When a Photo Assessment Is Useful
Most patients who request a photo assessment fall into one of three groups:
- Patients in the early research stage who want to confirm the procedures they’ve been reading about are realistic for their goals before committing the time and cost of a consultation.
- Interstate or international patients who want indicative cost and procedure-fit information before planning travel to Sydney for a consultation.
- Patients deciding between practices who want a sense of how the practice approaches their specific concerns before booking.
If you’re already certain you want to proceed and you have your GP referral organised, you don’t need a photo assessment. You can request a consultation directly.
What the Response Will Cover
Within 48 business hours of submission, the team will respond by email or phone (whichever you’ve requested) with:
Procedure scope. Whether the procedures you’ve described are part of my routine surgical practice, or whether your concerns might be better suited to a different specialist (for example, a dermatologist for non-surgical skin treatments, or a different plastic surgeon if your concerns sit outside my specific scope).
Indicative cost range. A general cost range for the procedures you’ve asked about, based on the information you’ve provided. Cost ranges are indicative only. Final pricing requires a full consultation, where the surgical plan is confirmed and an exact quote can be issued.
Next steps. What’s involved in booking a formal consultation, including the GP referral process and the steps from initial consultation through to surgery if you decide to proceed.
What the Response Will Not Cover
Worth being explicit about this part. The photo assessment response will not include:
- A clinical diagnosis or assessment of any concern
- A determination that you are a suitable candidate for any specific procedure
- A surgical plan
- A guaranteed cost
- Recommendations on procedure choice that go beyond procedure-scope clarification
These all require a full consultation. The two-consultation requirement under AHPRA applies regardless of whether you’ve previously submitted photos. So does the seven-day cooling-off period. So does the GP referral, and any psychological evaluation that may be clinically indicated.
How to Submit Photos
The quality of photographs matters. The team can give better preliminary guidance from clear, well-framed photographs than from photos taken hastily. The PDF guides linked below cover the specific angles and framing for face, nose, breast, and body. They take five minutes to read and make a meaningful difference to the usefulness of the response.
Face and Nose Guide
Download the Face and Nose Photo Taking Guide (PDF)
Breast and Body Guide
Download the Breast and Body Photo Taking Guide (PDF)
General Photo Tips
- Lighting. Use natural indirect light. Avoid harsh shadows and direct overhead lighting.
- Background. Use a plain, uncluttered background. A blank wall works well.
- Clarity. Photos should be sharp and in focus. Don’t use filters.
- Framing. Include the full area of concern with some surrounding context for reference.
- Consistency. If a procedure involves multiple angles (face, nose, breast), include all the angles the PDF guide specifies. Front, profile, and three-quarter views are usually all needed.
How to Submit Your Enquiry
The submission form sits below this page section in the standard practice format. You’ll need to provide:
- Your name and preferred contact method (email or phone)
- A brief description of your concerns and the procedures you’re considering
- Your photographs uploaded through the secure form
- Indication of whether you’d like the team to respond by email or phone
If you’d prefer to send photographs by email rather than through the form, contact the team first on [email protected] and they’ll send you a secure submission link.
Privacy and Photo Handling
Medical photographs are sensitive personal information and are treated as such. The practice handles photo submissions in line with the Australian Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles.
- Storage. Submissions are stored on secure systems accessible only to authorised practice staff.
- Use. Photographs are used only to inform the response to your enquiry. They are never used for marketing, never displayed publicly, and never shared with third parties without your written consent.
- Retention. If you proceed to a consultation, your submission is retained as part of your medical record. If you don’t proceed, your submission is retained for 12 months and then securely destroyed.
- Deletion request. You can request deletion of your submission at any time by emailing [email protected]. Confirmation of deletion is provided within 14 days.
The practice’s full privacy policy applies to all submissions and is available via the footer link.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the photo assessment a clinical consultation?
No. The photo assessment is a preliminary information service. The response provides guidance on whether the procedures you’re considering are within scope of the practice, plus an indicative cost range. Clinical assessment, diagnosis, suitability determination, and surgical planning all require a full consultation, which requires a GP referral and includes an in-person physical examination.
Do I still need a GP referral if I submit photos?
Yes. AHPRA requires a written GP referral before any cosmetic surgery consultation can be booked, regardless of whether you’ve previously submitted photographs. The photo assessment is an information service that sits before the regulated consultation pathway. It does not replace any of the AHPRA requirements that apply once you decide to proceed.
Why is the photo assessment offered at no cost?
The intent is to help patients in the research stage make better-informed decisions about whether a paid consultation is worth their time and cost. Patients often spend weeks or months researching before booking a consultation, and a brief preliminary response based on photographs can save them committing to a consultation that may not be suited to their specific situation. The service is a practical aid for the research stage, not a marketing inducement.
How long does the response take?
The team responds within 48 business hours of receiving a complete submission. If a submission is incomplete (missing photographs, missing description, missing contact details), the team will reach out for the missing information first, which can extend the timeline. If you submit on a Friday or before a public holiday, allow for the next business day.
Can the cost estimate be considered final?
No. Cost estimates from photos are indicative ranges only. Final pricing requires a full consultation where the surgical plan is confirmed, anaesthetic and hospital fees are quoted alongside the surgeon fee, and any individual factors affecting cost are accounted for. The indicative range is useful for budgeting and decision-making at the research stage, but it is not a quote.
What happens to my photos after the response?
Photographs submitted are stored securely. If you proceed to a consultation, your submission becomes part of your medical record. If you don’t proceed, your submission is retained for 12 months and then securely destroyed. You can request earlier deletion at any time by emailing [email protected].
Photo assessment is one route into the practice. If you already know you’d like to proceed to consultation, you can also request one directly. The team is available on 1300 437 758 or [email protected] for any questions about either pathway.
Submit a photo assessment → | Request a consultation → | If travelling to Sydney for surgery →
Dr Scott J Turner is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS, MED0001654827). The photo assessment service described on this page is preliminary information guidance only and does not constitute medical advice or a clinical assessment. All surgical procedures carry inherent risks, and outcomes vary between individuals. Dr Turner will discuss all relevant risks, alternatives, and expected outcomes during your consultation if you proceed.
