Contact Us for a surgical consultation

Clarity before commitment.

A surgical consultation is a diagnostic process. Its purpose is to determine whether an operation is justified for this patient, with this anatomy, in these circumstances.

That distinction matters. With Dr. Sim Lew-Gor, consultation is approached as a clinical assessment rather than a sales interaction. It is where expectations are clarified, anatomy is analysed, risks are understood, alternatives are discussed, and suitability is determined. It is also, importantly, where surgery may be declined.

Before You Arrive

Good preparation tends to improve the usefulness and precision of the consultation. Before the appointment, gather the following where possible.

A GP referral is required before attending a surgical consultation under current Australian regulations. If you do not yet have one, the clinic team will advise on how to obtain it when you make contact.

What Happens During Your Consultation

Stage 01

Clinical Discussion

The consultation starts with understanding your concerns, the changes you have noticed, and what you hope to achieve. It goes further into understanding why you believe surgery is the right answer, what you think it can realistically do, what worries you most about the process, and what result you would consider worse than doing nothing.

Your perception shapes the conversation. Your anatomy determines what is possible.

Stage 02

Anatomical Assessment

A detailed assessment evaluates bone structure, soft-tissue position, skin quality, muscle activity, facial balance in frontal and profile views, asymmetry, patterns of ageing, and the relationship between the area of concern and the rest of the face or neck.

Surgery must match structure, not desire. The goal is not to fit a patient's anatomy into a procedure they have requested, it is to determine which procedure, if any, suits the person being consulted.

Stage 03

Suitability and Candidacy

Not every patient is suitable for surgery. Assessment covers general health, healing capacity, smoking status, medication profile, skin quality, relevant comorbidities, tendency to scar, and psychological readiness.

Current Medical Board guidelines require the operating practitioner to assess reasons and motivation, discuss expectations, and screen for body dysmorphic disorder using a validated tool. Consultation is not simply about whether a procedure is technically possible, it is more about whether it is appropriate and in the patient's best interests.

Stage 04

Procedure Explanation & Results

If surgery is appropriate, you will receive a clear explanation of what is proposed, why that procedure is being recommended, which anatomical layers are being addressed, where incisions are placed, the type of anaesthesia, where surgery will be performed, and the likely recovery course.

A proper consultation defines what surgery can realistically achieve, how much improvement is likely, and what the limits are. Surgery improves a structure but it does not create perfection, alter biology, or change who someone is.

Stage 05

Risk, Cost and Consent

Risk exists in every procedure, including: bleeding, haematoma, infection, scarring, delayed healing, anaesthetic complications, and procedure-specific issues. What matters is whether you understand it clearly in the context of your specific circumstances, and whether it is proportionate to what surgery is likely to achieve.

Current guidance requires informed financial consent, including the total cost, deposit arrangements, and the fact that cosmetic surgery is not covered by Medicare.

Understanding Risk

Risk exists in every procedure. A responsible consultation explains risks clearly alongside benefits, alternatives, recovery and the option of not proceeding. That is the basis of informed consent.

What matters is whether you understand it clearly, whether it has been explained in terms of your specific circumstances, and whether it is proportionate to what surgery is likely to achieve.

Dr. Lew-Gor's Consultation Philosophy

Dr. Lew-Gor approaches consultation through anatomical precision, conservative judgement, and long-term thinking. Not every concern leads to surgery. Not every patient is a candidate. Not every request is appropriate.

You may arrive expecting a specific procedure, a quick pathway, or a clear yes. What you should expect instead is an objective assessment, a structured explanation, and a considered recommendation.

That recommendation may be surgical, non-surgical, staged, delayed, or no treatment at all.

This is not hesitation. It is judgement.

You should leave your consultation with clarity rather than confusion, realism rather than promises, understanding rather than persuasion, and confidence rather than pressure. A good consultation does not trap you into a decision. It equips you to make one properly.

Dr. Lew-Gor's Consultation Philosophy

Surgical cost reflects more than the operation itself. It may include surgeon expertise, hospital fees, anaesthesia, implants or consumables where relevant, complexity, postoperative care, and the infrastructure required for safe treatment.

Current guidance requires informed financial consent, including explanation of total cost, deposits, payment dates, refunds, and possible further costs such as revision or additional treatment. Cosmetic surgery is not covered by Medicare. (Medical Board of Australia)

Questions most commonly raised about aesthetic consultations.

Are there any special postoperative care insutrcionts I need to follow?

A proper consultation covers downtime, swelling, bruising, dressings, scar maturation, return to work, exercise restrictions, travel considerations, follow-up appointments, and the support required during healing. You should also understand who is responsible for postoperative care and what arrangements are in place if urgent review is needed.

Current Medical Board guidance requires that postoperative arrangements be formalised if the operating practitioner is not personally available. In fly-in/fly-out settings, the surgeon must remain available at that location for at least 24 hours after surgery. (Medical Board of Australia)

How many consultations are required before cosmetic surgery?

Under current Medical Board of Australia guidelines, patients must have at least two pre-operative consultations. At least one must be in person with the medical practitioner who will perform the surgery, and surgery cannot be booked nor a deposit paid until after two consultations, informed consent, and a seven-day cooling-off period.

Will I know the final result after consultation?

No surgeon can guarantee an exact final result. Consultation should clarify what is realistically achievable, what limitations exist, and what range of improvement may be expected — but healing and biological variability still matter. The goal is informed realism, not false certainty.

What if I am not suitable for surgery?

You will be told directly. Ethical surgical practice requires the surgeon to decline treatment where surgery is not in the patient's best interests, where expectations are unrealistic, or where the risks outweigh the likely benefit. In some cases, alternatives may be discussed. In others, no treatment may be the correct recommendation.

Will alternatives to surgery be discussed?

Yes. Current guidance requires discussion of other options, including the option of not having surgery at all. A proper consultation is designed to determine what is genuinely appropriate, not to funnel every concern toward an operation.

How are risks explained?

Risks are discussed in detail and in plain language — including general surgical risks, procedure-specific complications, patient-specific factors, the possibility of further treatment or revision, and the practical realities of recovery. Proper informed consent means understanding benefits, risks, alternatives and aftercare before making a decision.

Why does expectation-setting matter so much?

Because satisfaction in surgery depends not only on technical execution, but on whether the patient's understanding of the likely outcome is realistic. Good consultation surfaces expectations early, while there is still room for reflection and honest recalibration.

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