FAQ's | Perth Weight Loss Surgery

Consultation with Mr Gounder (Within 2 Weeks)

This initial consultation is where you meet with our surgeon, Mr Siva Gounder. He will discuss your case and conduct an in-depth discussion regarding your past medical history and the surgical options best suited to you.

Mr Gounder will then examine you, answer any questions you may have, and help you make an informed decision about your procedure – Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy, Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass, Laparoscopic Duodenal Switch, Non-Surgical Intragastric Balloon, or Revision Bariatric Surgery.

Your health insurance may have additional requirements including cardiac and pulmonary clearance, documented weight history, sleep study, or a referral letter from your primary care provider.

Clinical Assessment

The Clinical Assessment includes screening for surgical safety and involves comprehensive history taking, physical examinations, laboratory investigations, and interviews to determine your motivation for undergoing surgery. It will also show how much you understand about the procedure and post-operative demands.

We use these interviews to source information about your weight-loss and weight-gain history and current eating behaviours, which will help guide our post-operative care. We will also establish whether you have the necessary support network bariatric procedures require. Our clinical assessment will also identify any psychiatric conditions which might impair your ability to successfully handle the surgery.

Confirm your Surgery options

Choosing the right bariatric surgery requires careful thought and consideration. Make your decision after all weight loss surgery options have been considered. Consultation with Mr Gounder and undergoing the prerequisite tests are necessary to confirm your eligibility for bariatric surgery. You will also need to learn about your weight loss surgery insurance coverage and financing options.

Seeking support and information will help you decide the best course of action. Here at Perth Weight Loss and Surgery, Mr Gounder is happy to help you with your decision.

Surgeries we perform are:

Lap Band – A procedure where a silicone band is inserted around the upper end of the stomach to restrict food intake. The rest of the digestive system is not altered.

Gastric Bypass – In this procedure the stomach is divided to create a small pouch for restricting food intake. The small intestine is also altered to produce malabsorption of food.

Gastric Sleeve – In this procedure, the left side of the stomach is removed to create a smaller stomach. The intestines are not altered.

SIPS Procedure – In this procedure a sleeve gastrectomy is performed along with surgery to reroute the small intestine.

Undergo Surgery (Within 2 – 6 Weeks)

You will be given a list of instructions outlining pre and post-operative guidelines to follow before your surgery.

Once admitted, Mr Gounder will perform your bariatric surgery and be there when you wake up from the anaesthetic to see how you are feeling.

When you have recovered sufficiently you will be released from the hospital into the care of your support network.

Perth Weight Loss and Surgery are here to help you as you recover from the surgery so please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.

After care on your new life

At Perth Weight Loss and Surgery, our focus is on creating a healthy and sustainable eating and exercise lifestyle for you. We will provide guidance on nutrition to make sure you meet your daily nutritional needs by eating healthy food, taking vitamin supplements and having regular follow-ups with our medical team and growing support network.

Ask us about access to private surgical weight loss forums, personal trainers and nutritionists – our goal is to see you meet your weight loss target safely and incident free.

Does the superannuation cover 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.

Do I need private health insurance?

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.

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.

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 surgery?

There is no one best surgery. The best operation is determined based on multiple factors and is individualized. 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.

FAQ’s

Consultation with Mr Gounder (Within 2 Weeks)

Clinical Assessment

Confirm your Surgery options

Undergo Surgery (Within 2 – 6 Weeks)

After care on your new life

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