Are you psychologically ready for cosmetic surgery?
The assessment is not about stopping you. It is about making sure you arrive at surgery with the best possible foundation, clear motivations, realistic expectations, and a strong psychological position.
I understand this wasn’t something you planned for.
A psychological assessment probably wasn’t part of how you imagined your surgery journey. For many people it feels like an unexpected step. It is worth understanding why it is there.
In 2023, AHPRA introduced updated standards requiring psychological screening as part of responsible cosmetic surgical practice in Australia. Those standards have since been extended. The assessment is now a recognised part of good surgical care, not an optional add-on requested by overly cautious practitioners.
What the research consistently shows is that people who arrive at surgery with a clear sense of their own motivations, realistic expectations of what surgery can and cannot change, and some psychological preparation for what recovery involves, have significantly better experiences than those who don’t. This conversation is not about whether you are ready to be approved. It is about making sure the surgery works for you in the fullest sense, and that you have support through every part of what comes after.
Psychological readiness is not about certainty. It is about clarity.
Most people who seek cosmetic surgery have thought about it for a long time. They arrive with genuine, considered motivations. A psychological assessment is not about questioning whether you should have surgery, it is about understanding the conditions under which surgery is most likely to lead to a satisfying outcome.
Research into cosmetic surgery outcomes consistently identifies a small number of psychological factors that predict post-surgical dissatisfaction or distress. These include unrealistic expectations about what surgery can change, motivations that are primarily external (doing it for someone else or to address relationship problems), a history of Body Dysmorphic Disorder, and poor social support during recovery. The assessment examines each of these areas, not to find disqualifying factors, but to understand your specific situation and ensure you are moving toward surgery from a stable and informed place.
87% of patients assessed receive an Approved outcome. The assessment exists because the 13% who receive a Defer or Further Support recommendation benefit significantly from additional preparation before proceeding.
Every assessment ends with one of three clear recommendations.
The report is provided on the same day as your assessment and can be sent directly to your surgeon's practice. It is specific, clinical, and written to inform, not to gatekeep.
Approved
You are psychologically well-placed to proceed with surgery. Your motivations are clear, your expectations are realistic, and no significant risk factors have been identified. The report confirms readiness.
Defer
Proceeding right now is not recommended. This is not a permanent outcome, it is a recommendation to address specific factors first. A clear pathway forward is provided.
Further Support
You may be a suitable candidate but would benefit from psychological support before or alongside the surgical process. A referral pathway is provided.
Five areas. One 60-minute conversation.
The assessment is conducted via phone or secure telehealth video. It is conversational, not clinical in register. You do not need to prepare anything in advance.
Motivation. Why now, and why this procedure. Understanding what you are hoping surgery will change, and what it cannot.
Expectations. What the realistic outcomes of your procedure are and whether your understanding of those outcomes aligns with the evidence.
Body image. Your relationship with your body and appearance, and whether any indicators of Body Dysmorphic Disorder are present.
Mental health history. Any history of anxiety, depression, eating disorders, or other conditions that may be relevant to surgical decision-making and recovery.
Support network. Whether you have adequate practical and emotional support for the surgical and recovery process.
See also: Body image, BDD and cosmetic surgery →
Three steps. Same-day report.
Begin the conversation
Request an assessment using the form on this page. No referral required. Self-referred and surgeon-referred patients are both welcome.
Your consultation
A 60-minute conversation via phone or secure telehealth video, wherever you are in Australia. No software download required.
Same-day report
A written clinical report sent to you and directly to your surgeon's practice the same business day. Your surgery timeline doesn’t wait.
Six months of care
A post-surgery follow-up consultation and up to six months of ongoing psychological support, included in your single fee. Most services end with a report. This one begins there.
One fee. Complete support from first conversation through the months that follow.
$315 covers the full arc of your experience with this practice. There are no additional charges for what comes after the report. No other cosmetic psychology service in Australia currently offers this level of continuity at this fee.
Your consultation. A 60-minute conversation via phone or telehealth, wherever you are in Australia.
Liaison with your surgical team. Direct communication with your surgeon’s practice, included.
Written report, same business day. Your surgery shouldn’t be delayed by the assessment. It won’t be.
Post-surgery follow-up. A dedicated conversation once you’re through the procedure and into recovery.
Six months of ongoing support. Psychological support through recovery and adjustment at no additional cost.
Frequently asked
A cosmetic surgery readiness assessment is a 60-minute psychological evaluation conducted via phone or telehealth. It evaluates your motivations, expectations, body image, and mental health history to determine whether you are well-placed to proceed. The outcome is one of three: Approved, Defer, or Further Support Recommended. A written report is provided on the same day.
The assessment is not designed to prevent surgery, it is designed to ensure that when you do proceed, you are in the best possible position. 87% of patients assessed receive an Approved outcome. Those who receive a Defer or Further Support recommendation are given clear guidance on what to address and how to proceed from there.
The assessment is 60 minutes, conducted via phone or secure telehealth video. A written clinical report is provided on the same day and can be sent directly to your surgeon's practice.
Yes. The assessment is available to patients anywhere in Australia via phone or telehealth. There is no in-person requirement. Patients in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and all other locations are welcome. Most appointments are available within a few days of enquiry.
No referral is required. You can self-refer directly. If your surgeon has requested a psychological assessment, you can book directly and the report will be provided to them on the same day as your assessment.
Begin the conversation.
A 60-minute assessment, a same-day report, and a clear answer. Available via phone or telehealth anywhere in Australia.