A large proportion of Dr Kumar’s body contouring patients travel from regional New South Wales. The practice is set up for it: he consults in Orange as well as Westmead and Penrith, and photographs can be reviewed before you travel at all.
How it works from a distance
- Send photos first. Dr Kumar’s nursing team will review them with him and call you back, so you know whether the trip is worth making. Photos are emailed directly to the practice and are not stored on the website. Send photos.
- Phone consultation with a nurse, who will tell you what to bring and what to expect.
- Consultation with Dr Kumar — in Orange, Penrith or Westmead, whichever suits. About 90 minutes, with examination, photographs and measurements.
- An itemised quote after the hospital has checked your fund.
- A cooling-off period of at least seven days, then a second appointment before anything is booked.
Where surgery happens
All weight-loss body contouring is performed at Westmead Private Hospital. Dr Kumar consults in Orange but does not operate there. Day-case procedures can be done at Somerset Private in Penrith.
So the pattern for a regional patient is usually: consult locally in Orange where possible, travel to Sydney for the operation, then return for reviews — some of which can be managed by phone with the nursing team where appropriate.
Planning the trip
| Stage | What to plan for |
|---|---|
| Surgery | An overnight stay or longer at Westmead Private, depending on the operation |
| Immediately after | Accommodation near Sydney for the first few days rather than a long drive home |
| Week 1 review | In person — drains usually come out at this visit |
| Week 6 review | In person — dressings and garment come off |
| Later reviews | 12 weeks, 6 months, 12 months. Some can be coordinated around other travel |
Do not plan a long drive home the day after major body contouring. Talk to the nursing team about how long to stay before you book travel.
Travel and clot risk
Long car journeys and flights in the first two weeks carry a risk of blood clots. Tell the team your travel plans before surgery so the timing is planned around them rather than discovered afterwards. More for travelling patients.
Your local GP matters more, not less
Distance makes the GP relationship more important. Your GP does the documentation that the Medicare criteria turn on, manages anything that arises locally in the early weeks, and is who you see first if something changes. Get the referral locally before you travel. More on referrals.
Public and private
Body contouring after weight loss is performed publicly where criteria are met, through a public outpatient referral, with waiting times that vary by area and are often long. Privately, the hospital component is generally the largest cost, and your health fund matters most. Health fund cover.
Common questions
Can the whole consultation be done remotely? No. Examination and measurement have to be done in person, and photographs in your record are part of the Medicare requirements.
Can reviews be done by phone? Some can, where appropriate. The one-week and six-week reviews are in person.
Is Orange a full consulting site? Yes for consultations. Surgery is in Sydney.
How many trips will I make? Typically the consultation, the second appointment, surgery, and the in-person reviews.
Can I combine procedures to reduce trips? Often, and for regional patients that is a real consideration. What can be combined.
Next step
Send photos before you travel, or call Dr Kumar’s nursing team on 1300 267 726 to talk through whether a trip is worth making. Consulting rooms at Orange, Penrith and Westmead.
The initial consultation with Dr Kumar is $400, with a Medicare rebate of approximately $88 where you have a GP referral. Surgical fees are quoted individually after your consultation, in a written itemised quote.
All surgery carries risks, and individual results will vary. Read more about the risks of surgery here. A GP referral is required to see Dr Kumar.
Dr Rohit Kumar (MED0001630444) Registered medical practitioner, specialist plastic surgeon (specialist registration in surgery – plastic surgery).
