Patients Travel to Sydney from Across Australia and New Zealand
The pathway is structured so initial planning can begin before you travel, while the required in-person assessment, surgery and early post-operative review happen in Sydney. This lets you understand the timing, travel, recovery stay and follow-up responsibilities before committing to surgery.
Patients travel to Sydney to have surgery with Dr Turner from Queensland, the ACT, Victoria, regional New South Wales, Tasmania, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory, as well as from New Zealand. Wherever you are travelling from, the same consultation, referral, in-person assessment, cooling-off and recovery requirements apply.
Before You Travel: The AHPRA Framework
Cosmetic surgery in Australia is regulated by AHPRA under cosmetic surgery guidelines introduced on 1 July 2023 and updated since. These requirements apply to every patient, local, interstate, regional or international:
- A GP referral is required before any cosmetic surgery consultation can be booked. This applies whether your first consultation is in person or by telehealth.
- A minimum of two clinical consultations is required before any procedure can be booked. The first can be by telehealth. The second is in person, in Sydney. Both are substantive clinical assessments, not screening calls.
- A seven-day cooling-off period applies between final written consent and the date of surgery.
- A psychological assessment may be required where clinically indicated.
These steps cannot be compressed because a patient is travelling from interstate or overseas. For more on the decision process, see choosing a plastic surgeon in Sydney and the risks and complications of cosmetic surgery.
Your Sydney Surgery Pathway
Step 1: Initial enquiry and GP referral. Contact the practice and let the team know you’re travelling. They will guide you through what is needed for your first consultation, including the GP referral if you don’t already have one. Photographs and a brief medical history are usually requested beforehand, so I can review them in advance.
Step 2: First consultation by telehealth. For most out-of-town patients, the first consultation is a secure video call. This is a full clinical consultation, not a sales call. We discuss your concerns and goals, review your photographs and medical history, and talk through the procedures that may apply, including risks, recovery and indicative costs. By the end you will have enough information to decide whether to proceed to an in-person consultation in Sydney.
Step 3: Second consultation, in person in Sydney. An in-person consultation is required before any surgical booking, as an AHPRA requirement. At this appointment I complete a physical assessment, refine the surgical plan based on what I see in person, and answer any further questions. Most interstate patients plan this around their Sydney travel dates, attending a few days before the planned surgery.
Step 4: Written quote and cooling-off period. After the in-person consultation you receive a detailed written quote covering surgeon, anaesthetist and hospital fees, along with pre-operative instructions and a deposit invoice to secure the date. Final written consent triggers the seven-day cooling-off period, and surgery cannot proceed inside that window.
Step 5: Pre-operative testing. Some procedures require blood tests or medical clearances. These can be arranged with your local GP before you travel, or in Sydney. The team will tell you what is needed and the timing.
Step 6: Travel and accommodation. Once your date is confirmed, coordinate flights and accommodation. Most patients arrive in Sydney one to two days before surgery for rest and any final checks. You will need to organise both accommodation for the recovery period and a support person for the early days after surgery.
Surgery Day
Surgery is performed under general anaesthesia with a specialist anaesthetist, at an accredited private hospital in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs or on the Northern Beaches:
- Bondi Junction Private Hospital, Bondi Junction
- East Sydney Private Hospital, Woolloomooloo
- Delmar Private Hospital, Dee Why
Some procedures allow same-day discharge. Others require an overnight stay, depending on the surgery and anaesthetic plan. Your support person collects you from hospital and stays with you during the early recovery period.
Brisbane Patients Travelling to Sydney for Surgery
Patients from Brisbane, regional Queensland and northern New South Wales can begin their consultation pathway through Dr Turner’s Brisbane clinic at Herstellen Clinic, Spring Hill. Surgery is still performed in Sydney, so Brisbane patients should plan for Sydney travel, accommodation, hospital admission and early post-operative follow-up.
If you are travelling from Brisbane, plan around the timing of your first consultation, the GP referral, flights to Sydney, accommodation near Bondi Junction or Manly, support-person arrangements, the time required in Sydney after surgery, and return travel after your final review. See the clinics page and plastic surgery prices for planning detail.
Canberra Patients Travelling to Sydney for Surgery
Patients from Canberra, the ACT, Queanbeyan and southern New South Wales can begin their consultation pathway through Dr Turner’s Canberra clinic at Campbell, where consultations are held on Fridays by appointment. Surgery is performed in Sydney, with the in-person surgical assessment, hospital admission and early recovery reviews planned around the Sydney visit. Selected later follow-up can be arranged at the Canberra clinic or by telehealth where clinically appropriate.
If you are travelling from Canberra, allow enough time for the consultation, written quote, cooling-off period, surgery and early post-operative review before returning home, and consider whether to drive or fly, how long to stay, where to base yourself in Sydney, and who will collect you from hospital. The patient resources hub covers the planning steps in more detail.
Where Surgery and Follow-Up Happen in Sydney
Bondi Junction and the Eastern Suburbs. The Bondi Junction clinic is a key location for consultations and post-operative review, convenient for patients staying in the Eastern Suburbs, inner city or CBD, and for surgery at Bondi Junction Private or East Sydney Private hospitals.
Manly and the Northern Beaches. The Manly clinic suits patients whose pathway involves the Northern Beaches, with surgery or review near Delmar Private Hospital in Dee Why. The Manly clinic is also relevant for selected post-operative support, including LED light therapy where clinically appropriate.
Choosing a surgeon and an accredited hospital matters most when something needs managing. For background, see choosing your surgeon and risks and complications.
Common Procedures for Out-of-Town Patients
Out-of-town patients commonly enquire about procedures that need careful planning around travel, recovery time and post-operative reviews. Common enquiries include:
- Facelift and neck lift, including deep plane facelift
- Rhinoplasty
- Eyelid surgery, upper and lower blepharoplasty
- Breast augmentation, breast lift and breast reduction
- Abdominoplasty
- Gynaecomastia surgery
Suitability, timing, cost and recovery planning are discussed at consultation. Out-of-town patients should avoid booking flights or accommodation before the surgical plan and review schedule are confirmed. Indicative costs are on the plastic surgery prices page.
How Long Should Out-of-Town Patients Stay in Sydney?
Most patients remain in Sydney for approximately 7 to 10 days after surgery. This allows the early healing window to pass, any drains or sutures to be managed, and a review of your recovery before you travel home. The exact duration depends on your procedure and individual healing.
| Procedure type | Sydney stay guidance |
|---|---|
| Smaller procedures | May allow earlier travel if recovery is uncomplicated |
| Most procedures | Approximately 7 to 10 days in Sydney |
| Larger or combined procedures | Longer Sydney stay may be required |
| Any clinical concern | Return to Sydney for in-person review may be required |
Your individual travel timing is confirmed at your in-person consultation, based on the procedure planned and your recovery.
Where to Stay in Sydney After Surgery
Most out-of-town patients book accommodation close to the clinic handling their post-operative reviews. Quiet, accessible accommodation with lift access matters more than luxury. Serviced apartments often work better than hotels, with a kitchenette and room to keep food, supplies and ice packs on hand.
Bondi Junction and Eastern Suburbs. Suitable for patients with reviews at the Bondi Junction clinic, or surgery at Bondi Junction Private or East Sydney Private. Options worth considering include the Hyatt Regency Sydney (CBD, a short drive), QT Bondi, Adina Apartment Hotel Bondi Beach, and serviced apartments in Bondi Junction itself, within walking distance of the clinic. Nearby suburbs include Bondi Junction, Bondi, Woollahra, Paddington, Randwick and the Sydney CBD.
Manly and Northern Beaches. Suitable for patients with reviews at the Manly clinic, or surgery at Delmar Private Hospital. Options worth considering include the Manly Pacific, The Sebel Manly Beach, Quest Manly and Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah. Nearby suburbs include Manly, Dee Why, Brookvale, Balgowlah and Seaforth.
The team can suggest current options at the time of booking, since availability and pricing change. The practical priorities are distance to the post-operative clinic (10 to 15 minutes is ideal), lift access if you are above the ground floor, and a kitchenette or in-room refrigeration.
Support Person Requirements
A support person is required to collect you from hospital after surgery and to assist during early recovery. They should be available for at least the first 24 to 48 hours after discharge. Depending on the procedure, you may need help with meals, medications, transport, dressing care, mobility and attending appointments. Confirm your support arrangements before booking surgery.
Returning Home After Surgery
A final in-person review takes place in Sydney before you travel home. This confirms wound healing is on track, removes drains or sutures if still in place, provides any fit-to-fly documentation requested by your airline where clinically appropriate, and sets up your telehealth follow-up schedule.
Travel tips after surgery. Stay well hydrated during your flight, walk around the cabin every hour or two to reduce blood clot risk, wear any prescribed compression garments throughout the flight, and avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activity for the period your discharge instructions specify. Do not book return travel too tightly around your surgery date, as your return timing should follow your recovery and clinical review.
Ongoing Care After You Return Home
Telehealth follow-up appointments are scheduled at intervals appropriate to your procedure. For most procedures these include a six-week review, then reviews at three, six and twelve months. The team sends reminders and secure video links.
Telehealth is suitable for routine follow-up. It is not suitable when a clinical concern arises. If you experience wound healing issues, signs of a complication, or any concern about your surgical outcome, you will need to return to Sydney for an in-person review, and travel back to Sydney for these reviews is your responsibility. For urgent medical concerns, contact your local GP or emergency service first, then notify the practice as soon as possible afterwards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a GP referral if I live interstate or overseas?
Yes. AHPRA requires a written GP referral before any cosmetic surgery consultation in Australia, regardless of where you live. If your GP is overseas, the referral can come from any registered medical practitioner, and the practice team will confirm what is acceptable at your initial enquiry.
Can both my consultations be by telehealth?
No. AHPRA requires the second consultation to be in person, in Sydney, before any surgical booking. The first consultation can be a substantive telehealth appointment, but the second must be face to face. There is no mechanism to compress this requirement, even for interstate or international patients.
Can I start the process from Brisbane?
Yes. Patients from Brisbane, regional Queensland and northern New South Wales can begin their pathway through Dr Turner’s Brisbane clinic at Spring Hill. Surgery is still performed in Sydney, so you will need to plan for Sydney travel, accommodation and early recovery.
Can I start the process from Canberra?
Yes. Patients from Canberra, the ACT, Queanbeyan and southern New South Wales can begin their pathway through Dr Turner’s Canberra clinic at Campbell, where consultations are held on Fridays. Surgery is performed in Sydney, with selected later follow-up available in Canberra or by telehealth where appropriate.
Do patients travel from Tasmania, Western Australia, South Australia or the Northern Territory?
Yes. Dr Turner treats patients from across Australia, including Tasmania, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. The pathway is planned around a telehealth first consultation, an in-person Sydney consultation, surgery, early recovery in Sydney, and return-home follow-up.
Can New Zealand patients travel to Sydney for surgery?
Yes. Patients from New Zealand can enquire about travelling to Sydney for surgery. The same referral, two-consultation, in-person assessment, cooling-off and recovery planning requirements apply.
How long do I need to stay in Sydney after surgery?
Most out-of-town patients stay approximately 7 to 10 days. Larger or more complex procedures, such as a deep plane facelift, abdominoplasty or combined procedures, may require longer. Smaller procedures may allow earlier travel. The exact timeline is confirmed at your in-person consultation.
Should I stay near Bondi Junction or Manly?
It depends on where your consultation, hospital admission and post-operative reviews are planned. The practice team can advise whether Bondi Junction and the Eastern Suburbs, or Manly and the Northern Beaches, is more practical for your recovery stay.
Do I need a support person?
Yes. A support person is required to collect you from hospital and assist during early recovery, particularly in the first 24 to 48 hours after discharge. The team will discuss this during pre-operative planning.
What happens if a complication develops after I return home?
For routine recovery questions, telehealth follow-up handles most issues. For genuine clinical concerns, such as significant wound healing problems, signs of infection, or unexpected symptoms, you will need to return to Sydney for an in-person review, and travel back is your responsibility. For urgent medical concerns, contact your local GP or emergency service first, then notify the practice.
To enquire about a consultation as an interstate or international patient, contact the practice on 1300 437 758 or email [email protected], or use the contact form. The team will guide you through GP referral, photographs and the steps for your first consultation. A GP referral is required, and surgical planning involves a minimum of two consultations and a seven-day cooling-off period before any procedure is scheduled, with a psychological assessment where clinically indicated.
Dr Scott J Turner is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS, AHPRA MED0001654827). All surgical procedures carry inherent risks, and outcomes vary between individuals. The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute medical advice. Dr Turner will discuss all relevant risks, alternatives and expected outcomes during your consultation.
