Frequently Asked Questions

At LapSurgery Australia we perform each of the major types of weight loss surgery, the Sleeve Gastrectomy and the Gastric Bypass. Studies comparing the two procedures over five-year time frames show very similar degrees of weight loss. However, patients with Type 2 diabetes and those with gastric reflux have better results with the Gastric Bypass.

Your surgeon and their team will discuss the choices of operation with you thoroughly and, in the end, present you with the facts so that you can make the decision on which surgery suits you best.

All surgery involves some risk. Risks can be broken down into two groups, those related to surgery in general and those specific to the operation being performed. Risks of surgery in general include risks of anaesthetics, infections inside the abdomen and in the wound, lung problems, blood clots in the leg or lungs and, very rarely, death. If you have other health problems such as heart or lung problems, diabetes, smoking the general risks of surgery are increased.

When assessing the risks of surgery you must also consider and balance the risks of not having the surgery and remaining significantly overweight.

These will be discussed in detail with you prior to the operation by your surgeon.

The following are the commonest of the complications but please note that this is not a comprehensive list of possible complications but does cover most events.

The Risk of the Anaesthetic: Anaesthetic risks are extremely low because when you come to your operation any conditions which might increase your anaesthetic risk such as high blood pressure, diabetes or sleep apnoea will have been brought under control. All of our anaesthetists are experienced with dealing with the specific problems of patients with excess weight and have full access to all of the tests and information gathered during your preoperative assessment.

Bleeding: Although uncommon, bleeding can occur during an otherwise routine operation and could require blood transfusion and possibly abandoning the laparoscopic (keyhole) approach for a major incision in the abdomen. Occasionally, after a routine operation, bleeding can commence some hours after an operation and require a return to the operating theatre.

Infections: Again these are uncommon with laparoscopic surgery, but occasionally one of the small keyhole wounds can become infected and require antibiotics or drainage. Uncommonly, an infection inside the abdominal cavity or the chest can occur.

Damage to Other Organs: Although uncommon, during laparoscopic surgery it is possible to inadvertently damage another organ such as the spleen or the bowel. Normally this can be diagnosed and repaired during the operation but very rarely this damage may not be obvious until some hours or even days after the procedure and will then require appropriate management.

Conversion to Open Operation: Rarely, it is not possible to complete an operation with keyhole surgery and a full abdominal incision may be necessary. This is more likely to be the case if you have had previous surgery on your stomach such as a gastric band or stomach stapling.

Blood Clots to the Legs or Lung (Pulmonary Embolus): Blood clots to the legs or the lungs are a very serious complication. At LapSurgery we use the maximum protection against this occurring. Shortly before the operation you will be given a blood thinning injection and have stockings placed on your legs. A further device will also be placed on your legs which keeps pumping blood through your legs whilst you're asleep to minimise the chance of a clot forming whilst you are on the operating table.

Using these precautions and the early mobilisation after the surgery that is possible with the keyhole operation, these complications have been uncommon in our patients.

Our operations are performed only in Private Hospitals. The costs of surgery can vary according to your level of Private Health Insurance. The out of pocket cost will depend on the operation performed and Medicare and Private Health cover rebates.

It may be possible to fund this out of pocket cost from your Superannuation.

We currently operate at Mulgrave Private Hospital, Peninsula Private Hospital, St John of God Hospital in Berwick and Knox Private Hospital.

Surgery costs vary depending on the type of procedure, your level of private health insurance and where the procedure is performed.

However, when comparing costs, it's important to know that our costs for weight loss surgeries include all of the following:

1. Initial consultation with Surgeon 2. Pre-operative assessment with Specialist Physician 3. Clinical Psychologist consultation 4. Dietitian consultations inclusive of 1 x pre-operative, 3 x post-operative appointments 5. Exercise professional consultation after surgery 6. Surgeon, Assistant Surgeon and Anaesthetist 7. Access to on-call Surgeon at all times

We specialise in laparoscopic or 'keyhole' surgeries. Laparoscopic surgery is a surgical technique that reduces incision size and hospital stay and speeds up recovery time. This means that, depending on your surgery, you can usually be recovered from surgery in 6 weeks. Recovery times vary so contact us for advice specific to your surgery and your situation.

At LapSurgery Australia, we complete a comprehensive assessment of your health before surgery, especially weight loss surgery, so we can identify any risks and minimise these.

If you decide to go ahead with weight loss surgery, we will arrange a comprehensive set of blood tests and an appointment with a specialist physician experienced in preparing patients for surgery and minimising risks.

We will also have you attend an assessment with our dietitian and psychologist to ensure that you are prepared for the dietary and psychological changes that come with surgery.

If you have the appropriate level of health cover this process take about 4-6 weeks.

There are a few basic guidelines to decide who is a candidate for weight loss surgery. You are usually eligible if you have a BMI over 35 or if you have a BMI over 30 along with a weight related comorbidity (eg. Diabetes, heart disease etc.). You can use our BMI calculator to find out your BMI and you can call us to speak to a surgeon and learn more.

We offer an "uninsured" option to selected patients for sleeve gastrectomy surgery, without private health insurance covering bariatric surgery. We are committed to providing comprehensive, best practice, high quality care to our patients. That's why our package price includes cover for return visits to hospital (for specific surgery related problems) within 28 days of your surgery, giving you unparalleled peace of mind. The uninsured package has all of our usual inclusions like consultations with your surgeon, physician, psychologist, dietitian and exercise professional.

Uninsured option is available only for some patients for sleeve gastrectomy surgery, in specific hospitals. Please contact us to find out if you qualify.

Pregnancy after weight loss surgery can be safe and healthy if managed correctly. Research even suggests that weight-loss surgery before pregnancy might lower the risk of obesity-related problems during pregnancy.

If you are considering pregnancy after weight loss surgery it's very important to get in touch with us to get all of the right advice about nutrition, supplements and health.