Your Patient Journey

Referral & Appointment Booking

To see Dr von Papen privately, you'll need a referral from your GP or another specialist. This ensures Medicare and private-health rebates apply and allows Dr von Papen to review your scans and results beforehand.

Appointments are coordinated through Gold Coast Specialist Surgeons (GCSS) at Gold Coast Private Hospital.

• Booking your consultation time
• Instructions about fasting or bowel prep (if required)
• What to bring — referral, test results, imaging, medication list

Your First Consultation

During your initial appointment, Dr von Papen will:

• Take a detailed history and review previous investigations
• Perform an examination (if needed)
• Discuss possible diagnoses and next steps
• Explain any further tests such as colonoscopy, CT, or MRI

You'll have plenty of opportunity to ask questions. If surgery is recommended, you'll receive personalised information about your procedure, preparation, risks, and expected recovery.

Pre-Operative Preparation

Once you decide to proceed, the GCSS staff and hospital team will help you prepare:

• Pre-admission paperwork and health-fund checks
• Pre-operative blood tests or ECG (if required)
• Anaesthetist consultation — sedation, pain management, fasting
• Medication review — blood thinners, diabetes medication, supplements

Dr von Papen personally reviews each case before surgery to confirm the plan.

The Day of Surgery

You'll be admitted to Gold Coast Private Hospital, where Dr von Papen operates personally. Most procedures use laparoscopic or robotic techniques — meaning smaller incisions, less discomfort, and faster recovery.

You'll meet your anaesthetist and nursing team before theatre. After surgery, you'll be transferred to recovery, then to your ward room once you are fully awake. Family members can be updated by staff once you're comfortable.

Hospital Recovery

Your hospital stay depends on the procedure:

• Day procedures (colonoscopy, fistula surgery) — same-day discharge
• Minor operations — usually 1–2 nights
• Bowel resections or hernia repairs — usually 3–5 nights

Dr von Papen and his team visit daily to monitor recovery, reintroduce diet, adjust pain relief, and arrange physiotherapy or stoma-nurse support if needed.

Going Home & Recovery

• Rest and build up activity gradually
• Eat small, nutritious meals and stay hydrated
• Avoid heavy lifting for several weeks
• Keep wounds clean and dry; dissolving sutures usually don't need removal

The practice nurse or GCSS team will check in by phone, and you can contact them with any concerns.

Post-Operative Follow-Up

Follow-up appointments are typically 2–3 weeks after surgery. At your visit, Dr von Papen will:

• Review your recovery and pathology results
• Answer questions about diet, exercise, and return to work
• Plan surveillance colonoscopy or imaging (if relevant)

Patients with chronic conditions such as IBD are offered ongoing collaborative care with their gastroenterologist.

Long-Term Care & Support

Dr von Papen's care doesn't end once the operation is complete. His team provides ongoing support for nutrition, continence, wound care, and recovery.

Helpful Australian resources:

• Bowel Cancer Australia
• Crohn's & Colitis Australia
• Continence Foundation of Australia
• Cancer Council Queensland — 13 11 20 helpline