General
Yes you can, in fact, the best way to determine whether surgery will meet your goals is to talk through what you hope to achieve with Dr Avery during a consultation.
A consultation involves meeting with Dr Avery and the Avery Care Team, where your surgical hopes and expectations are fully explored, questions are answered, and the risks of surgery are discussed.
There will also be an opportunity to review more clinical photos of people who have had the kind of surgery you are interested in.
It typically takes 6 to 8 weeks for an appointment with Dr Avery. We appreciate this might feel like a long time to wait when you have made the decision to explore your surgical options.
The wait is due to the large number of people who have chosen Avery for their surgical journey. We wish we could clone Dr Avery too!
We will do our best to accommodate your individual circumstances, for example, if you live out of town or you are hoping for surgery within a specific time frame.
Consultations can only be booked over the phone because of the fast-changing nature of the available spots.
To book a consultation with Avery, please telephone our administration team and we can find the next available time that is convenient for you. Our telephone number is 02 4002 4150.
Telephone Avery on 4002 4150 to discuss Dr Avery’s availability for the consultation, the requirements for a consultation (such as a GP referral), and associated costs. Consultations can only be booked over the telephone due to the changing nature of Dr Avery’s calendar.
There is generally a 6-8 week wait for a consultation with Dr Avery, although at times, earlier slots can become available. If your concern is urgent, please let our team know and Dr Avery will do his best to accommodate you.
Yes, your first consultation will be with Dr Avery. It is important that the surgeon who will perform your surgery is the first person you talk with to determine whether surgery will meet your expectations and is possible given your unique circumstances.
Yes, your GP or another specialist that knows you well must make a referral to Dr Avery.
Please make sure you factor in the time it takes to get an appointment with your GP or Specialist before booking your consultation with Dr Avery, to avoid the disappointment of postponing your initial consultation appointment.
The cost to consult with Dr Avery and the Avery Care Team is $365, and due to the high demand for consultations we ask for a prepayment of $100 at the time of booking to confirm your appointment. Unfortunately, we are unable to reserve your consultation time without this payment. Last minute cancelations can be frustrating for people who have been waiting a long time to see Dr Avery and miss the opportunity for that earlier appointment slot.
The cost to consult with Dr Avery and the Avery Care Team is $365, and due to the high demand for consultations we ask for a prepayment of $100 at the time of booking to confirm your appointment. The remaining $265 is paid on the day of your consultation. If the surgery you are considering is cosmetic you will not be eligible for a rebate, i.e., the full $365 is payable by you, regardless of whether surgery is recommended as an option or not.
The cost to consult with Dr Avery and the Avery Care Team is $365, and due to the high demand for consultations we ask for a prepayment of $100 at the time of booking to confirm your appointment. The remaining $265 is paid on the day of your consultation and you could receive a potential rebate of $84.15 if you have a referral from your GP or Specialist and your surgery involves a Medicare item number.
During your initial consultations with Avery, before you can book surgery, we will go over an individualised fee estimate and financial consent form with you for your surgery that has been individualised to your unique circumstances. Deciding to undergo surgery is a big decision, with lots of things to consider. Even though the medical aspects of planning surgery are important, it is also important to fully understand the financial aspects of your surgery.
At Avery, the surgeries we offer fall into three different financial categories. These are outlined in our comprehensive price guide to help you understand this sometimes-confusing area. For a detailed price guide with further explanation of what can be covered by Medicare and your health insurance, please click here.
If the surgery is medically indicated, and it attracts a Medicare item number, and your private health insurance policy covers the allocated item number, then some or all of your costs will be covered. To review our comprehensive price guide that provides an outline of the costs that your health insurance or Medicare may or may not cover, please download our guide, here.
For a comprehensive price guide and a detailed description outlining costs that Medicare may or may not cover, please download our price guide here. If you would like a tailored price, please book a consultation. Note: Medicare does not cover any part of the cost for what they consider to be cosmetic surgery (no item number).
Please allow an hour for your consultation with Dr Avery.
When you come into Avery for your initial consultation, you will be greeted by the Avery Care Team and shown to our private and comfortable waiting area.
You will then meet with Dr Avery. During your time with Dr Avery, he will ask questions about what you are hoping to achieve through surgery and assess whether your surgical expectations are realistic considering the potential benefits and limitations of surgery.
He will listen to you, and your journey so far, including your medical history and will guide you through the choices you have for surgery, given your unique circumstances. He will address any questions you may have and then discuss the risks and possible complications of the surgery.
Dr Avery may also show you some photos of previous surgery results similar to what you are hoping to achieve. Feel free to bring some photos if you have something in mind that might help show the outcome you are hoping for, to further assist with the discussion around whether surgery will meet your expectations.
You will also discuss the estimated costs for your surgery and be given information to take away and consider about the surgery(s) you are thinking about.
At least 7 days after your consultations and once signed financial and surgical consent forms have been received, you can book a surgery date.
You will have at least 3 consultations at Avery, but ultimately you are able to have as many meetings with the Avery Care Team in person and over the telephone as you like to ensure you have all your questions answered and feel fully supported in your decision to have surgery.
Yes, please click here to see our gallery of Dr Avery’s previous work.
Dr Avery has extensive experience performing surgery and as we take our patients’ privacy very seriously, we do not display our full gallery online. All patients with photographs in the gallery have provided written consent. We will ask you for a few details before providing you access to our gallery for confidentiality reasons.
Before proceeding with any surgery, a second consultation or ‘pre-operative consultation’ will be needed with Dr Avery and following this, there will be a brief pre-operative assessment from the private hospital, which is usually a phone call. On the day of the surgery, you will also meet with the anaesthetist involved in your surgery. If required, a consultation with the anaesthetist prior to the day of surgery can be arranged.
At Avery, we believe it is important that you are fully informed about each step of your surgical journey. We will provide you with written information before your initial consultation, at your initial consultation (e.g., risks of surgery), and at every step leading up to your surgery. You will also have the opportunity to meet with us and talk with us as often as you need before your surgery (at least three face to face consultations). We also have comprehensive information about each surgery on our website, the risks and possible complications for each surgery, which can be found under our FAQs, and what you can expect during your recovery. We will also provide you with information about what to bring to the hospital and how to prepare for your surgery.
According to the Australian Medical Council, the title Specialist Plastic Surgeon is a title that can only be used by FRACS (Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons) approved specialist surgeons in the recognised field of plastic surgery.
Training to become a Specialist Plastic Surgeon involves an additional 5 years of training on top of training as a doctor and a surgeon, which is provided by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and administered by the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons.
The specialty of plastic surgery historically arose during the world wars and the reconstruction of faces and bodies injured by the weapons of war. It has its roots in reconstruction after trauma and as such utilises many of the skills and techniques required for excellence in cosmetic or aesthetic surgery.
In addition to the training and skills acquisition in plastic surgery that corresponds to the skills required for cosmetic surgery, plastic surgeons are governed by a code of conduct that places duty of care of their patients, including safety, as the first priority.
Dr Avery only operates at the accredited Lingard Private Hospital. This is to ensure your operation takes place in an environment governed by the guiding principle of safety to ensure your surgical experience is the best it can be.
The most important factors to any operation that Dr Avery undertakes is quality and safety.
Elective cosmetic surgery is not dissimilar, it is still surgery and all safety measures should be taken into consideration.
During surgery, medications are administered, adverse reactions can occur and can affect breathing and heart function. Appropriate equipment and levels of care are available at accredited facilities.
Additionally, when skin is breached with surgery, there is a risk of infection. Accredited hospitals must have high standards of sterilisation and storage of equipment used, and sterility in operating theatres, all to reduce the risk of infection.
With any surgery, there is a possibility of unforeseen circumstances and you need to be in the right place for this to be managed, an accredited private hospital facility is the most suitable for this.
Dr Avery has no financial relationship with Lingard Private Hospital. It is a separate entity from Avery and as such Avery has no control over hospital costs incurred by patients or the care received whilst a patient is there.
Yes, Avery will provide you with detailed pre-operative instructions. These will include information about what to bring to the hospital and how to prepare for your surgery.
You will also receive a personalised pain management plan before you leave the hospital, and instructions on how to care for your wounds until we see you at your first post-operative appointment.
The Avery team is also always available to answer any questions you may have at any point on your surgical journey.
If you have any questions before or after your surgery, please do not hesitate to contact us on 02 4002 4150.
It depends on the surgery you are having and if you have any underlying health concerns.
Generally, there are predictable times related to the type of surgery performed.
Minor surgeries will generally involve a ‘day stay’ only without an overnight stay in the hospital. More significant surgeries will generally require a 1 to 7-night stay, depending on the procedure.
Additionally, discharge from hospital can only occur when recovery from anaesthetic and surgery is sufficient that pain is controlled, and eating and drinking is possible.
Generally, 7 to 10 days after your surgery. You will likely require someone to drive you to this appointment.
Our Practice Nurse Mel will be involved in all of your post-operative appointments and Dr Avery will be available to check in and oversee your post-operative care. At your appointments, we will check in how you’re feeling, examine the surgical site and assess your recovery progress. Dressings will be changed when helpful and you will always know what the next step in your recovery plan is.
As long as we need to make sure your wounds are examined and dressed, and your recovery progress is discussed and a plan until your next appointment is set. Your recovery is our priority and our entire team is available to make the process as smooth as it can be.
This will depend on the surgery that has been performed. Your first post-operative appointment is generally 7 to 10 days after the surgery, and you can expect to visit us at least once per week for the first 4 weeks after surgery.
First and foremost a plastic surgeon is a doctor and doctors have a duty to make the care of their patients their first concern. A very important principle in medicine is to first do no harm, a plastic surgeon must practice medicine safely and needs to be honest and trustworthy, working in partnership with a patient to address their needs and expectations in a safe and respectful manner.
This will depend on the surgery that has been performed. This will be noted in your post-operative instructions and discussed at your pre-operative appointment.
Sun exposure can adversely impact early wound healing and have an adverse effect on the pigmentation and long term quality of the scar. All scars should be protected from sun until they are mature, which may not be until one year post-surgery. A spray tan is fine after a few weeks once the wound is healed.
On completion of a medical degree, a medical student becomes a doctor, this new doctor is also able to refer to themselves as a surgeon, medical students learn about surgery and surgical techniques and are able to perform what would be considered minor surgery, but this is not generally what the medical profession or the general public thinks of when they think of a surgeon. According to the Australian Medical Council, the title Specialist Plastic Surgeon is a title that can only be used by FRACS (Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons) approved specialist surgeons in the recognised field of plastic surgery.
Training to become a Specialist Plastic Surgeon involves an additional 5 years of training provided by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and administered by the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. This is in addition to both medical school and at least 2 years of supervised work as a junior doctor in public hospitals.
The Australian Medical Council of Australian and AHPRA have mandated that plastic surgeons state the qualifications in the following way: Dr Gary Avery (MED 0001633092), registered medical practitioner, specialist plastic surgeon – specialist registration in surgery – plastic surgery.
The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) is the College responsible for training of specialist surgeons in Australia. It is the only college in Australia accredited by the Commonwealth Government, through the Australian Medical Council to deliver specialist surgical training. The F in front means Fellow, so FRACS means Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeon indicating that you have completed training through RACS.
Medical practitioners in Australia are registered with AHPRA; the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. The medical register is open for the public to search for a doctor and this will show the doctor’s medical registration number and importantly their official registration status including their speciality. This register will also show any restrictions or conditions on a doctors practice.
Cosmetic surgery is defined as surgery that revises or changes the appearance, colour, texture, structure, or position of body features with the dominant purpose of achieving what the patient perceives to be a more desirable appearance. Surgery that is not considered primarily cosmetic in nature is surgery that Medicare has deemed medically necessary. It typically involves restoration, correction, or improvement in the shape and appearance of body structures that are defective or damaged at birth or by injury, disease, growth, or development for either functional or psychological reasons. Surgery that has a medical justification and also leads to improvement in appearance are excluded from the cosmetic definition.
The Australian Medical Board and AHPRA have defined what they consider to be cosmetic surgery, and Medicare decides what surgeries have item numbers attached to them.
Yes, you are required to have a referral from your general practitioner (GP) or a specialist. They cannot be a doctor that also performs cosmetic surgery, unless it is another plastic surgeon referring them on who has an initial referral from a GP or specialist. Medicare does not rebate any part of the consultation fee for a consultation related to cosmetic surgery, even if part of your consultation is about a surgery that does have a Medicare item number.
Yes, it is a requirement by law that the surgeon who will perform the surgery asks you about any internal or external reasons you have for wanting the cosmetic surgery (defined by the Australian Medical Board and AHPRA), including your expectations of surgery to ensure that they are realistic or in line with what the surgery can achieve.
Surgeons who perform cosmetic surgery (defined by the Australian Medical Board and AHPRA) are required by law to assess all patients wanting cosmetic surgery with a questionnaire that identifies whether they would benefit from further assessment and support. In which case the surgeon must refer the patient to a GP, psychologist, or psychiatrist for further evaluation. The Medical Board of Australia mandates that surgery cannot be performed for cosmetic reasons unless this screener has been administered.
The results of your screener form part of your confidential medical records, kept secure in electronic form in Australian Data Centres in accordance with Australian government privacy laws for health record. They are only reviewed as required by your treating team who are all bound by confidentiality agreements.
Informed consent means you have a thorough understanding of the following:
- All the risks associated with your potential surgery.
- What the surgery involves.
- Where the surgery will be performed.
- Possible outcomes from the surgery – long and short term.
- That there is always a risk of revision surgery, and this has costs associated with it.
- Recovery times and care requirements for this.
- The qualifications, training and experience of the person performing your surgery.
- All associated costs of your surgery.
- That Medicare does not cover your surgery costs if your surgery is defined as cosmetic (no Medicare item number).
- It does not mean you are locking into having surgery, it means you understand what having surgery means.
At Avery, we have a culture of open and honest communication, where we hope your concerns can be raised directly with us, allowing us an opportunity to address them and work on a solution. Lingard Private Hospital, where Dr Avery operates, also has a complaints process you can utilise via the following link. In addition, other avenues for submitting complaints can be accessed via AHPRA, Health Care Complaints Commission or the Medical Council of NSW.
Surgery is not right for everyone. Every person is unique and surgery may not be the right choice for everyone. What surgery can achieve may not match the hopes and expectations of the potential patient. Surgery works with a person’s body or facial form, with many factors impacting outcome including genetics, and skin quality. Therefore, comparing yourself to others and expectations driven by wanting a similar appearance to someone else are often not achievable.
The best way to determine if your expectations are realistic for any given surgery, is by talking to a surgeon who regularly performs that surgery. Research your surgeon and the surgery before your consultation to ensure you are seeing a suitably qualified surgeon and that you have questions to ask so that you can make an informed decision about whether the surgery will meet your expectations. Consider getting a second opinion before going ahead with surgery.
Surgery for the primary purpose of changing appearance is considered cosmetic surgery (rather than for a change of function) and it is different to non-surgical cosmetic options. It involves incisions into the skin, and often the removal of skin and/or tissue, or the insertion of, for example an implant. Surgery involves risks from trauma to the body (cutting into the body), and from the anaesthetic.
For a list of some of the general risks of surgery, please visit our General FAQs.
All surgery carries risks. A surgical risk refers to a complication or an outcome (either big or small) that is unwanted or unhelpful in achieving the desired goal or purpose of the surgery.
The impact of complications on the final outcome can also vary, it may delay the final result but not compromise it, it may mean the patient requires extra treatment or surgery, it may also compromise the final result.
Risks can also be physical or psychological. When the goal of surgery is to reduce pain or suffering or to feel better, this may not occur despite the surgery going all as planned. This is why it is important to be clear about what you’re hoping to achieve by having surgery and making sure surgery can achieve what you are hoping it will. For a list of some of the general risks associated with plastic surgery visit our FAQs.
All surgery carries some risks. Some general risks of surgery include:
- Heavy bleeding from an operated site. This may require a blood transfusion.
- Infection that may require treatment with antibiotics or further surgery in some cases.
- Allergic reaction to sutures, dressings, or antiseptic solutions.
- The formation of a large blood clot (haematoma) beneath an incision site may require further surgery.
- Complications such as heart attack, pulmonary embolism or stroke may be caused by a blood clot, which can be life threatening.
- Pain, bruising and swelling around the operated site(s).
- Slow healing, often related to smoking or diabetes.
- Short-term nausea following general anaesthesia and other risks related to anaesthesia.
A complication is an unwanted outcome (i.e., they are a risk of the surgery). Steps are usually taken to minimise the chance that these occur, but they are still possible. For a list of some general risks of plastic surgery, please visit our FAQs.
This will depend on the type of surgery you are having. Most surgeries involve a GA, but it is possible to do some under local anaesthetic or local anaesthetic and sedation combined. This will depend on your preference, safety concerns, what is considered clinically appropriate, and anaesthetic review. All surgeries performed by Dr Avery are done in an accredited hospital, with strict adherence to safety protocols.
You will check in at the front desk of the hospital and be admitted to the hospital by a Nurse and there will be an additional consent process before surgery can proceed. You will be reviewed by an Anaesthetist who will explain the anaesthetic being sued for your surgery and post-operative pain relief. Dr Avery will also review you and complete skin marking and drawing, done either sitting on the hospital bed or standing up. You will then proceed to surgery.
Yes, most of the time before your operation you will be checking in with the hospital and going through pre-operative protocols. However, Dr Avery will see you before you go into theatre and review your surgery with you and complete any skin markings required for the surgery.
Once your surgery has been completed you will wake up on the recovery ward and the recovery Nurses will monitor you to ensure your initial recovery from surgery is on track. If your surgery is a day surgery, you will be discharged on the same day as your surgery. Otherwise, you will be transferred to a hospital ward for a length of stay dependant on the surgery you are having. Once on the ward, hospital medical personnel will look after you in consultation with Dr Avery. Dr Avery will check in with you daily to assess your recovery and communicate with you and the hospital staff about when your discharge is recommended. The Avery Care Team will provide all the information you need leading up to your surgery and while you are recovering.
At Avery, we believe people considering surgery should choose the surgeon and support team that is right for them. Ideally an appropriately trained surgeon (plastic surgeon) who is experienced in the surgery they are considering, and with a team that will support them when things go well and when the risks and complications that are possible with any surgery occur. We hope that anyone considering surgery researches extensively before choosing a surgeon. We support this process and who it leads to, regardless of whether that is Avery or not.
At Avery, we understand that when people come to see us to talk about changing something about themselves through surgery, they can feel vulnerable. We hope to create a space and culture where people can feel safe to talk with us openly and honestly. Where they know we will listen, with compassion and respond with kindness.
We believe every human being is unique and our purpose is to help you understand all of the options that are available to you and provide dedicated tailored care to your specific needs, without judgement and guided by integrity and excellence in care.
There is not a ‘typical’ Avery patient. We see people from all demographic groups who are wanting to change an external aspect of themselves motivated by reasons that are individual to them. Avery is a place where all people are welcome, and where our responsibility to provide an honest and ethical medical service is integral in everything we do.
Yes, Avery will provide you with detailed post-operative instructions, at various stages along your recovery journey. We have used our extensive experience caring for people after surgery to anticipate what information you will need and when it is most useful to receive it.
You will also receive a personalised pain management plan before you leave the hospital, and instructions on how to care for your wounds until we see you at your first post-operative appointment.
The Avery team is always available to answer any questions you may have at any point on your surgical journey. If you have any questions before or after your surgery, please do not hesitate to contact us on 02 4002 4150.
The Avery team is made up of Dr Gary Avery (MED0001633092) registered medical practitioner, with specialist registration in Surgery – Plastic Surgery, Practice Nurse Mel, Care Team Manager Anne-Marie, and our Care Team Coordinators Talya, Alice, Shauna, and Michelle. All our team is committed to providing a service grounded in human connection, integrity, and compassion.
Healite LED Therapy is a non-surgical and non-invasive treatment with no down time. It is used to enhance your body’s natural cellular recovery, with clinical studies demonstrating improved healing times and relief of pain. Our Healite LED Therapy device uses light at targeted wavelength 830nm to help the body heal after surgery and rejuvenate cells.
At Avery, we tend to err on the side of more rather than less information. We believe it is important to be fully informed about what to expect from surgery at every step of the way. We will be in frequent contact with you about what to expect before surgery and what is required from you for surgery to go ahead, and what to expect post-operatively right up to when your journey ends with us 4-6 months after your surgery. Additionally, Dr Avery, Nurse Mel, and the Avery Care Team are always available to answer any questions you have along the way.
Yes, support is crucial following your surgery. You should plan for your recovery like you would a holiday. Think in advance about what you will need, anticipating you will be in pain and limited in your movements. Make sure you have someone to help with the children, and have some meals prepared in advance or uber eats programmed into your phone! Having a support person or support people after surgery can help with these practical aspects during your recovery and also the emotional support that you might require following surgery. You will likely be tired, and having someone who understands what you are going through can be helpful. You will also need someone to drive you home from the hospital and to the first post-operative appointment at Avery.
There are many factors that impact the appearance and visibility of a scar, including the nature of the surgery, the size and placement of the scar, post-op care, sun-exposure, moisturiser and massage and time. Genetics and skin quality.
A surgical dressing will usually be left on for 2-3 weeks following surgery. The dressings will be removed at one of your post-operative appointments and then you will progress to scar management which consists of taping the wound with ‘Micropore’ for a number of days (this tape can get wet in the shower) and also using some sort of moisturiser to the wound and surrounding skin in the time when the tape is off. We suggest a vitamin E based cream or oil as a starting point but you may find a different cream or oil is best for you. There are a number of silicone-based treatments that can be applied to scars to help reduce the chance of an undesirable scar appearance.
This will depend on the particular surgery that you have. Most surgical wounds will be covered with a dressing that will typically be left intact until your post-operative appointment. Where possible, and this is most of the time, the dressing will be able to get wet in the shower. Some sites of the body will not be covered by a dressing and you may be given an ointment to apply to the wound. The dressings help support the wound, this helps with pain relief and in aiding healing. The dressing also helps keep the wound clean and reduce the risk of infection. Most dressings will be left on for 2-3 weeks after surgery and will be removed at one of your post-operative appointments. A new dressing may then be applied or you may progress to what we call scar management, which consists of some combination of applying a medical tape to the wound and moisturising and massaging the wound.
Being able to shower after surgery will usually help you feel overall better and have you on your way to feeling like your usual self. When you can shower will depend on the surgery you have and our team will provide you with individualised instructions before your surgery.
To optimise your recovery, and therefore your outcome, it is important you embrace the idea of rest and relaxation. We encourage you to take the time to recover fully and do not rush the process. Follow all of your post-operative instructions and do not overdo activity or rush back to your usual activities of daily living. Allow time for bruising and swelling to settle and expect that there will be emotional ups and downs throughout the recovery process as your body recovers from invasive surgery.