Patient Guides: What the Evidence Says
Evidence-based guidance for New Zealand patients. Understand procedures, set realistic expectations, and make informed decisions.
Written by the ClinicCompare editorial team from published sources. Not reviewed by a clinician. Not medical advice.
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What to Look for in a Cosmetic Surgeon
Choosing the right surgeon is critical for safe outcomes. Look for FRACS certification, procedure-specific experience, hospital affiliations, and before/after photos.
Key Points:
- Verify FRACS (Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons) certification
- Ask how many of your specific procedure the surgeon does each year, and ask for their own complication and revision rates
- Check hospital privileges and facility accreditation
- Review before/after photos from the surgeon's actual patients
- Ensure they carry appropriate medical indemnity insurance
Understanding IVF Success Rates
Success rates vary significantly by age, clinic, and individual factors. Understanding what the numbers mean helps set realistic expectations.
Key Points:
- In Australia and New Zealand, 37.4% of women who started IVF in 2021–2022 had a baby from their first complete cycle (the fresh transfer plus any frozen transfers from that egg collection). The chance falls steeply with age (ANZARD 2024 report)
- Success rates should be compared for your age group, not overall clinic averages
- Ask about 'live birth rate' not just 'pregnancy rate' - they differ significantly
- Chances rise over several cycles: in the same ANZ group, 57.6% (conservative estimate) to 76.9% (optimistic estimate) of women had a baby after up to six complete cycles
- Clinic technology, embryologist experience, and protocols affect outcomes
Laser Eye Surgery Safety in 2026
Laser eye surgery is not risk-free. Understanding the risks, and having thorough testing before surgery, helps you and your surgeon choose the right procedure for your eyes.
Key Points:
- In a review of 97 international LASIK studies, 0.61% of eyes lost two or more lines of best-corrected vision. Ask your surgeon for their own complication rate
- SMILE uses a smaller incision than a LASIK flap - ask your surgeon how dry-eye risk compares for your eyes
- PRK is often suggested for thin corneas - it preserves more corneal tissue
- Not everyone is a candidate - comprehensive testing identifies unsuitable patients
- LASIK retreatment (touch-up) was needed in 10.5% of eyes within 1 year in a US cohort, and 6.85% of eyes at 3 years in a Mexican cohort
Weight Loss Surgery: BMI Requirements & Expectations
Bariatric surgery is a tool, not a cure. Understanding eligibility, realistic weight loss, and lifestyle requirements is essential for success.
Key Points:
- Typical eligibility: BMI 40+ or BMI 35+ with obesity-related conditions
- Gastric sleeve: in a Finnish randomised trial (SLEEVEPASS), people had lost on average 49% of their excess weight 5 years after surgery
- Gastric bypass: in the same trial, people had lost on average 57% of their excess weight at 5 years
- Long-term success requires permanent dietary and lifestyle changes
- Psychological assessment is a standard part of the pre-surgery pathway
Dental Implants: What Affects Long-Term Success
In a review of 18 international studies, 96.4% of modern implants were still in place at 10 years. That is survival, not the same as success. Understanding what affects longevity helps patients make informed decisions.
Key Points:
- Survival is lower in more cautious analyses that allow for patients lost to follow-up, and lower again in people over 65
- Bone quality and quantity significantly affect outcomes
- Smoking raises the risk of implant failure - stopping is recommended
- Implant brand matters - premium brands have better long-term data
- Regular dental hygiene and check-ups are critical for longevity
Hair Transplant: Setting Realistic Expectations
Hair transplants move existing hair - they don't create new hair. Understanding graft yield, density limits, and donor area management is crucial.
Key Points:
- Donor area is finite - plan for potential future loss when young
- Pooled international studies report graft survival of 84.98% for micrografts and 93.11% for micrografts plus minigrafts in non-scarring hair loss. Ask your surgeon for their own figures
- Final results take 12-18 months as transplanted hair cycles through growth phases
- Ask your surgeon how many grafts your donor area can supply, now and for any future procedure
- FUE leaves no linear scar but limits total grafts available over lifetime
Where these figures come from
Each figure below is copied from the source named, which we last checked on the date shown. Outcomes for any one patient or clinic can differ. Ask your surgeon for their own results.
- Women having a baby from their first complete IVF cycle, by age: 37.4% (% of women (all ages)). 43,849 women who started their first autologous ovarian stimulation cycle in Australia and New Zealand in 2021-2022, followed to 31 Dec 2024. A complete cycle includes the fresh transfer and all frozen transfers from that egg collection; First complete cycle. AU/NZ.
Kotevski DP et al. Assisted reproductive technology in Australia and New Zealand 2024 (ANZARD), UNSW NPESU, August 2026 — Summary p.ix; Tables 54-59, checked 2026-11-14. - Women having a baby after up to six complete IVF cycles: 57.6–76.9% (% of women (57.6 conservative; 76.9 optimal)). Same 2021-2022 first-cycle cohort; Up to six complete cycles. AU/NZ.
Kotevski DP et al. Assisted reproductive technology in Australia and New Zealand 2024 (ANZARD), UNSW NPESU, August 2026 — Summary p.ix, checked 2026-11-14. - LASIK eyes losing 2 or more lines of best-corrected vision: 0.61% (% of eyes). Same review (n=58,653 eyes); Study follow-up. International.
Sandoval HP et al. J Cataract Refract Surg 2016, checked 2026-11-14. - LASIK retreatment (enhancement) rate: 6.85–10.5% (% of eyes (see notes)). Two cohorts: Hersh 2003 (US) 1-year incidence; Valdez-Garcia 2016 (Mexico, 482 eyes) at 3 years; 1-3 years. International.
Hersh PS et al. Incidence and associations of retreatment after LASIK. Ophthalmology 2003;110(4):748-754, checked 2026-11-14. - Excess weight loss 5 years after sleeve gastrectomy: 49% (% EWL (mean estimate)). 240 adults with morbid obesity (mean BMI 45.9) randomised in Finland (SLEEVEPASS); 80.4% completed 5-year follow-up; 5 years. International (Finland).
Salminen et al. SLEEVEPASS randomized clinical trial, JAMA 2018;319(3):241-254, checked 2026-11-14. - Excess weight loss 5 years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: 57% (% EWL (mean estimate)). 240 adults with morbid obesity randomised in Finland (SLEEVEPASS); 5 years. International (Finland).
Salminen et al. SLEEVEPASS randomized clinical trial, JAMA 2018;319(3):241-254, checked 2026-11-14. - Dental implant survival at 10 years: 96.4% (% of implants). Adults, contemporary (solid screw, roughened surface) implants; 18 prospective studies; 10 years. International (systematic review).
Howe MS, Keys W, Richards D. Long-term (10-year) dental implant survival: A systematic review and sensitivity meta-analysis. J Dent 2019;84:9-21, checked 2026-11-14. - Hair graft survival after transplant (non-scarring hair loss): 84.98–93.11% (% (micrografts 84.98; micro- plus minigrafts 93.11)). Pooled studies of surgical hair restoration in non-scarring alopecia; Study follow-up (varied). International (meta-analysis).
Contemporary Management of Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis for Surgeons. Aesthetic Plast Surg 2020;44(1):97-113, checked 2026-11-14.
About this information
Written by the ClinicCompare editorial team. ClinicCompare is an information directory, not a medical practice, and this page is not medical advice. Talk to a registered practitioner about your own situation.
- Price ranges on this site were last checked against their sources on 1 June 2026. See how we compile prices.
- Sources consulted: Medical Council of NZ register, ANZARD 2024 report, published peer-reviewed studies listed above.
- Check any practitioner on the public register: Medical Council or Dental Council.
Our Research Methodology
Prices
Price ranges come from published sources (clinic price lists, insurer and public-funding pages), each listed with the date we last checked it. They are not quotes: ask each clinic for an itemised written quote.
Clinics and practitioners
Clinics are listed from public sources such as clinic websites, Healthpoint and Google Business Profiles. Listing is not an endorsement, and we cannot see a clinic's indemnity insurance. Check every practitioner on the public register.
Who writes this
The ClinicCompare editorial team writes these guides from published sources. No clinician has reviewed this page. Clinical figures come from our sourced outcomes file and are shown with who was studied, when, and a link to the source.
Independence
We don't rank clinics. No clinic has paid to appear in or influence these guides.
Medical Disclaimer
The information on this page is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Individual circumstances vary significantly. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about medical procedures. ClinicCompare facilitates connections with medical professionals but does not provide medical advice or endorse specific treatments.