Virtual or Telehealth Appointments and FAQs for Travelling Patients

Is a Virtual or Telehealth Appointment available for travelling patients?

Telehealth or virtual consultations will never replace a clinical consultation with your surgeon and our team, but we get it! Travelling to an in-person appointment in Queensland and Australia is sometimes difficult.

But, we have you covered, we have been offering virtual appointments to our travelling patients for a long time so we are well-versed at taking our appointments into to the virtual world!!

How can I book a virtual appointment?

• Firstly talk to our patient coordinators to see if your situation is suitable for a virtual consultation. You can direct message us via socials, send in a web chat enquiry or click on the ‘request an appointment’ button on our website and ask us about our virtual appointments and the procedure of interest.
• Be prepared to answer some medical history questions and email photos of your key concerns prior to your scheduled online appointment with your surgeon. We will discuss the most suitable platform options for you to experience your virtual appointment.
• Your patient coordinator will check in with you via video several days prior to your online appointment to ensure you are prepared for your virtual consultation with your surgeon. We currently use and recommend tools such as Facetime, google meet and zoom meetings.

Looking To Travel To Brisbane for Plastic Surgery?

Your surgeons see patients from all over Australia and overseas however, in person consultations and surgery will be conducted in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. With this in mind, we have developed a guide or sequence of steps for you to consider. In more complex medical situations, this option may not be suitable so please discuss your personal situation with one of our Patient Coordinators.

I Will be Travelling to Brisbane For Plastic Surgery. How Should I Plan For This?

Taking the first step can be scary, and we know how expensive travel can be, so in order to be mindful of this we suggest you make contact with one of our patient coordinators as soon as possible to discuss the procedure of interest, your ideal timeframe for this to occur and your desired goals and suitability for the procedure.

How can I prepare for my video consultation?
In order to confirm your video consultation please liaise with our treatment coordinators as they will assist with your preparation requirements. The following information is an example of the information that will be required:

• Baseline photos of your current concerns or key areas of concern
• Ideal results or outcomes that you like
• If you have had previous surgery, your before and after photos and operation records relating to your previous surgery
• Copies of reports relating to recent imaging
• Your complete patient detail form

The above material should be emailed to office@arplasticsurgery.com.au This will allow your surgeon to prepare for and potentially provide advice prior to booking your video consultation.

Once we have received your information, your treatment coordinator will confirm your video consultation with your surgeon.

A video consultation is an ideal way for you to get to know our practice and your surgeon without spending additional on travel at this early stage. However, we do do stress that this is not a replacement for a thorough clinical evaluation which will still need to be performed in the future.

Where Should I Stay If I Live Outside Of Brisbane?

Our clinic is located on the Wesley Hospital Campus, approximately 3km from the Brisbane CBD. There are numerous accommodation options nearby

Our patients come from all over Australia and Internationally. For your convenience, if you don’t have a car in Brisbane, our office is situated within walking distance to the Auchenflower Train Station.

The following is a list of nearby accommodations and caring options for travelling patients:

Accommodation near train stations and close to the Wesley Hospital

Essence Suites and Apartments Taringa – Medi-hotel (easy access to train line from Taringa to Auchenflower) – directly above Westside Private Hospital

The Jephson Hotel Toowong

Accommodation Within Walking Distance to The Wesley Hospital:

The Oasis Apartments

Various Lodges near The Wesley Hospital Campus

Accommodation and Recovery Care

Private In-Home Accommodation and Care

There is a range of accommodation and care options depending on whether you are travelling alone or with a friend/carer.

For a home away from hospital-style accommodation with the option of airport collection and dropoff, day surgery pick up, overnight accommodation and care as well as meals. Speak to our Patient Coordinators for more details about this private in home-style accommodation option.

How Do I Book A Date For Surgery If I am a Travelling Patient?

Once your surgery date is confirmed you will be advised when you will need to arrive and how long you will need to stay after your operation. You will need to bring someone with you for at least part of your stay. This can be a partner, relative or good friend. If you are unable to bring someone, then let us know early so that we can suggest or arrange alternative assistance for you.

Confirmation of a surgery date requires a non-refundable deposit. At this time you will also need to book your pre-operative appointment ideally a minimum of 2-3 weeks days prior to your surgery date. This will allow time to finalise your admission details and order implants if required.

It is important to discuss any medications with your surgeon particularly herbals such as fish oils and anti-inflammatory medications (such as aspirin, Nurofen, and naprogesic) well before surgery. Your surgeon will advise what should be stopped prior to surgery, however, in general, please cease the above at least 2 weeks prior to surgery.

A word about smoking

If you are considering surgery, it is imperative that you cease smoking and any nicotine products including cannabis at least 2 months prior to surgery. For more information read our blog about smoking and plastic surgery.

Will my Private Health Insurance Cover assist with accommodation expenses?

If you have private health insurance cover, your policy may provide cover for your medical-related travel and accommodation costs.

Accommodation benefits are designed to cover the cost of accommodation near to the place of treatment for the patient and a carer or attendant. This refers to accommodation in a hotel or motel (not hospital), and can help you afford the cost of staying overnight and accessing the medical or hospital treatment you need. While some funds will require your carer to also be a member in order to cover their accommodation costs, other funds will also cover your carer’s accommodation expenses even if they are not a member.

The exact level of cover provided varies depending on the health fund and the individual policy you choose, but limits will apply. This could be one overall limit for both travel and accommodation benefits, or separate limits for each individual benefit.

Recovery Partner and Concierge Services

Recovery partners can offer support and peace of mind knowing someone is there for you after your hospital procedure to care for you overnight.

What does this support look like?

Recovery partners can provide support such as:

• Settling you into your accommodation
• Meals: assistance with arranging meals during your stay
• Overnight care: supporting you through the night as you need
• Discharge support: helping you prepare for discharge, including arranging breakfast and packing your belongings
• Shopping: for groceries, the chemist or running an errand.

Pure You Patient Concierge

Heidi and her team at Pure You Patient Concierges, offer caring and supportive females who are knowledgeable on post-surgical recovery and can assist with the logistics of recovery.

How Long Should I Stay In Brisbane?

Below you will find a guide for suggested length of stay times in Brisbane, however, please be mindful that every individual recovery can vary:

Breast Augmentation: Stay 4-5 days.

Breast Reduction / Lifting / Reshaping / Revision / Tuberous / Asymmetry: Stay 7-10 days.

Mummy Makeover: Stay 14 days.

Abdominoplasty/body lift: Stay 2-3 weeks

Breast Reconstruction: 10-14 days

When Should I Arrive In Brisbane For Surgery

This will vary depending on the procedure, please seek advice from your surgeon and our team.

What Do I Need To Do On The Day of Surgery?

Fasting times and hospital admission times will be provided 1 day prior to your surgery. On the day of surgery, you should proceed straight to the hospital admission desk where you will be admitted.

Your Anaesthetist and your surgeon and other Hospital Nursing staff involved in your care will meet and talk to you prior to your surgery.

For day surgery procedures, you will be required to have someone collect you from recovery. It is a safety policy of all the hospitals that you must be discharged into the care of a responsible adult after an anaesthetic.

Please advise our rooms in advance if you will be alone on discharge and will require assistance. A suitable alternative will need to be arranged in advance and will incur additional costs.

What Happens After Surgery?

Many patients undergoing plastic surgery procedures such as breast augmentation mammoplasty can be discharged on the same day as the procedure. Larger operations, however, may require a longer stay in the hospital.

A postoperative visit with your surgeon and one of our specialist nurses will be scheduled prior to your departure home. During this visit, all postoperative instructions will be discussed and future appointments scheduled. All postoperative recovery tapes and dressings will also be provided to you.

Our postoperative appointment schedule is flexible and may involve a combination of video/phone appointments and physical ones throughout the year. We may also request that you email in photos of your progress for your surgeon to review.