Plastic Surgery FAQs

Yes. A GP referral is needed for every patient, and it also allows a Medicare rebate on your consultation fee. Read more

The first consultation fee is $400, with a Medicare rebate of about $88 when you have a GP referral. Read more

Allow 60 minutes, or 90 minutes after major weight loss or if more than one area concerns you. Read more

Once your consultation is booked and paid, one of Dr Kumar’s nurses calls you to take your history and tell you which results and records to bring. Read more

Partly. Your nurse phone consultation and one consultation can be by video, but at least one consultation with Dr Kumar must be in person before surgery can be booked. Read more

In Westmead, Penrith and Orange. Read more

Body contouring after weight loss and any operation needing a hospital stay are performed at Westmead Private Hospital. Day surgery is performed at Somerset Private Hospital in Kingswood. He does not operate in Orange. Read more

Yes. Dr Kumar’s nursing team reviews them with Dr Kumar and calls you back to talk through what is involved. Read more

After your consultations and signed consent there is a cooling-off period of at least seven days before surgery can be booked or a deposit paid. Read more

Yes. A partner, friend or family member is welcome, and it often helps to have a second person hear the information. Read more

A new patient form before your first consultation, and the hospital’s own admission form once surgery is booked. All forms and checklists are on one page. Read more

It depends on the operation, its length, your hospital stay and whether a Medicare item applies. You receive a written, itemised quote after your consultation; Dr Kumar does not publish package prices. Read more

Dr Kumar’s fee, the nurses’ fee (which includes your aftercare), the anaesthetist, the surgical assistant, the hospital, and garments or implants. Read more

It can. Items 30166, 30169, 30177 and 30179 apply when weight has been stable for six months and the excess skin causes documented functional problems. Read more

Items 45520 and 45523 can apply where symptoms are caused by large breasts. Read more

Item 45558 can apply to a breast lift without implants when its criteria are met. No Medicare item applies when implants are used. Read more

Items 31525 and 31526 apply only when the enlargement is not due to obesity and is out of proportion to the body. Loose skin after weight loss generally does not meet these criteria. Read more

Where a Medicare item applies and your hospital cover includes plastic and reconstructive surgery, your fund contributes to the hospital’s charges and part of the doctors’ fees. Silver and Gold policies must include it. Read more

A deposit when you book surgery, after the cooling-off period, and the balance one month before your operation. Read more

Yes. If you book up to six months ahead, you can pay in interest-free instalments run by the practice, not a finance company. Read more

Early release is decided by the Australian Taxation Office. Dr Kumar’s team can discuss whether your procedure may genuinely meet the requirements, but the decision is between you, your financial planner and the ATO. Read more

Surgery performed only to change appearance, with no Medicare item, attracts GST. Surgery that meets a Medicare item is GST-free. Read more

A minimum of three months before surgery is planned. The Medicare items require six months of stability by the time of surgery, and surgery is usually some months after the consultation. Read more

Yes. Dr Kumar sees patients at any stage of their weight-loss journey to plan ahead. Read more

Yes, with planning. Tell Dr Kumar’s team, and you will be told whether and when to pause the medicine before anaesthesia. Read more

Mainly through nutrition. Protein, iron and vitamin levels after a sleeve, bypass or band affect healing and are checked before surgery. Read more

No. Building muscle can improve your shape, but it does not remove loose skin. Read more

Most people need more than one, planned as a sequence rather than all at once. Read more

Sometimes. It depends on your health, your body composition and the total operating time. Larger plans are usually staged. Read more

Protein, iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin D affect healing. Dr Kumar’s team can refer you to an Accredited Practising Dietitian. Read more

It shows how much of your weight loss was muscle rather than fat, which helps plan and stage your surgery. Read more

Yes. No nicotine in any form for eight weeks before and after body contouring, and six weeks for other operations. Read more

Often, once it is well controlled. Poorly controlled blood sugar raises the risk of wound and infection problems. Read more

An abdominoplasty treats the front of the abdomen. A body lift continues around the sides and back, lifting the buttocks and outer thighs as well. Read more

An abdominoplasty that removes loose skin both across and down the abdomen, leaving a horizontal and a vertical scar. Read more

Removal of the overhanging apron of skin and fat from the lower abdomen. Read more

Yes, as part of an abdominoplasty. After pregnancy, item 30175 can apply where its criteria are met. Read more

Yes. A monsplasty is usually done as part of an abdominoplasty or body lift. Read more

At least three nights after an abdominoplasty, and three to four nights after a body lift, at Westmead Private Hospital. Read more

Usually, after body contouring. Dr Kumar’s nurses remove them once drainage settles. Read more

A new opening is made for it during an abdominoplasty or body lift. Read more

Low across the abdomen, and around the body after a body lift, placed so underwear and most swimwear cover it where possible. Read more

From the armpit towards the elbow, placed so that it is not visible from the front and stays hidden in most everyday arm positions. Read more

Liposuction suits extra fat with good skin. Loose, hanging skin needs to be removed with an arm lift. Read more

Usually one night. Read more

Removal of loose inner-thigh skin through an incision from the groin towards the knee. Most patients stay one to two nights. Read more

Yes. An upper body lift removes rolls of skin across the back, usually with the scar along the bra line. Read more

A body lift lifts the buttocks by removing loose skin above them. It does not add volume. Read more

A lift raises and reshapes the breast; a reduction also makes it smaller. Many patients need elements of both. Read more

It can, where the pain is caused by the weight of the breasts. Read more

Breastfeeding may be affected. It is discussed at your consultation if you plan a future pregnancy. Read more

Breast reduction and breast lift are day surgery or one night in hospital. Read more

Fat grafting can add some volume during a lift for selected patients. Read more

Usually with a lift, a reduction, or a lift with an implant or fat grafting, depending on volume and skin. Read more

Yes. Asymmetry can be improved, although some difference between the two sides always remains. Read more

Surgery to reshape breasts with a narrow base and a constricted lower half. Read more

Yes, alone or as part of other breast surgery. Read more

Dr Kumar uses the crease under the breast for most augmentations. Read more

Usually under the muscle (dual plane). The Preserve technique, with Motiva implants, places them above the muscle. Read more

A breast augmentation technique in which Motiva implants are placed above the muscle, without a drain. Read more

Implants are not lifetime devices, and further surgery during your life is likely. Read more

A rare lymphoma linked mainly to textured implants. Every implant patient receives written information about it. Read more

Symptoms that some people attribute to their implants. What to check first, and the options, are explained in detail. Read more

Yes, with or without a lift or fat grafting. A drain is nearly always used. Read more

No. The approach to the capsule is decided by what is found and why the implants are being removed. Read more

Tightening of the scar tissue around an implant, which can make the breast firm or misshapen. Read more

It is usually confirmed on imaging and then removed or replaced. Read more

Gynaecomastia is firm gland behind the nipple; chest fat and loose skin feel soft. It is settled on examination. Read more

Skin excision, often with the nipple moved up and the areola reduced, sometimes extended to the side of the chest. Read more

Yes. A large part of his weight-loss practice is men, including chest, abdomen, back and arms. Read more

Usually from six weeks, built up gradually, with most cleared for full activity at 12 weeks. Read more

They are planned around the chest crease, waistline and natural shadows. Read more

About two weeks for desk-based work after body contouring, longer for physical roles. Read more

Six weeks. Read more

After 48 hours. Pat the dressings dry, then use a hair dryer on a cool setting if needed; the skin nearby can be numb, so use it carefully. Read more

Prineo and Micropore dressings, which stay on for six weeks and are removed by Dr Kumar’s nurses. Read more

Nothing over 5 kg for six weeks. Read more

Once you can turn and brake without pain and are off strong pain relief. Read more

Walking from day one, a gradual build-up from six weeks, and full activity for most patients at 12 weeks. Read more

At 7 to 10 days, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months and 12 months, and as often as you need in between. Read more

Dr Kumar’s nurses, who provide ongoing contact and care for his patients. For chest pain, sudden breathlessness or a painful, swollen calf, call 000. Read more

A collection of fluid under the skin, common after body contouring and usually drained in the rooms. Read more

They are pink and firm for several months and mature over 12 to 18 months. Read more

Serious complications are rare in healthy patients in accredited hospitals, but every operation carries risk, and minor complications are more common after body contouring. Read more

Yes. The operations are longer and nutrition is often lower, so complications such as seroma and wound separation are more common. Read more

Your risk is assessed before surgery, and prevention is matched to it, including early walking and compression. Read more

Call Dr Kumar’s nurses. Most complications are managed in the rooms; a few need a return to theatre. Read more

Search the Ahpra register for the practitioner’s name. A specialist plastic surgeon has specialist registration in surgery – plastic surgery. Read more

Video consultations where possible, at least one in-person consultation, then a trip for surgery after the cooling-off period. Read more

Interstate and overseas patients usually stay near the hospital until their first review, about 7 to 10 days after surgery. Read more

Yes. Patients from Orange and the Central West go home once discharged and have their follow-up in Orange. Read more

+61 2 9171 1822. Within Australia, call 1300 267 726. Read more

He is a specialist plastic surgeon, Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and ANZBCPS Board Certified, with over 20 years of surgical experience. Read more

Dr Kumar’s nurses. The nurses who prepare you for surgery are the same nurses who see you at every review. Read more

Yes. Preparation can include an Accredited Practising Dietitian and DEXA body composition scanning. Read more

Yes. There are 18 free procedure guides, emailed to you straight away. Read more