Dr Won will explain to you the reasons for surgery, the procedure(s) involved, expected benefits and risks of surgery, and recovery time. Please discuss with Dr Won any concerns you may have about the proposed operation. Please also inform him of any medical conditions or medications you are taking, as these may need to be ceased prior to surgery. Once you are happy to proceed with the plan, he will ask you to sign a consent form.
Dr Won operates at John Flynn Private Hospital and The Tweed Hospital. You will need to fill in a booking form for the hospital where you will have your surgery. You can either complete the paperwork in the rooms or take the form to fill in then send back to us.
If your operation is at John Flynn Hospital, our reception staff will supply you with an estimate of Dr Won's fees. You will need to sign this Informed Financial Consent to confirm your acknowledgement of the costs involved. We can then book in your date of surgery and inform the hospital. We will also inform you if you need to attend the Pre-Admission Clinic prior to your surgery.
If your operation is at The Tweed Hospital or Murwillumbah District Hospital, we submit your forms directly to the hospital and you are then placed on their waiting list. Unfortunately we have no control over the hospital waiting list, and you will be contacted by the hospital once your operation date is determined. We also cannot guarantee that Dr Won will be the person performing your surgery, as is the nature of most public teaching hospitals.
Our reception staff will inform you of the particular details of your admission, but generally:
You will need to fast 6 hours prior to your operation. This includes all food and drinks.
We require you to be at the hospital at least 2 hours prior to your procedure time.
Please remember to bring along all x-rays and scans relating to the operation site if you have them.
Ensure you cease any medications prior to surgery if you were requested to do so.
If you have a sudden change in your general health or develop a skin infection, please discuss this with your GP or contact our rooms. It may be necessary to delay your operation to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes and to aid in your recovery.
It is a good idea to prepare your home prior to your operation.
Try and arrange for someone to assist you when you get home from surgery. You may need assistance with shopping, cooking and general housekeeping.
You may need to rearrange furniture to allow easy access in and around your home.
To prevent the risk of falls, you can remove loose carpets and secure exposed electrical cords.
If possible, arrange to have a bed downstairs for the first few weeks of your recovery if you will have difficulty managing the stairs in your home.
You may not be able to drive for up to 6 weeks following surgery on your lower limb if you have a manual vehicle. If you have an automatic vehicle, you may not be able to drive for 6 weeks if your surgery was on the right lower limb. However if the surgery was on your left lower limb, you may be able to drive, subject to clinical approval.
Dr Won will explain to you how your operation went after your surgery and discuss with you the follow-up plan prior to discharge from hospital.
As a general rule, if you have had your operation at a private hospital, Dr Won will see you at 2 weeks and then again at 6 weeks after your operation. Dr Won will discuss with you the proposed rehabilitation plans at your first post-op review. Most post-op visits will be at our Tugun rooms, where you may also see our Practice Nurse, Ashleigh. You may also need to attend physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or other health providers to assist with your recovery.
Recovery time varies from person to person, depending on your health status, the injuries and/or operation(s) that you had, and the nature of your work or activities. As a ballpark figure, recovery to basic functions take approximately 2-4 weeks for minor operations, 6-10 weeks for fractures, and 3-6 months for a major operation. This may take longer in some cases, especially for certain foot & ankle operations. Your individual recovery, however, will be guided by Dr Won according to your progress following your surgery.
Follow-up visits within the first 6 weeks after your operation at a private hospital are included in your surgery cost and are therefore free of charge. If you require further follow-up after 6 weeks post-op, these may attract a consultation charge. In some cases, you may require more or less number of visits, as determined by Dr Won.
If you have had your operation at a public hospital, you may elect to follow up with Dr Won in his rooms, however these visits will usually attract a consultation charge as the operation was performed out of the private setting.
Please find below some general post-op information which you can download. These are intended as general guides only, and are specific only to Dr Won’s practice.
Post Op Handout – Ankle Surgery
Post Op Handout – Forefoot Surgery
Post Op Handout – Knee Arthroscopy
Post Op Handout – Ankle Arthroscopy
Post Op Handout – Knee Fracture Surgery
Recovery time varies from person to person, depending on your health status, the injuries and/or operation(s) that you had, and the nature of your work or activities. As a ballpark figure, recovery to basic functions take approximately 2-4 weeks for minor operations, 6-10 weeks for fractures, and 3-6 months for a major operation. This may take longer in some cases, especially for certain foot & ankle operations. Your individual recovery, however, will be guided by Dr Won according to your progress following your surgery.
You may not be able to drive for at least 6 weeks following surgery on your lower limb if you have a manual vehicle. If you have an automatic vehicle, you may not be able to drive for 6 weeks if your surgery was on the right lower limb. However if the surgery was on your left lower limb, you may be able to drive, subject to clinical approval.
The surgeon’s and surgical assistant’s fees for your operation will vary according to the procedures you need done. An Estimate of Fees will be supplied to you at the time of surgery booking. Please be aware that occasionally, additional procedures during the surgery are required for your safety and optimal results, therefore the final cost may differ from the estimate given.
Dr Won charges rates in accordance with the Australian Medical Association schedule of fees, which reflect the complexity of surgery and involvement in post-operative aftercare. Most operations performed by Dr Won will attract a "Gap" charge, which is your out-of-pocket expense not covered by Medicare or your health fund. In general, patients are required to pay the full surgeon’s fee at least 3 business days prior to the operation date. A receipt will be provided after surgery is completed, which you can then take to your health fund and Medicare to claim your rebate. If additional procedures were performed during surgery resulting in additional fee, this must be paid in full before a receipt can be issued.
In some cases, your operation may attract a "Known Gap" or "No Gap". If a Known Gap is charged, this is also required to be paid at least 3 business days prior to your operation. Not all health funds participate in the "Known Gap" scheme – please contact your health fund directly to find out. If your operation attracts no gap, then there will be no out of pocket expense for your surgeon's fee.
Once you receive our Estimate of Fees, it is imperative that you check with your health fund provider to ascertain the amount of rebate that they will give back to you, as this is ultimately determined by your health fund and your level of cover.
There may also be other costs involved in your operation, including, but not limited to, anaesthetist’s fees, hospital excess payment, pathology services, radiology services and pharmacy medications. We advise that you check with relevant organisations if you have any queries about their fees.
If you would like to have your operation done at a private hospital but do not have private health insurance, you can choose to be a self-funded private patient. In this instance, it is very important that you check your costs with the hospital, as there will be additional charges for the hospital room, operating theatre fee, and any equipment or implant required during your surgery, amongst others.
Please speak with our friendly staff if you have any queries about Dr Won’s fees.
There are many people that may be involved in conducting your surgery – these include, but are not limited to: a surgical assistant, an anaesthetist, radiology, pathology, pharmacy, and the hospital. You may receive an account from any of these organisations, amongst others.