A surgical consultation is your opportunity to understand your condition and your options. The more prepared you are, the more you will get out of it. Mr Balakumar encourages patients to ask questions at every stage — before, during and after treatment. There are no wrong questions, and no decision should be made until you feel confident you have the information you need.
It can help to write your questions down before the appointment. Bringing a support person who can help you remember what was discussed is also worth considering.
(03) 9573 9659
Understanding what is actually causing your symptoms is the foundation of everything that follows. Before any treatment can be recommended, the diagnosis needs to be clear. These questions help you establish confidence in what Mr Balakumar has found and whether any further information is needed before moving forward.
The cost of specialist surgical care in Australia involves multiple providers and can be difficult to navigate. Asking these questions before you proceed means there are no surprises when the accounts arrive. See the Understanding Medical Fees page for a full explanation of how costs are structured.
Mr Balakumar is one of a small number of surgeons in Australia with formal training in both paediatric and adult hip surgery. His fellowship at Harvard’s Children’s Hospital in Boston, under some of the world’s leading specialists in hip preservation, gives him a depth of expertise that is difficult to find in a single practice.
His approach is the same whether the patient is 6 months or 65 years old – thorough assessment, honest options, and no pressure toward surgery until the clinical picture clearly supports it.
(03) 9573 9659
