PATIENT INFO

FAQ

BY SURGEONS

Dr Matthew Peters, profile image 11, plastic surgeon in Brisbane, Valley Plastic Surgery

Doctor
Matthew Peters

BSc. MBBS FRACS (Plast.)

Dr Raymond Goh, profile 05, plastic surgeon in Brisbane

Doctor
Raymond Goh

MBBS (Hons) FRACS (Plast.)

dr alys saylor - plastic surgeon - profile image 010 - valley plastic surgery

Doctor
Alys Saylor

BSc. MBBS FRACS (Plast.)

drcheisjardim thumbnail - FAQ 1

Doctor
Chris Jardim

BSc. MBBS FRACS (Plast.)

dr 6 - FAQ 2

Doctor
Adam Honeybrook

MBBS. FACS, FRACS

(Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.)

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Fees and Costs:

You will have two (2) consultations with your surgeon prior to any cosmetic surgery. Your first consult will take approximately 30-60 minutes depending on the procedure you are interested in and will cost $275. If you have a Medicare card you may be eligible for a rebate, more if you have a valid referral letter from you GP or Specialist. All consult fees are payable in full on the day of your consultation or prior to your consult for telehealth appointments.

Your second consultation is an opportunity to ask your surgeon any additional questions you may have pertaining to your upcoming surgery. This appointment will be shorter than your initial appointment and is free of charge. 

*Fees subject to change without notice

You will be required to attend an initial consultation with one of our specialists for any skin lesion/s concerns. The fee for this consult will be between $175 – $210. These appointments will be for 15-30 minutes.

If you have a Medicare card you may be eligible for a rebate, more if you have a valid referral letter from you GP or Specialist.

Once you have met with your surgeon and discussed the surgical options available to you, one of our VPS client support officers will provide you with a detailed fee estimate that will include your surgeon’s fees and any out-of-pocket costs (also known as “a gap”) you may 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 if applicable. Your quote will also include estimates of other fees that will apply for your surgery including hospital, anaesthetist, pathology, prosthesis or implant costs as required. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have sourced quotes directly from these additional suppliers.

Please understand that our client support officers are available to go through any details and answer questions pertaining to the costs of a surgery and we will be clear and transparent in all our communication with you with regards to costs.  There is no obligation on you to book surgery after your first consult and you can take away all the information we provide to you whist you consider your options to proceed.

NB Estimates are valid to 6 months from the date of issue during which time a surgical booking can be made for within 12 months of the date of the estimate.

A 7 day cooling off period applies for all adults who are consenting to a major cosmetic surgical procedure. You will not be required to pay for your surgery at the time of your appointment.

If you are having a procedure in a hospital, your surgeon’s fee is due no later than two weeks prior to your surgery date. Following your surgery you will receive an itemised receipt to claim any benefits back, if applicable.

As a general rule, plastic surgery for cosmetic reasons is not covered by private health insurance funds or Medicare.

Some operations, that have a significant functional aspect, may be considered medical rather than cosmetic and, as such, may attract a small rebate. These procedures include (but are not limited to) rhinoplasty for deformity or nasal obstruction, and breast reduction if the weight of your breasts causes pain or interferes with normal activities. These procedures have Medicare Item Numbers and if applicable, will be outlined in your quote.

We cannot recommend one health fund over another. We suggest that you do your research and consider your needs and your options and carefully consider the terms and conditions.

In Australia, there are over 30 insurers offering around 3,500 distinct health insurance products. While the number of policies available to you will vary depending on where you live and your individual circumstances, you may still have over 100 different policies to choose from. 

There are a number of different educational and comparison website to assist with choosing the right policy for you. If you are considering surgery, one very important factor to consider when choosing a policy is any waiting periods for specific cover.

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. 

Some patients choose to book their 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 two weeks prior to surgery. Contact us to find out more information.

About Plastic Surgery:

The term ‘plastic’ covers a variety of surgical and chemical procedures that alter, rebuild or remodel the body’s outward appearance. It covers both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery to shape certain body parts such as the nose, face or breasts. Some procedures soften skin tone, reduce or eliminate wrinkles, and some help correct certain problems resulting from congenital defects, accidents or diseases.

Plastic surgery is a broad speciality field that consists of several sub-specialties. This includes reconstructive surgery, which is aimed at restoring any body parts that are abnormal due to injury, cancer or birth defect (eg breast reconstruction, congenital abnormalities, burns, skin cancer); and cosmetic surgery (breast augmentation, face lifts), which aims at reshaping and enhancing aesthetics and appearance.

In general, medical procedures that attract a Medicare item will be covered by your private health insurance depending on your level of cover and insurance provider.

There are procedures which have aspects of both e.g. part medical and part cosmetic. In these cases, private insurance /Medicare may provide cover dependent on individual assessment.

Following your initial consultation, and prior to your surgery, you will be provided with a quote outlining you upcoming procedure and the breakdown of what items are deemed medical vs cosmetic and any item numbers associated. You can then use this information to contact your private health insurer to check your level of cover.

Specialist Plastic Surgeons undergo extensive surgical education and training. They are required to complete a minimum of 12 years medical and surgical education, including at least an additional 5 years of specialist postgraduate training in plastic surgery. A Specialist Plastic Surgeon is a Commonwealth Government accredited plastic surgeon, trained and qualified to perform invasive reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery in public and private hospitals, and accredited day surgeries.

The Medical Board of Australia states that the ‘Specialist Plastic Surgeon’ title can only be used by FRACS approved specialist surgeons in the recognised specialty of plastic and reconstructive surgery. The best way to tell if your surgeon is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon is to look for the ‘FRACS’ accreditation after your surgeon’s name. You can also look up a surgeon’s listing on the Royal Australian College of Surgeons website HERE to check their level of training.

All VPS surgeons are Specialist Plastic Surgeons and are members of the Royal College of Plastic Surgeons and the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

Booking Your Consultation:

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

You can call our practice directly on (07) 3488 8118, email us HERE or contact us ONLINE if you wish to make an appointment.

Our clinic hours are Monday to Friday 8am-4.30pm. We do offer some late consultations; please contact the clinic to enquire about these.

We are fortunate enough to have a dermatologist available at the VPS Fortitude Valley rooms two days a week.

Fees for a consultation with the specialist dermatologist range from $230 to $300.

To arrange an appointment please contact the practice directly on (07) 3488 8118, email us HERE or contact us ONLINE if you wish to make an appointment.

*Fees subject to change without notice

Valley Plastic Surgery asks all patients to present with a referral for their initial consultation. In addition, to qualify for a rebate from Medicare, you must have a written referral from your GP or Specialist. GP referrals are valid for 12 months and Specialist referrals for 3 months.

We currently offer face-to-face and telehealth consultations. Face-to-face appointments are available at our main rooms at:

  • Valley Plastic Surgery: 51 Ballow Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane.

We are also available at:

  • Mater Private Redlands: Weippin Street, Cleveland.
  • Northlakes Day Hospital: 7 Endeavour Blvd, North Lakes

Tele-health consultations are available for those who cannot travel, are unwell or at risk. These appointments are done via GP Consult, telephone or Skype if you would prefer. For more information on accessing GP Consult, please visit this information guide here:

Yes Dr Goh can also schedule consultations at Mater Private Redlands and Dr Chris Jardim at Northlakes Day Hospital (see addresses above). You can request a consultation at these locations by calling our primary clinic on (07) 3488 8118 or emailing us HERE:

Firstly, there is a 7-day (minimum) cooling off period prior to being able to book any cosmetic procedure.

When you are ready to schedule your surgery, a VPS client support officer will discuss available dates with you. As you can imagine, different surgeries carry varying availability, depending on the magnitude (length) of the procedure, the hospital you choose to have the procedure at and any relevant wait times or constraints that the hospital is experiencing.

We additionally have a waitlist system that will allow you to both book a surgery date whilst also going onto a waitlist should anything become available sooner. Our team will endeavour to accommodate your preferred date requests and will keep you informed of any changes.

Procedures:

Our surgeons do not currently offer liposuction as a STAND-ALONE procedure. However, liposuction may be a technique that is used in conjunction with other techniques in more complex procedures. You can read more about what surgical procedures could possibly be combined HERE:

The recovery time for surgery is dependent on the type of procedure you are having and your general health and wellbeing. 

At your initial appointment, the specialist surgeon and clinical nurses will meet with you to discuss what to expect following your procedure, including expected timeframes and how to prepare for a surgical recovery. 

You will also be given hard and soft copies of the post-operative information – specific to your procedure –  to take home.

We suggest that you also write down any questions you may have about your recovery process and bring them to your consultation. Your surgeon and our experienced clinical nurses will be able to assist you.