Typically, rural, regional, interstate or international patients will make initial contact with Dr. Love via an e-mail or website based enquiry. It is ideal if they can provide as much medical information as possible about their condition, such as a letter or test results from their family doctor.

We will then set up a time for a TeleHealth consultation, via one of the videoconferencing platforms, so that Dr. Love and you can have a 30-45 minute consultation and discussion.

During that consultation Dr. Love can explain exactly what he thinks is the best way of treating your condition, outline the procedure involved, expectations of outcome, risks etc., as well as forwarding to you written information about the procedure, for you to consider at a later date. Some patients are happy to make a commitment to treatment at that initial consultation, some will make a decision a day or so later and contact us then, and some will request a second TeleHealth meeting to answer any further questions they have thought of in the interim. On some occasions our specialist nurse will contact you a week or so after the initial consultation to answer any further questions you have.

The important thing to Dr. Love is that you have understood your condition and the treatment offered and have had enough information and plenty of time to consider how you want to proceed.

In Australia a referral from a doctor to Dr. Love means you receive a higher rebate from Medicare for your consultations, but is not required otherwise. No referral does not affect the rebates from Medicare and Private Health funds for the surgical treatment you have, and Dr. Love is happy to consult with, and treat patients without a formal referral.

It is useful however that we know who your family doctor is so that we can, with your permission, communicate with them about your treatment.

The specialist procedures Dr. Love performs are typically done on a Tuesday, and we organise a face-to-face consultation in our office at Holmesglen Private Hospital, late on a Monday afternoon, and then you are admitted to the hospital after that for your procedure the following morning.

Typically, the length of time in hospital, after your surgery, is:

• Same day discharge for the simpler penile straightening procedures and procedures like Rezum and UroLift, and
• Discharge the day after surgery for the other procedures such as penile implants, more complex straightening procedures and ATOMS slings

Generally, however, keeping patients in hospital for an extra 24 hours is not a problem if it fits with travel plans, and this can be discussed and arranged before admission.

Many patients will stay in Melbourne for a few days extra, to be more comfortable when they travel home, and in those cases, we usually arrange a quick post-operative visit the day before they travel.

Typically, the length of time before you can comfortably travel after your surgery, depends on how you are travelling and how far you are travelling:

If travelling as a passenger in a car for a couple of hours:

• Should be fine the day of, or day after surgery for simpler penile straightening procedures and procedures like Rezum and UroLift,
• Should be fine two days after surgery for procedures such as penile implants, more complex straightening procedures and ATOMS slings

If driving yourself (not recommended) or travelling in a car for more than a couple of hours:

• Add another full day to the recommendations above.

If flying for less than a couple of hours:

• Should be fine the day of, or day after surgery for simpler penile straightening procedures and procedures like Rezum and UroLift,
• Should be fine two days after surgery for procedures such as penile implants, more complex straightening procedures and ATOMS slings

If flying for more than a couple of hours:

• Add another full day to the recommendations above.

Although very uncommonly needed, time required for unplanned extended stays in hospital, treatment of other issues or complications that develop whilst in hospital or required admission to specialist units like ICU or CCU, cannot be included in the estimations given.

Our staff are very experienced at helping with travel arrangements for medical care and can certainly offer guidance and advice and will be flexible in trying to fit around your arrangements.

If you wish to have travel arrangements made for you, that fit around the time you need to be in Melbourne for your treatment, we work closely with a travel agent who can make those arrangements for you. Please ask us if that is something that would help you.