FAQs (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)
HOW MUCH DOES AN INITIAL CONSULTATION COST?
The cost of the initial consultation with Dr Watts is $350.00 which is payable at the time of booking your consultation.
DO I NEED A REFERRAL TO SEE DR WATTS?
As of July 1st 2023 a referral from either a General Practitioner (GP) or Medical Specialist is needed for all patients undergoing consultation for cosmetic surgery. Having a referral also allows you to receive a subsidy from Medicare for your initial consultation fee and is required in order for you to claim any applicable rebates related to your surgery.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO BEFORE MY CONSULTATION?
Upon booking your consultation (that you have secured with the $350 fee) you will receive an e-mail containing specific details regarding your appointment. We do ask that you fill out a medical history questionnaire and read and sign the privacy act information and consent for photographs prior to your appointment. These can be e-mailed straight back to the practice.
It is also a good idea to write down a list of questions that you may have and bring this on the day to ensure that you receive all the information you need to make an informed consent about a procedure.
WHERE DOES DR WATTS CONSULT?
Dr Watts offers consultations at 8 Ventnor Avenue, West Perth, 6005. There is street parking available on Ventnor Avenue. The parking cost is $4 per hour.
DOES THE COST OF SURGERY NEED TO BE PAID UPFRONT?
We require a 20% deposit to secure a surgical date then the remaining portion to be paid 28 days prior to your procedure. Your anaesthetic and hospital fees will also need to be paid in full prior to undergoing surgery. You will be contacted by their rooms for these payments.
DOES PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE COVER COSMETIC SURGERY?
For some procedures you may be able to claim hospital fees and/or a rebate on surgical and anaesthetic fees. This being said cosmetic surgery is elective and therefore most insurance plans do not cover it. There are exceptions and if your procedure is medically necessary and has a Medicare item number attached you may qualify for a rebate. Check with your private health insurer if you are uncertain if your procedure will be covered or if you have any exclusions to your policy.
HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO WAIT BEFORE I CAN HAVE SURGERY?
The waiting time for surgery can vary significantly depending on the procedure that you wish to have. On average, the waiting time is approximately 6-8 weeks from your initial consultation.
DOES DR WATTS PERFORM ALL SURGERY HIMSELF?
Yes, Dr Watts will perform all procedures personally.
DO I NEED TO HAVE A GENERAL ANAESTHETIC?
This will depend on your procedure and the complexity of the surgery. Some procedures may be performed using local anaesthetic alone or local anaesthesia +/- sedation. However, on average the majority of procedures Dr Watts performs will require a general anaesthetic, where you will be asleep for the duration of the operation.
Smaller procedures may only require you to remain in hospital for a few hours and then you will be able to return home with friend or family member. For larger procedures you may be required to stay in hospital over night or for a couple of days for observation and monitoring.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING MY INITIAL CONSULTATION?
You will be required to fill in the registration form and medical history questionnaire prior to your appointment. During your initial consultation Dr Watts will listen to your specific concerns, conduct a physical examination, including photographs and discuss procedural options that you may benefit from. It is encouraged that you learn a little about your procedure of interest (if known) prior to your first consultation and write down a list of questions to ask Dr Watts.
Dr Watts can provide you with information regarding a specific procedure you are interested in as well as advising or recommending others that may better suit your needs and goals. Dr Watts will be able to help you visualise results and discuss any associated risks and complications.
After your consultation we will be happy to provide you with an estimate of the surgical fee for your chosen procedure. If you would like to go ahead with a procedure it may be booked after a 7 Day cooling off period or subsequent consultation.
Please note that this is a consultation only and that procedures are not performed in the rooms.
IS DR WATTS A MEMBER OF THE AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY OF PLASTIC SURGEONS?
Yes. Dr Watts is a member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons and he is also a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Plastic Surgeons.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COSMETIC AND SPECIALIST PLASTIC SURGEON?
There are many types of medical practitioners that offer cosmetic procedures and as a consumer you need to ask yourself whom you would like to perform your procedure? If you would like to be treated by someone who has achieved the highest level of qualification achievable in Australia for the delivery of plastic and cosmetic surgery procedures then you should seek a Specialist Plastic Surgeon.
In Australia, fully qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeons such as Dr Watts have at least 12 years of total medical and surgical education and have studied within a specialist surgery program for a minimum of five years. To be a Specialist Plastic Surgeon you are required to train in plastic surgery exclusively for FIVE years before completing the fellowship examinations with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
To identify a fully qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon look for evidence that they are members of the AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY OF PLASTIC SURGEONS, (ASPS). They will also have the subtitle (PLAS) after their surgical qualification of FELLOW OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALASIAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS (FRACS).
Cosmetic surgeons on the other hand can be anybody with a degree in medicine and an interest in cosmetic procedures. Most commonly someone advertising as a cosmetic surgeon is a general practitioner (GP). Due to the paucity of government regulation they are not required to have any formal training in cosmetic procedures either medical or surgical.
As a member of the public it can be very difficult to ascertain the true qualifications of your surgeon. For a simple and unbiased place to clarify your health practitioner’s qualifications you can check what registration type they have with the Australian Government. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) details the highest level and type of qualification that a practitioner holds. Just follow the link and enter the practitioner’s name. Once you have identified the right practitioner click on ‘view details’. Under ‘registration type’ and ‘specialty’ their unbiased qualifications will be displayed. We would strongly suggest that you check this prior to seeing anyone advertising as a cosmetic specialist. (https://www.ahpra.gov.au)
