Bariatric surgery

The surgery works by reducing the portion sizes you can eat, controlling hunger and may have additional hormonal and metabolic effects that promote weight loss. You are still required to follow healthy eating habits and exercise regularly to achieve optimal results.

Choosing to have bariatric surgery may not be an easy decision and can follow a long weight management battle. We work closely with you and your general practitioner (GP) to help you understand the physical and emotional changes you may experience.

Our expert surgical teams use the latest minimally invasive techniques in weight loss surgery to help you recover faster and with less pain compared to open surgery. In most cases, your hospital stay will range between one and four days depending on the procedure.

Bariatric surgery procedures

Procedures include:

Gastric sleeve

This procedure reduces the size of the stomach by surgically removing about two thirds of the outer part of the stomach. This leaves a long, narrow tube or sleeve which means you will feel full after consuming much less food. Removing most of the upper stomach (fundus) also decreases levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin. This is the most common weight loss procedure performed in Australia.

Gastric banding or lap-banding

An inflatable silicone band is tied around the upper end of the stomach, near the food pipe. It can be adjusted by injecting or removing fluid from a port placed under the skin. The pressure of the band forces you to eat slowly and reduces appetite. The band is removable if required.

Gastric bypass

There are many different types of gastric bypass. The stomach is usually divided into two sections with food only going into the smaller section. The small bowel is often also divided and rejoined so that food bypasses the larger section of stomach and the first part of the duodenum where digestion starts. This procedure may have particular advantages if you have type 2 diabetes or gastric reflux.

Intragastric balloon

A silicon balloon is inserted into the stomach via the mouth and food pipe (oesophagus) and inflated under vision using a fibreoptic telescope (endoscopy). Once inflated it restricts the amount you can eat and reduces hunger. It can be performed as a day procedure. The balloon must be removed after six months, through an endoscopy.

Benefits of bariatric surgery

Some benefits of bariatric surgery may include:

• significant and sustained weight loss
• increased energy
• reduced blood pressure
• reduced risk of diabetes, heart attack, stroke and other obesity-related conditions
• better overall health and wellbeing.

These benefits depend on your particular circumstances and require you to fully participate in necessary before and after care and management. You should consult a specialist in this area before deciding whether surgery is suitable for you.

New self-funded hospital package: Bariatric surgery at St John of God Murdoch Hospital.

If you do not have private health insurance, you can access treatment in our Hospital through our 'self-funded care' option. This is a simple process where you pay in advance from your own pocket or via a payment plan. Find out more.

You are eligible for this surgery if you:

• Are 18-55 years of age
• Have a BMI less than 45
• Weigh up to 150kg
• Have no more than two significant medical issues
• Are Medicare registered
• Are surgeon approved

Included in our Self-funded Hospital Package:

• Hospital fee including two night stay, theatre and prosthesis fee
• Surgeon’s operation fee and clinic fee
• Surgical Assistant fee
• Anaesthetist fee
• Postoperative surgical and bariatric GP consultations 

Not included in our Self-funded Hospital Package:

• Pre-operative appointments
• Dietetic aftercare
• Discharge medications from Hospital
• Blood tests and diagnostic imaging in Hospital

Surgeon: Dr Ruth Blackham

Price: $21,499

For more information please contact:
Aurora Bariatrics
Tel: 08 6478 7631
Email: [email protected]

Or visit Self funded care for more information on our self funded options.

Learn more at our patient information seminars

Our free patient information seminars are run by top specialists and cover a range of topics. They are designed to help community members better understand the treatment options, procedures and services on offer at St John of God Murdoch Hospital.

Find out more and register now!