wound, make dressing changes and answer any questions you have. If they have any concerns about your wound or recovery, they will raise these with your surgeon.

We have provided below the post-operative care instructions for common procedures we provide however, if you have any concerns at any stage then the best course of action is to call and ask to speak to one of our nurses on (08) 9380 0333. For any urgent or concerning cases, we will make arrangements for you to come in on the same day.

Your Responsibilities

As a patient, it is very important you inform and provide us with a complete medical history and raise any personal issues that are relevant to your decision to consider surgery, or which might affect your surgical outcome. Surgical results are better for people who manage their health and well-being proactively and take good care. Your surgical result will be assisted by eating well, regular exercise, using sun protection and not smoking.

Whilst we will always do our very best to advise and assist you, there are some conditions that cannot be helped by surgery.

All our patients are of course always welcome to seek a second opinion and we won’t apply any obligation or pressure on you if this is your preferred path. Having any type of surgery is a significant decision and it is important to us that all our patients feel informed, confident and comfortable.

Finance or Payment Plans

Our Specialist Plastic Surgeons are all members of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), which is the peak body representing the field of plastic surgery in Australia. Currently, the ASPS Code of Practice requires that members do not enter into any arrangements with patients to assist them in obtaining finance to pay for a procedure, such as offering a credit facility (other than the use of a credit card), introducing the patient to a credit provider or providing information about possible loans. However, finance providers are easily identified through an internet search and patients can pay for their surgery with the Western Australian Plastic Surgery Centre using a finance provider if arranged by them.

Following a consultation appointment, patients may have the option to book their plastic or cosmetic procedure in advance with a deposit and then schedule regular payments towards their surgical fee prior to their proposed surgery date. Payments will be arranged to suit the patient’s circumstances, whilst ensuring the final balance is settled prior to surgery. Contact us to find out more information.

Commitment to Inclusivity

Our practice embraces diversity and strives to create a safe and inclusive space for all patients, including those who identify as LGBTQIA+, and we are committed to providing compassionate and non-discriminatory care to everyone who seeks our services.

We believe that every individual deserves access to high-quality healthcare that respects their unique identities and experiences. We recognise that gender identity, sexual orientation, and other aspects of identity play a significant role in a person’s overall health and well-being. We are dedicated to offering personalised care that is considerate of each patient’s individuality and cultural background.

We welcome LGBTQIA+ patients and we are continually working to improve our practices and services to be more inclusive. Our commitment to this extends beyond our interactions with patients, as we are dedicated to fostering a diverse and supportive workplace for our staff, where everyone is treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.

We are proud members of ACON’s Welcome Here Project – when you visit us, say “Hi” and mention the Welcome Here project.

How to Make a Complaint

We are committed to providing our patients with the highest quality of care. If you have any concerns, questions, or complaints about your consultation, surgical procedure, or post-operative care, please do not hesitate to let us know.

Step 1: Talk to your surgeon

The first step is to talk to your surgeon directly. They may be able to address your concerns immediately. If you are unable to speak to your surgeon directly, you can speak to their office staff.

Step 2: Make a written complaint

If you are unable to resolve your complaint with your surgeon, you can make a written complaint to us. Please include the following information in your complaint:

Your name, contact information, and the date of your complaint
A description of your complaint
Any relevant supporting documentation

You can send your complaint to the following address:

The Complaints Officer
Suite 215, St John of God Medical Centre
25 McCourt Street
SUBIACO WA 6008

Or via email.

Step 3: Contact an external agency

If you are still not satisfied with the outcome of your complaint, you can contact an external agency for assistance. These agencies can investigate your complaint and make recommendations for how it can be resolved.

We value your feedback and appreciate your patience as we work to resolve your complaint.