Your questions answered Frequently Asked Questions
Initial consultations are usually 30-60 minutes long, depending on the procedure you are interested in and will cost $275. Dr Peters will discuss your desired outcome and expectations with you. Your medical history, current health and requirements will be considered to determine whether surgery is the right option for you. If required, Dr Peters will undertake a thorough examination, and he will suggest a plan that suits your goals and lifestyle. This is an excellent time to raise any concerns or questions you have with Dr Peters to ensure you are fully prepared for surgery. You will often see a Valley Plastic Surgery nurse to discuss the procedure and recovery in more detail. Clinical photographs are usually taken as well.
If you and Dr Peters decide surgery is a good option to manage your concerns, you can opt to receive an obligation-free surgical quote and proceed from there.
Dr Peters currently offers face-to-face and telehealth consultations. Face-to-face appointments are available in his main room at:
Valley Plastic Surgery: 51 Ballow Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane.
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.
Dr Peters 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.
If you have chosen you would like to proceed with surgery, Dr Peters will likely meet with you again prior to surgery. During this consultation, you can ask any further questions pertaining to your upcoming surgery. This appointment is usually shorter than your initial appointment and is free of charge.
You will likely meet with a Valley Plastic Surgery nurse to discuss garments and recovery, and any other questions you may have.
Some procedures can be completed in the same operation. Your suitability and individual requirements for this can be discussed with Dr Peters during your consultation.
Factors such as the length and recovery required for a procedure will affect the potential for procedures to be combined. A consultation with Dr Peters is required to determine whether combining procedures will be safe and effective for you.
Scarring is an inevitable result of any procedure that involves an incision.
Every effort is made during the surgical process to minimise scarring, including considered scar placement. Then, after your procedure, you will be provided with advice about how to best manage your scars to produce the softest, lightest and least prominent scar possible for you.
It is important to acknowledge the possibility of adverse scarring that does occur in some cases, though you can minimise your risk by following the advice given to you and letting your surgeon know if you have had scarring issues in the past.
Clinical photographs are usually taken prior to surgery and then at 6 weeks post-surgery. These photographs are stored securely. You will be asked to complete a consent form regarding the usage of your images. They will not be used for any purpose beyond clinical records without your explicit permission. If you do consent for their use on social media, website galleries, and/or advertising, you will be deidentified as much as is possible.
The initial consult fee is $275. The costs associated with surgery vary greatly with the type of surgery. When you attend an initial consult and decide you would like to consider surgery, you will receive a surgical quote which will also include estimates for any rebates you may be eligible for.
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.
Dr Peters is a member 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.