Before You Travel: The AHPRA Framework
Cosmetic surgery in Australia is regulated by AHPRA under guidelines updated in 2023 and revised again in September 2025. Several requirements apply to every patient regardless of where you’re travelling from:
- 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 cosmetic procedure can be booked. The first consultation can happen by telehealth. The second is in person, in Sydney. Both consultations are substantive clinical assessments, not screening calls.
- A seven-day cooling-off period applies between the date you provide final written consent and the date of surgery itself.
- Psychological evaluation may be required where clinically indicated.
These requirements exist to protect patients and apply equally to interstate, regional, and international patients. The team will explain how each step applies to your specific situation when you make initial contact.
The Pathway, Step by Step
Step 1: Initial Enquiry and GP Referral
Contact the practice and let the team know you’re travelling. The team will guide you through what’s needed for your initial consultation, including the GP referral process if you don’t already have one. Photographs and a brief medical history are typically requested before the first consultation, so I can review them in advance.
Phone: 1300 437 758 Email: [email protected]
Step 2: First Consultation (Telehealth)
The first consultation is conducted by secure video call. This is a full clinical consultation, not a sales call. We’ll discuss your concerns and goals, review your photographs and medical history, and talk through the procedures that may apply to your situation. Risks, recovery expectations, and indicative costs are covered. By the end of this appointment you’ll have enough information to decide whether to proceed to an in-person consultation in Sydney.
Step 3: Second Consultation (In Person, Sydney)
A formal in-person consultation is required before any surgical booking can be made. This is an AHPRA requirement, not a practice preference. At this consultation I’ll do a physical clinical assessment, refine the surgical plan based on what I see in person, answer any further questions, and discuss the next steps. Most interstate patients combine this consultation with their pre-operative period, attending for the second consultation a few days before the planned surgery date.
Step 4: Surgical Booking and Cooling-Off
After the in-person consultation, you’ll receive a detailed written quote covering surgeon, anaesthetist, and hospital fees, along with pre-operative instructions and a deposit invoice to secure the surgery date. Final written consent for surgery triggers the seven-day cooling-off period. Surgery cannot be performed inside this seven-day 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’s needed for your specific procedure and the timing.
Step 6: Travel and Accommodation
Coordinate flights and accommodation once your surgery date is confirmed. Most patients arrive in Sydney one to two days before surgery to allow for rest and any final pre-operative checks. You’ll need to organise both accommodation for the recovery period and a support person to assist you through the early days after surgery.
Surgery Day
Surgery is performed under general anaesthesia with a specialist anaesthetist, at one of the accredited private hospitals in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs or on the Northern Beaches:
- Bondi Junction Private Hospital, Bondi Junction
- East Sydney Private Hospital, Woolloomooloo
- Delmar Private Hospital, Manly
Some procedures involve a same-day discharge. Others require an overnight hospital stay, depending on the surgery and the anaesthetic plan. Your support person collects you from the hospital and stays with you during the early recovery period.
How Long You’ll Need to Stay in Sydney
Most procedures require you to remain in Sydney for approximately 7 to 10 days following surgery. This allows for the early healing window to pass, for any drains or sutures to be managed, and for me to review your recovery progress before you travel home.
The exact duration depends on your procedure and your individual healing. Larger or more complex procedures (deep plane facelift, abdominoplasty, combined procedures) may require longer. Smaller procedures may allow earlier travel. The team will give you a realistic timeline at the consultation, and confirm it during your in-person review.
Where to Stay During Your Sydney Recovery
Most out-of-town patients book accommodation close to whichever clinic is handling their post-operative reviews. Quiet, accessible accommodation with lift access matters more than luxury. Serviced apartments often work better than hotels because of the kitchenette, plus the option to keep food and supplies on hand including ice packs.
Bondi Junction and Eastern Suburbs
Suitable for patients with consultations and follow-up at the Bondi Junction clinic, or surgery at Bondi Junction Private or East Sydney Private hospitals. Options worth considering:
- Hyatt Regency Sydney (CBD, accessible by short drive)
- QT Bondi (Bondi Beach)
- Adina Apartment Hotel Bondi Beach (serviced apartments)
- Local serviced apartments in Bondi Junction itself, within walking distance to the clinic
Manly and Northern Beaches
Suitable for patients with consultations and follow-up at the Manly clinic, or surgery at Delmar Private Hospital. Options worth considering:
- Manly Pacific (Hotel)
- The Sebel Manly Beach (serviced apartments)
- Quest Manly (serviced apartments)
- Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah (Hotel)
The team can suggest current options at the time of booking, since accommodation availability and pricing change. The most important practical considerations are: distance to the post-operative clinic (10 to 15 minutes maximum is ideal), lift access if you’re staying above ground floor, and a kitchenette or in-room refrigeration.
Returning Home
A final in-person review takes place before you travel home. This appointment confirms wound healing is on track, removes drains or sutures if still in place, provides any “fit to fly” documentation requested by your airline, and sets up your ongoing 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. Avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activity for the period your discharge instructions specify.
Ongoing Care After You Return Home
Telehealth follow-up appointments are scheduled at standard intervals appropriate to your procedure. For most procedures, these include a six-week review, then reviews at three months, six months, and the twelve-month mark. The team will send appointment reminders and provide secure video call links.
Telehealth is suitable for routine follow-up. It is not suitable when a clinical concern arises. If you experience wound healing issues, complications, or any concern about your surgical outcome, you’ll need to return to Sydney for an in-person review. 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, your referral can come from any registered medical practitioner. The practice team will confirm what’s acceptable at initial enquiry.
Can both my consultations be by telehealth?
No. AHPRA requires the second consultation to be in person, before any surgical booking can be made. The first consultation can be a substantive telehealth consultation. The second must be face to face, in Sydney. There’s no mechanism to compress this requirement.
How long do I need to stay in Sydney after surgery?
Most patients stay 7 to 10 days. Larger or more complex procedures may require longer. Smaller procedures may allow earlier travel. The exact timeline is confirmed during your in-person consultation based on the procedure planned and your individual circumstances.
Do I need a support person with me?
Yes. A support person is required to collect you from hospital after surgery and to assist with the early recovery period. They don’t need to stay with you the entire time you’re in Sydney, but they do need to be available for the first 24 to 48 hours after discharge. The team will discuss this during pre-operative planning.
Can my local GP handle my pre-operative tests?
Yes, in most cases. Pre-operative blood tests and medical clearances can usually be arranged through your local GP if you prefer. The practice team will provide the request forms and clinical detail your GP needs. Some procedures require specialist clearances (cardiology, anaesthetic) which may need to be arranged in Sydney depending on what’s available locally.
What happens if a complication develops after I return home?
For routine recovery questions, telehealth follow-up handles most issues. For genuine clinical concerns (significant wound healing problems, signs of infection, unexpected symptoms) you’ll need to return to Sydney for an in-person review. Travel back to Sydney for clinical reviews is your responsibility. For urgent medical concerns, contact your local GP or emergency service first, then notify the practice.
Can I fly home with drains or sutures in place?
Generally no. Most patients have drains removed and sutures either removed or significantly reduced before travelling home. The final in-person review before departure confirms that travel is appropriate. A “fit to fly” letter can be provided for your airline if requested. Some procedures involve sutures that dissolve over weeks rather than being removed, in which case travel arrangements are different. This is discussed at consultation.
To enquire about a consultation as an interstate or international patient, contact the practice on 1300 437 758 or email [email protected]. The team will guide you through GP referral, photographs, and the steps for your first consultation.
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Dr Scott J Turner is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS, 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.
