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PATIENT INFO
FAQ
BY SURGEONS
Doctor
Matthew Peters
BSc. MBBS FRACS (Plast.)
Doctor
Raymond Goh
MBBS (Hons) FRACS (Plast.)
Doctor
Alys Saylor
BSc. MBBS FRACS (Plast.)
Doctor
Chris Jardim
BSc. MBBS FRACS (Plast.)
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:
Many patients choose to have two (2) consultations with their surgeon prior to any cosmetic surgery procedure. 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 your GP or specialist. All consult fees are payable in full on the day of your consultation or prior to your consult in certain instances.
Your second consultation, whilst not mandatory, 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 take 10-30 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.
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 decided on the best surgical option for you, one of our VPS client support officers will be able to provide you with a personalised estimate of fees. This estimate will include your surgeon’s fee, out of pocket costs and a range for additional costs associated with your surgery.
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.
Our client support officers are available to go through any details or 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. Individualised quotations are provided for each patient; sometimes we can provide these on the same day as your consultation, however some quotations can be quite complex, or require further information from additional specialists, and in these cases, we may take a few days longer to finalise your quotation. You will always have the freedom you need to make an informed decision on whether 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 four 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.
However, some procedures may be considered medical or have medical components. These procedures can attract a rebate from Medicare and may be covered by your private health insurance depending on your level of cover. Your surgeon will be able to determine if your procedure is classified as medical at the time of your appointment based on criteria set by Medicare. You may be required undergo additional scans or tests to assist with this determination. If applicable, VPS staff will inform you of this.
Medical procedures have a Medicare item number. This will be outlined on your quote.
We cannot recommend one health fund over another. We suggest that you do your research and consider your requirements 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, you will need to consider your level of cover ie does it cover the procedure that you are considering, and waiting periods.
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 part(s) that are abnormal due to injury, cancer or birth defect (e.g. breast reconstruction, congenital abnormalities, burns, skin cancer);
Elective medical surgery, which includes plastic surgery procedures that are considered medically necessary and as such attract a Medicare item number (e.g. breast reduction, body contouring procedures following massive weight loss); and
Cosmetic surgery (breast augmentation, face and neck lifts).
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 may 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 an estimate outlining your upcoming procedure. This will include a breakdown of items that are deemed medical vs cosmetic and any Medicare item numbers associated. The information will be provided in your estimate and can then used when you 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 members of the Royal College of Plastic Surgeons having completed surgical training.
Booking Your Consultation:
For patients considering plastic surgery for medical or cosmetic reasons, a consultation with a specialist surgeon 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 8.30am-4.30pm. We do offer some earlier and later consultations; please contact the clinic to enquire about these.
Our main rooms are located at 51 Ballow Street, Fortitude Valley. Specialist surgeons are also available at Northlakes and Redlands.
We are fortunate enough to have a dermatologist available at the VPS Fortitude Valley rooms two days a week.
Fees for a consultation with Dr Kate DeAmbrosis 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. Suitability for these appointments can be discussed with the client support officers at the time of booking. 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 rooms in Fortitude Valley on (07) 3488 8118 or emailing us HERE:
The time frame from initial consultation to surgery will vary depending on the type of surgery and your surgeon’s availability.
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, anaethetic type, and surgeon availability.
We 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.
Cosmetic procedures require a 7-day (minimum) cooling off period following consultation prior booking a surgical date.
Procedures:
The surgeons offering services at VPS 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, your specialist surgeon and the VPS 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 be sent copies of the post-operative information – specific to your procedure – to read prior to surgery and refer to post operatively. The VPS nurse are also available during business hours on phone and email if you have any questions or concerns during this period.
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.
