Making the decision to undergo plastic surgery can sometimes be daunting, often exciting, and always an extremely personal choice. We are excited that you may consider taking that journey with us, and we will strive to give you the highest level of care from the first time you see us until long after your procedure is complete.
Patients choose to have plastic surgery for a variety of reasons. For some, it is the end of a journey of significant weight loss or a way to combat the signs of ageing. For many mothers, it is to rediscover the body they had prior to one or multiple children or to treat symptoms as a result of pregnancy, such as lower back pain and incontinence. Other patients have scars or injuries that have been unappealing from an aesthetic or functional point of view, and they would like this corrected. Many women ask for breast enhancement surgery to accentuate their femininity.
Plastic surgical procedures are also no longer the exclusive province of women – more and more men are choosing to erase the visible signs of ageing or correct conditions such as gynaecomastia through both surgical and non-surgical means.
As we age, our physical form changes, and this is a normal and natural thing to happen. Mentally, our attitudes, zest for living, and youthful outlook on life often remain the same over a longer period of time. For some patients, this lack of synchrony can be harmonised with plastic surgical procedures.
Dr. Kumar is a highly trained, rigorously examined, and board-certified Specialist Plastic Surgeon. This is different Cosmetic Surgeon which is a term used by a variety of doctors who perform a limited number of procedures in the cosmetic spectrum.
Booking your consultation
To make an appointment to see Dr. Kumar, you can call us at 1300 267 726 and speak to our lovely receptionist or patient coordinator. Alternately, you can send us a request via the contact page on our website, and our team will get back to you to arrange a time for you. Some patients also get in touch via our Social Media accounts and you can click through to this below. Please note that due to changes in regulation as set out by AHPRA, we will be limiting contact and conversation on social media.
In accordance with these new regulations, for all procedures, you will need to bring a referral letter from your General Practitioner. A referral may also qualify you to have a portion of your consultation fee and a proportion of your surgery rebated via Medicare (or your Private Health Fund).
As part of these new regulations, if you are seeking a procedure that is deemed “cosmetic” then you will also need to be assessed for Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
“The Guidelines require that all patients seeking cosmetic surgery or non-surgical cosmetic procedures be assessed for suitability and underlying psychological conditions such as body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)” AHPRA.
You will need to give our receptionist some details about yourself, what procedures you are interested in, and if this is a new visit or a follow-up visit. The non-refundable charge for a cosmetic consultation is $400. This consultation will last for one hour with Dr. Kumar and his team. You will need to secure your booking by paying the consultation fee upfront.
We understand that sometimes events occur that are unpredictable, and you may not be able to get to your appointment. In these circumstances, we will gladly reschedule your appointment for another date and time. However, if this next appointment is missed, then your consultation charge becomes forfeit.
You will be emailed a Welcome Pack from our practice. Included in the Welcome pack will be more information regarding the BDD screening as appropriate. Please see the section below for more information.
Referral
A referral from your local GP is required as per National guidelines set by AHPRA. It will allow you to claim part of the cost of your consultation from Medicare for non-cosmetic procedures. This is currently just over $75. It also means that many common operations that have medical benefits (such as breast reductions and abdominoplasty) may attract a modest Medicare rebate.
Upon Arrival
We will always endeavour to make sure that you are seen at your allocated appointment time. There will be occasions, however, where emergencies or previously unforeseen circumstances may lead to a disruption of this schedule. In the rare instance that this may occur, rest assured that we will do our best to let you know as soon as possible so that there is minimal disruption to your schedule.
We kindly ask that you arrive 10 minutes prior to your appointment. At this time, you will be asked to fill out our patient registration form (if you haven’t already done so on the internet) as well as our medical history form.
We are proud to be an environmentally friendly practice. As such, we are essentially paper-free. You are welcome to log into our guest Wi-Fi or ask for an iPad upon arrival, on which all the latest magazines are already pre-loaded. Feel free to browse them while you wait, and rest assured that this is always updated with the current edition! You may also do further research on our iPad with direct links to our website as well as our dedicated apps, which cover the spectrum of cosmetic procedures as well as recent trends and current special offers.
While we will try to make your visit as relaxing and enjoyable as possible, we do understand that the entire process can be reasonably daunting for some patients. We are more than happy for you to bring a support person (friend or family) to your consultation and to stay with you when you are being seen by Dr. Kumar.
Due to the sensitive nature of some of the procedures that are performed at the practice and as the discussions of medical procedures are adult in nature, we ask that you refrain from bringing children under 12 years old to your consultation or follow-up visits. This also allows Dr. Kumar and his team to concentrate on you and your needs without distractions. If you have a support person to help you, then Pioneer Park which is near us, is a great place to take the children while you are having your consult. There’s plenty of child-friendly playground equipment to keep the little ones occupied.
Your Consultation
Our patient coordinator will meet you and spend some time with you prior to your meeting with Dr. Kumar. At this time, clinical photographs will be taken. Rest assured that all these photos are de-identified and anonymous; they will be used by Dr. Kumar as part of his discussions with you. Depending on which procedure you wish to undertake, you may also have Vectra 3D imaging done, which will form the focus of your consult with Dr. Kumar. We are one of the few clinics in Australia to offer this groundbreaking technology and the only clinic in the Inner West to do so.
The 3D Vectra device is particularly good for breast procedures.
Expect your initial consultation with Dr. Kumar to take from 45 to 60 minutes. At this meeting, Dr. Kumar will work closely with you to assess your needs and discuss whether your requests are surgically achievable or whether there may be alternative treatments that may suit you better.
The surgical technique will be explained, and at this stage, the benefits and risks, as they apply to you, will also be discussed.
Following your consultation with Dr. Kumar, you will again spend time with our patient coordinator. You will be provided with an information pack about your procedure, and an itemised quote describing all the aspects of the procedure ( e.g. Surgeon’s fee, anaesthetic fee and hospital fee) will be discussed with you.
Should your procedure be classified as “Cosmetic” then as per AHPRA requirements, as of July 1, 2023, you will also need to have answered a Body Dysmorphia (BDD) questionnaire, which you will then need to discuss with Dr. Kumar. Please see our section on this Body Dysmorphia Questionnaire below.
Second and subsequent consults
By law, all patients undergoing a cosmetic surgical procedure need to have, at minimum, a second consult before booking their procedure. This consult must be at least 7 days after your first consult. At your second consult, Dr. Kumar will confirm with you the procedure that you wish to undertake and answer any new questions that you may have after the first meeting. The risks and benefits of the procedure will be explained again, and you will be asked to sign a consent form and other relevant paperwork for the procedure. Any changes to implant size (if applicable) can also be made at this appointment. You will also be measured for your garments at this stage, should you need them for your surgery.
Please note that if you have already decided to book in for your procedure or decide to book in for your procedure during this visit, then this second consult is complimentary. If you decide to make another consultation in the future to finalise your procedure or if you decide that you will postpone your procedure, then the cost of this second consultation ($350) will be added to your overall surgical charge at the time of your future surgery.
Post-operative Consults
A detailed post-operative care booklet will be provided to you as part of your post-operative package. In it, we will cover such things as pain relief, dressing changes, when to shower, etc. Along with this, we will provide you with a dedicated phone line to ensure that you can always get in touch with us should the need arise.
After your surgery, you will be seen at regular intervals to ensure that you are healing well and that the results are as expected and desired. Dressings may need to be changed, drains may need to be removed, and scar minimisation therapy commenced. Photographs are taken to chart your progress. All scheduled postoperative visits for a period of one year are included and incur no out-of-pocket fees. If there is a need to change dressings more than per schedule or if other procedures are required that are different from the standard scheduled care, then this may incur a nominal fee.
Scheduled visits are: a) 7–10 days after surgery; b) 6 weeks postoperatively; c) 12 weeks postoperatively; d) 6 months postoperatively; and e) one year postoperatively for cosmetic procedures.
Checklists
You can download our checklists for common procedures in the Patient Forms section.
Body Dysmorphia Questionnaire
According to the guidelines as set by AHPRA, as of July 1, 2023, all patients who are considering a surgical or non-surgical procedure that is deemed “cosmetic” will be required to be screened for Body Dysmorphia.
“2.4 The medical practitioner who will perform the surgery must assess the patient for underlying psychological conditions such as body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), which may make them an unsuitable candidate for the surgery. The practitioner doing the assessment must use a validated psychological screening tool to screen for BDD. The process and the outcome of the assessment and screening must be documented in the patient’s record for all patients seeking cosmetic surgery.”
This screening test can be administered prior to your coming into the practice; however, the results will need to be discussed with Dr. Kumar. When you receive your “Welcome Pack” via email, a QR code will be enclosed in your letter. Please scan this code, and you will be taken to an App via which you can fill out this questionnaire and submit it to Dr. Kumar.
PLEASE NOTE: The requirement for a BDD screening test is only applicable to patients who request cosmetic surgery. A cosmetic surgery procedure is one that does not attract an item code. If your procedure has a Medicare item code, then you will not need to fill out this form. Please see our page on Cosmetic Procedure vs. Non-Cosmetic Procedure for a more detailed description of this subject.
Meet the Expert
Dr. Rohit Kumar is an Australian certified specialist plastic surgeon (MED0001630444). His particular area of interest is breast and body surgery. Often, patients who have achieved massive weight loss, have had one or multiple children (including twins), or have developmental or age-related physiological changes (e.g. large or ptotic breasts) may suffer from significant medical issues as a result. Some of these issues may benefit from plastic surgical procedures, and Dr. Kumar has over 15 years of experience as a specialist plastic surgeon to help guide you in choosing the right procedure for you.
Dr. Kumar, as a specialist plastic surgeon, has a particular area of interest in body contouring procedures that focus on areas such as the breasts, arms, back, abdomen, thighs, hips, buttocks, and flanks—the areas that are most affected after losing a significant amount of weight.
During your consultation, Dr. Kumar will evaluate your needs and take the time to understand your main concerns before suggesting a surgical plan that suits you.
As a patient of Dr. Kumar, you can expect a personalised and positive experience. Working in harmony with you, Dr. Kumar and his team strive to deliver results that surpass your expectations and do so in a safe environment. Along with him, his professional and caring team is there to support you on your surgical journey, from your first call to well after you have recovered from your surgery.
