- For private bariatric surgery it is important to have private health insurance that covers obesity surgery.
- There will be out of pocket costs or gap charges depending on health fund and type of surgery.
About
PERTH WEIGHT LOSS & SURGERY
MEET MR.SIVA GOUNDER
Siva is originally from Malaysia and has made Perth home since 2007. He completed his medical degree in Manipal Academy of Higher education in 1999. He returned to Malaysia and completed his postgraduate specialist surgery training in General Surgery from University of Malaya in 2007 and prior to that he was awarded membership with the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh) in 2005
He migrated to Perth and underwent further specialized advanced surgical training in all major Perth hospitals through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons training program. He successfully obtained the Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) in 2015.
He was subsequently selected for a Bariatric Surgery fellowship in North Shore Hospital, Auckland which he successfully completed in 2016. This is an OSSANZ accredited bariatric surgery training position and the only one in New Zealand where the Laparoscopic Duodenal Switch operation for obesity is performed. He has trained to deal with obesity and all related problems. He is fully trained to provide various treatment options to treat obesity. This includes gastric banding, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass and duodenal switch operation as well as revisional surgery.
He is also a GESA accredited endoscopist and performs gastroscopy and colonoscopies. He also deals with most General Surgical conditions like hernia, gallbladder disease and bowel conditions.
With more than 15 years surgical experience, multinational training and having performed thousands of operations you can be assured that with Mr.Gounder you will be getting the best care and treatment in an honest and straightforward manner.
Professional Memberships
Frequently Asked Questions
Does superannuation cover bariatric surgery?
+ You can apply to your super fund with support from your GP and us to cover the out of pocket fees. Weight loss surgery is usually considered and approved by the super fund as it is an important treatment for obesity. Find out more information here.
Do I need private health insurance?
+ What are the risks of weight loss surgery?
+ -
All major surgery comes with risks, and the risks are different for each patient. During your first appointment, your surgeon will explain your individual risk level.
- Overall the major morbidity risks are under 5%
- Mortality is under 0.5%
What and how much can I eat after surgery?
+ - Depending on the type of surgery the quality of eating varies. With the gastric band there is much more restriction on type of food. With the sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass you will be able to eat most types of food albeit in smaller quantity.
- As you will only be able to eat small quantity of food. Usually an entre size meal will be your main. It is advised that you concentrate mainly on protein intake and daily vitamin supplements.
How long will I be off work?
+ If all goes well most people will return to work in 10 to 14 days. You should be able to drive after 5 days.
What about pregnancy and weight loss surgery?
+ - Fertility increases after surgery. Birth control pills are not very reliable during the time your weight is changing. For this reason, having an IUD or using condoms and spermicide with ALL intercourse is recommended.
- Most groups recommend waiting 12-18 months after surgery before getting pregnant.
- Babies born to mothers who have had weight loss surgery have been shown to be slightly smaller in size for gestational age. The good news is that, after surgery, there is much less risk of experiencing problems during pregnancy (gestational diabetes, eclampsia, macrosomia) and during childbirth. There are also fewer miscarriages and stillbirths than in overweight women who have not had surgery and undergone weight loss.
- Children born after mother’s surgery are less at risk of being affected by obesity later, due to activation of certain genes during fetal growth There is also less risk of needing a C section during pregnancy.
For More info see this article on fertility & weight loss surgery
When and why should I consider weight loss surgery?
+ - Surgery is the best long-term treatment for obesity. Its recommended for patients with BMI of more than 40 or more than 35 with comorbidities such as diabetes, high cholesterol and sleep apnoea. It can be also considered for lower BMI with severe diabetes. Patients can expect long term excess weight loss of between 50 to 90% based on type of surgery and compliance.
- Obesity is a disease and large population based studies have shown that it leads to a myriad of problems like diabetes, increased cancer risk, heart disease, sleep apnoea, arthritis and many others. The chances of losing and maintaining a health weight by diet and exercise is 1 in 1,290 for men and 1 in 677 for women with severe obesity.
Which is the best weight loss surgery option?
+ There is no one best surgery. The best operation is determined based on multiple factors and is individualised. After the initial consult and assessing your health and risk factors an appropriate surgery will be determined.
Is the surgery painful?
+ Surgery is done with laparoscopic or key hole technique. The largest cut is usually only 15mm in size. Most patients have very tolerable pain that is well managed with analgesics.
