The Patient Journey | Specialist Plastic Surgeon Queensland
Based in Queensland, Brisbane Plastic surgeon, Dr. Phil Richardson and his team work tirelessly to provide a seamless patient journey for every patient. The Brisbane Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery experience has been developed and refined over the past 20 years. We rely on real feedback from patients and decades of experience. The BPCS journey involves 6 key phases directed and led by a fully qualified specialist plastic surgeon in Queensland, Dr. Phil Richardson.
1. Pre-consultation education
The first step of the patient journey involves your pre-consultation education. This is an incredibly important part of the surgical process here at Brisbane Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery. We provide pre-consultation education through a number of channels. These include the BRAS Brisbane Page, the Dr. Philip Richardson page, and the Brisbane Plastic Surgery page.
We encourage patients seeking surgery to follow us on social media to stay up-to-date with information from our practice as we regularly share updates and educational resources, as well as before and after images to assist and inform you in the research phase. Prior to your consultation, we will also conduct a confidential photo assessment for you to determine if you are a suitable candidate for surgery to assist you in better understanding the procedure best suited to your anatomy.
Throughout your patient journey we aim to provide you with valuable educational resources to inform and guide you through your surgery journey. We want to ensure you are have an informed understanding of the procedure, recovery, and realistic expectations of your surgical outcome.
2. Consultation
You will have two consultations with Dr. Richardson, where you will get to know each other, discuss your concerns, and learn more about your goals and motivations for surgery. Your consultations with Dr. Richardson are your chance to discuss your anatomy, aesthetic goals, personal preferences, and lifestyle. Dr. Richardson will use this valuable information to determine the right surgical plan for you and step through your surgical options with you. If you are undergoing a breast augmentation mammoplasty procedure, Dr. Richardson will take your measurements and allow you to try on a number of trial implants. At Brisbane Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery, we are committed to providing an in-depth consultation process with you to assist you in understanding where you are, where you want to be, and how we will help you achieve the best outcome possible.
Dr. Richardson’s consultation style is relaxed, and he has a very candid approach and demeanour to ensure that you are fully aware of realistic expectations and risks. We recommend that patients compile a list of questions and inspiration photos to bring to their consult. Part of Dr. Richardson’s commitment to patient ethics is to ensure every patient is fully-informed and making their own decisions. For this reason, Dr. Richardson encourages patients to take the reins of the second half of the consultation and guide the discussion according to what they would like to know.
3. Pre-operative consultations
An integral part of surgery preparation is your pre-operative consultations. The initial consultation fee covers patients for as many pre-operative consultations as they please within the first 12 months. The pre-operative consultation is an appointment with either our registered practice nurse, Dr. Richardson, or both. During this appointment you will have the chance to consider any knowledge gaps following the initial consultation and delve deeper into any areas of uncertainty. You will learn about preparing for surgery in greater detail and be given important resources that will guide you through your pre-operative journey right up until the time of admission to the hospital. The pre-operative consultation is designed to provide knowledge and peace-of-mind to patients and ensure they are making informed decisions that benefit them. Our nursing staff are highly skilled professionals that provide expert advice and Annika and Leah have an extremely caring nature that will have you feeling supported and excited for your surgery.
4. Fully-accredited Hospitals | Plastic Surgery in Brisbane
Dr. Richardson operates out of a number of fully-accredited hospitals in Brisbane.
- South Brisbane Day Hospital
- Westside Private Hospital
- North Lakes Day Hospital
- St. Andrew’s Hospital
All surgical procedures are performed under a general anaesthetic in one of our fully-accredited hospitals. Dr. Richardson works alongside a team of anaesthetists that he has worked with for over 20 years and they will ensure your safety throughout the surgery and during recovery. The hospital staff will guide you through all aspects of your surgery on the day of your procedure and will ensure you’re entirely prepared for the recovery period. We provide you with a comprehensive post-operative pack that includes all of your medications, garments, and a post-operative care booklet that will provide you with all the information you need to refer to during your recovery.
5. Post-operative routine appointments
Following your surgery with Dr. Richardson, we will be by your side to help you through recovery, answer any questions you have, and provide a high standard of care to ensure a safe healing journey. The day after your surgery, the nurses will give you a call to check on you and ensure you’re staying on top of your medication schedule and post-operative routine. During this phone call we will schedule your first post-operative appointment where you will have a physical check-up, dressing change, and appropriate recommendations for your recovery will be made. We will then check on you at the 3 week and 6 week mark but will organise any necessary appointments in between. You can contact us at any time, with our nurses available all day during the week and Dr. Richardson available via mobile outside office hours. We take great pride in our commitment to patient care around the clock and strive to ensure that patients are always feeling supported and confident throughout their recovery.
6. Lifetime Care & Support | Plastic Surgery in Queensland
The general standard of care in the plastic surgery industry is follow-up for six weeks following surgery, up to one year. Here at Brisbane Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery we are dedicated to our patients’ long term care and strive to provide our patients with care and support in the years following their procedure. We want to ensure that our patients know they can always come back to us at any time after surgery. This means that if you have any questions or concerns about your surgery in the years after your operation, our team and Dr. Richardson are here to ensure patients feel comfortable, cared for and supported.
Breast health is important and staying on top of regular check-ups and ultrasounds if you have breast implants is something we prioritise here at the clinic. Detecting complications early can help prevent further issues and provide peace-of-mind to patients who may be experiencing long-term concerns. The BRAS clinic is a long-term care clinic and is entirely bulk billed so patients have no out-of-pocket expenses. This is our way of giving back to our patient community and providing them with long-term value and support.
If you have any questions about the patient journey with Dr. Richardson or would like to get your journey started with a plastic surgeon in Queensland, contact us today!
