Bariatric Surgery

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Weight loss surgery is available for people who meet certain criteria.

You have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more or a BMI between 32 and 40 and an obesity-related condition that might improve if you lost weight (such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure)
You’ve tried all other weight loss methods, such as dieting and exercise, but have struggled to lose a clinically significant amount of weight or keep it off.
You agree to long-term follow-up after surgery – such as making healthy lifestyle changes, attending regular check-ups, regular blood tests and lifelong multivitamins.

There are several types of weight loss surgery. The most common types are:

Sleeve gastrectomy

During the sleeve gastrectomy procedure around 70-80% of your stomach is removed. This reduction in stomach volume means you can’t eat as much as you could before, and you will feel full sooner. This resected stomach is removed at the end of the operation and this procedure is therefore not reversible. This is currently the most common surgical weight loss procedure in Australia.

Gastric bypass – OAGB or Mini Bypass

Gastric bypass – OAGB

OAGB stands for one anastomosis gastric bypass, this procedure is otherwise known as the mini bypass. A longer pouch is created at the top part of the stomach, which is then joined to a loop of the small intestine. One join makes this operation slightly simpler to perform than the traditional bypass but with similar weight loss results. The reduced size of your stomach will make you feel full much sooner and you will not absorb as many calories from the food as you did before due to the small intestine that is bypassed. This is preferable for patients with poorly controlled metabolic problems such as diabetes, or hypercholesterolaemia.

Gastric bypass – Roux-en-Y

A small pouch is created at the top part of the stomach which is then joined to the small intestine, another join is created between the bowel. The two joins make this operation more complex to perform. The reduced size of your stomach will make you feel full much sooner and you will not absorb as many calories from the food as you did before due to the small intestine that is bypassed. This is preferable for patients with poorly controlled metabolic problems such as diabetes, or hypercholesterolaemia.

Gastric band

A band is placed around the stomach, so you don’t need to eat as much to feel full. (This type of surgery is rarely used with our patients as the weight loss is not usually enough)

Revisional Weight Loss Surgery

If a weight loss procedure is no longer working for you then you can potentially have this converted into a different type of weight loss procedure. Reasons that people may consider another operation include weight regain or reflux issues. Common revisional procedures include gastric band to sleeve gastrectomy or sleeve gastrectomy to bypass. Revisional surgery also known as “Re-do” surgery tends to be more complicated and difficult to perform, which is why there is a higher complication rate associated with this kind of procedure.

You’ll need to:

All of these operations can lead to significant weight loss within a few years, but each has advantages and disadvantages. If you’re considering weight loss surgery, you will be advised about the different types available and decide which is best for you.

Weight loss surgery can achieve dramatic weight loss, but it’s not a cure for obesity on its own. You’ll need to commit to making permanent lifestyle changes after surgery to avoid putting weight back on.

Change your Diet

You’ll be on a liquid or soft food diet in the weeks after surgery, but will gradually move onto a normal balanced diet that you need to stay on for life.

Exercise Regularly

Once you’ve recovered from surgery, you’ll be advised to start a regular exercise plan and continue it for life (this can also help to reduce lose skin)

Attend regular follow-up appointments

To check how things are going after surgery and get advice or support if you need it.

Pregnancy

Women who have weight loss surgery will also usually need to avoid becoming pregnant during the first 12 to 18 months after surgery. Fertility can improve with significant weight loss and therefore contraception is important in preventing unplanned pregnancies.