Frequently asked questions

Yes. You need a current referral from your GP or another specialist. A referral is also what lets Medicare pay a rebate on your consultation. A GP referral is valid for 12 months and a specialist's referral for 3 months. More on referrals.

Appointments are booked by phone. Once you have a referral, call reception on (07) 5676 9930, or email hello@sgco.au.

No. The online pre-registration form is for new patients to give us your details ahead of the visit, so your records are ready when you arrive. It does not book an appointment, you'll still need to call reception on (07) 5676 9930.

Dr Tsung consults on the southern Gold Coast at Tugun, and sees patients from across the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers. For the address, parking and public transport, see contact.

Dr Tsung now works exclusively in private practice.

You'll be given a written estimate before any surgery, so the cost is clear in advance. Dr Tsung uses a Known Gap approach, which caps the out-of-pocket amount for his surgical fee for insured patients. Other providers involved in your care, such as the anaesthetist, hospital and any surgical assistant, bill separately. More on fees and health funds.

Private hospital cover at the right level lets you choose your surgeon, be treated as a private patient, and covers much of the hospital cost of joint replacement. The Known Gap arrangement applies to insured patients. If you don't have cover, or you're unsure what your policy includes, speak to reception and check with your fund. See fees and health funds.

Medicare pays a rebate toward your consultations and surgery when you have a valid referral. It does not cover the full amount, and any gap is set out in your written estimate. See fees and health funds.

Dr Tsung is a hip and knee surgeon. He treats hip and knee arthritis, performs hip, knee and partial knee replacement including robotic-assisted and minimally invasive techniques, and manages sports knee injuries such as ACL and meniscus tears, along with fractures and other bone and joint injuries.

Not necessarily. Many people manage hip and knee arthritis for years without an operation, using exercise, weight management, medication and, in some cases, injections. Surgery is considered when these no longer control your symptoms and your quality of life is affected. More on hip and knee arthritis management.

It is conventional joint replacement carried out with the help of a robotic-arm system, with the surgeon in control throughout. Dr Tsung uses the Mako system, which plans the operation from a CT scan and helps position the implant accurately. The robot doesn't perform the surgery. More on robotic-assisted joint replacement.

No. Many knee injuries settle with rehabilitation, and the right treatment depends on the injury and your goals. Some ACL tears are managed without surgery, and degenerative meniscus tears are usually treated with exercise rather than an operation. More on sports knee injuries.

Modern hip and knee replacements are durable. Australian registry data show that around 95% of knee replacements are still working at ten years.¹ For most people a joint replacement is a once-in-a-lifetime operation, though results vary and a replacement can wear or loosen over many years. More on how long a knee replacement lasts.

Most people are up and walking with aids on the day of surgery or the day after, and return to driving and desk work within several weeks, with full recovery continuing over several months. Dr Tsung follows an enhanced recovery pathway to make this smoother. See the hip and knee recovery timelines.

Most people go home a few days after joint replacement, and some sooner, depending on your progress and support at home. Dr Tsung uses an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway, which combines modern pain relief and early movement to help you recover and leave hospital sooner. More on enhanced recovery after surgery.