Questions worth asking any clinic

This page sits where a patient story used to. We do not publish patient stories - testimonials about regulated health services are prohibited under section 133 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law. See patient stories.

Something more useful in its place: the questions to ask at a consultation. Take this list with you. Ask us the same things you would ask anyone else - and if any clinic makes you feel awkward for asking, that is information.

About the person who will operate on you

What is your registration type, and what is your registration number? Every practitioner must give it. Check it yourself at the AHPRA register (ahpra.gov.au) - it takes a minute and shows qualifications, endorsements and any conditions or reprimands.
Are you a Specialist Plastic Surgeon, or a medical practitioner working in cosmetic medicine? "Specialist Plastic Surgeon" requires fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS). There is no AHPRA specialty called "cosmetic surgery" - the title "cosmetic surgeon" has been restricted since 1 July 2023 and does not mean specialist surgical training.
Will you personally perform the procedure, start to finish? Ask who else is in the room and what they do.
How many of these have you done, and how often do you do them now?
Do you hold admitting rights at an accredited hospital? And where would I go if something went wrong overnight?

About the procedure

Am I a good candidate - and if not, what would make me one?
What is the realistic range of results for someone with my anatomy? What is the less-good end of that range?
What are the alternatives, including doing nothing and non-surgical options?
Where exactly will the scars be, and what will they look like at six weeks and at a year?
What are the specific risks for me - my health, my medications, my smoking status, my BMI?
How often do your patients need a revision, and what does that involve?
Where is it performed, under what anaesthetic, and who is the anaesthetist?
What will I not be able to do, and for how long?

About the rules that protect you

Since 1 July 2023, for cosmetic surgery in Australia:

You need a referral - from your GP, or another appropriate practitioner
You must be screened for underlying psychological conditions, including body dysmorphic disorder, and referred for assessment if indicated
You must have at least two consultations before the procedure is booked; one may be by video
There is a cooling-off period - at least seven days for adults, three months for under-18s, who also require a mandatory psychological assessment

Ask any clinic how it meets each of these. A clinic willing to shortcut a rule that exists to protect you will shortcut others.

About money

What is the total cost? Get it in writing, itemised: surgeon, anaesthetist, assistant, hospital or facility, implants or devices, garments, dressings, follow-up visits, GST.
What is not included?
Is there an MBS item number, and would a health fund contribute? Cosmetic procedures are not rebatable; some functional ones are. Ask for the item number and check with your fund yourself.
What would a revision cost me?
What happens to my deposit if I change my mind, or if you cancel?

Note: Me Clinic is not a no-gap provider. See prices.

About what happens afterwards

Who do I call at 2am on day three, and will a person answer?
How many follow-up visits are included, and with whom?
If I have a complication, who manages it and who pays?
Will you give me a written record of what was done, including implant details and batch numbers?

Answers that should give you pause

A discount that expires if you do not book today
Pressure to add procedures you did not come in for
Any promise or guarantee of a result
Risks brushed aside, or a claim that a technique has none
Reluctance to give a registration number, or to put costs in writing
Consent forms handed to you on the day of surgery
A consultation with a salesperson rather than the practitioner who will operate

And one for yourself

Why now? If the answer involves someone else's opinion, a relationship, an event with a date on it, or a period of feeling low, that is worth sitting with before you commit. Good surgical decisions rarely come with a deadline.

Me Clinic, 4 Burke Road, Malvern East VIC 3145. Phone 1300 852 050 or (03) 9569 3511. Consultations as at September 2024, including GST: Specialist Plastic Surgeon $350, Cosmetic Doctor $150.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. Individual results may vary.