Deciding not to proceed

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 We do not publish patient stories - testimonials about regulated health services are prohibited under section 133 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.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.

Every other page on a clinic website is written on the assumption that you will go ahead. This one is not. Deciding against a procedure is a perfectly good outcome of a consultation, and for some people it is the right one.

You can stop at any point

You may change your mind after the first consultation, after the second, after paying a deposit, after the cooling-off period, the night before, or in the waiting room. Nobody is entitled to make you feel awkward about it.

If you have booked and want to withdraw: phone the clinic and say so. Ask what happens to any deposit - the answer should already be in the written terms you were given. You do not need to give a reason.

The safeguards exist for exactly this

Since 1 July 2023, cosmetic surgery in Australia requires a GP referral, screening for underlying psychological conditions, at least two consultations before booking, and a cooling-off period of at least seven days for adults - three months for anyone under 18, alongside a mandatory independent psychological assessment.

The cooling-off period is not administrative. It exists because enthusiasm in a consulting room and a considered decision a week later are frequently not the same decision. If you find yourself relieved rather than disappointed at the delay, that is worth noticing.

Reasons to wait, or not go ahead

Someone else wants it. A partner, a parent, an employer. If the wish is not yours, the recovery and the result still will be.
A deadline. A wedding, a holiday, a reunion. Surgery does not reliably fit a date - swelling runs on its own schedule, and complications ignore calendars entirely.
A hard period. A bereavement, a separation, job loss, a bout of depression. Decisions made to feel better in a bad stretch often read differently afterwards.
Planned change. Significant weight loss still ahead, or a pregnancy you intend. Both alter results substantially. Waiting usually means one operation instead of two.
Money you do not have. If it only works on credit you would struggle to repay, financial stress during a recovery you cannot rush is a poor combination.
Smoking. Nicotine substantially raises the risk of wound breakdown and tissue loss. Stopping first is not a formality - for some procedures it is the difference between a good result and a bad one.
You are not sure what you want changed. A general dissatisfaction is not a surgical plan.
The risk does not justify the gain. A small improvement is not always worth a general anaesthetic and a permanent scar.

When the concern is not really about the feature

Sometimes distress about appearance is driven by something else - depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, or body dysmorphic disorder, in which a minor or unnoticeable feature is experienced as a severe defect. Surgery generally does not relieve that distress, and can intensify it.

If that might be you, talking to your GP is a genuinely useful step. A mental health treatment plan gives subsidised access to a psychologist. Lifeline 13 11 14, Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636, Butterfly Foundation 1800 33 4673. In an emergency call 000.

Being referred for assessment is not a rejection or a judgement. It is the system working.

Things worth trying first

Depending on what is bothering you, there may be a smaller or reversible step:

Sun protection, retinoids and a consistent skincare routine do more for skin over years than most people expect
Non-surgical skin treatments improve texture and pigmentation without a scar - see skin treatments
Temporary injectable treatments wear off; a permanent operation does not
A well-fitted garment, a physiotherapist, or a dermatologist referral can address some concerns entirely
Time - some things that feel urgent in one season do not in the next

If you decide against it

Nothing is wasted. You leave with an assessment, a clear understanding of what your options are, and the knowledge that you thought about it properly. You may come back in a year, or not at all. Your records stay with us, and you can request copies at any time.

Me Clinic, 4 Burke Road, Malvern East VIC 3145. Phone 1300 852 050 or (03) 9569 3511.

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.