Yes, to be seen you will need a referral from your GP or another medical practitioner. Vasectomy is the exception: you can refer yourself for this procedure, although a GP referral allows the Medicare rebate to apply.
Most patients are offered a consultation within two to three weeks of referral, and surgery can take place within a few weeks of that, depending on the procedure and your private health insurance arrangements.
Yes. Urology NOW provides a clear, written quote for self-funding patients before any procedure is booked. Cost is one of several factors we will discuss as part of your treatment planning.
Day procedures carried out under local anaesthetic are performed in our consulting rooms. Procedures done under general anaesthetic, including cystoscopy and prostate biopsy, are performed in theatre at Peninsula Private (Kippa-Ring), Sunnybank Private (Sunnybank) or Mater Private Hospital (Rockhampton).
You will see Dr Brown for every consultation, the procedure itself, and your follow-up appointments. Urology NOW is a single-surgeon practice.
Rockhampton patients are seen and operated on locally at Mater Private Hospital, with full-week availability for follow-up. Patients from Gladstone, Yeppoon, Emerald and the wider Central Queensland catchment are welcome.
Most procedures take between one and two hours under general anaesthetic, depending on the size of the prostate.
Most men stay one night and go home the day after surgery, once the catheter has been removed and normal urination has resumed.
Erectile function is preserved in the great majority of men after HoLEP. Some studies even show small improvements after surgery, likely due to better sleep and reduced anxiety about urinary symptoms.
HoLEP typically causes retrograde ejaculation, which means semen travels into the bladder rather than out through the penis. Orgasm and sensation are unaffected, but natural fertility is impacted. If having children is important to you, raise this with Dr Brown at the consultation.
