Frequently Asked Questions

Whether you can have surgery on the same day depends on:

• The procedure required

• The time allocated for your appointment

• The type of anaesthetic required for your procedure (local anaesthetic (numbing injections) vs general anaesthetic (being asleep for the procedure))

• Your medical history and medications (e.g. blood thinners, anti-resorptive medications)

If you wish to have your procedure on the same day as your appointment, please inform our staff at the time of booking, who will discuss the options with you.

We offer a range of options, including:

• In our rooms: we have 3 fully equipped procedural rooms, with a comfortable post-procedural recovery area.  This option is only available for local anaesthesia (numbing injections), with the addition of a very mild oral sedative for suitable patients.

• Ballina Day Surgery - suitable for patients requiring general anaesthetic, but day-surgery only (no overnight stay)

• St Vincent’s Hospital, Lismore - suitable for patients requiring general anaesthetic, either as day-surgery or including overnight stay for more involved procedures (Rhinoplasty, Orthognathic Surgery etc.)

Costs vary between these options, but the main priority in choosing which site is most suitable is always based primarily on the safest option for you.

Please note that we do not facilitate booking directly to a public hospital operating list; if you wish to have your surgery in a public hospital you will need to ask your referrer to provide you with a referral for review in a public outpatient clinic.

For a full understanding of surgical fees please see our Fees & Charges page here.

The cost of surgery depends on the procedure required, and the location in which surgery is undertaken.  Your level of private insurance cover and medicare eligibility also determine whether you can claim back some of the costs associated.

Generally, 3 sets of fees may apply:

• Surgical fees

• Anaesthetic fees (if having treatment “asleep” under anaesthetic, delivered by a Specialist Anaesthetist)

• Hospital admission fees (charged by the hospital for your stay and use of the hospital facilities)

Yes - we do offer treatment for self-funded patients.  We will always endeavour to give you an accurate estimate of all of the costs involved with your surgery.

Yes - we do offer treatment under general anaesthetic, which is administered by a fully qualified anaesthetist (specialist medical doctor) in one of our local private hospitals.  A medicare rebate is applicable for the cost of your anaesthetic, however in some cases a gap may also apply. We do also offer treatment under local anaesthetic (numbing injections) at the practice. Please see here for your anaesthetic options.