First published 9 September 2021. Updated 31 October 2024.
There is no doubting that having bariatric surgery can be life-changing.
It can help you reduce the amount you eat, control your hunger, and there may also be additional hormonal and metabolic effects that help promote weight loss.
Reducing your weight can also help you get back to doing more activities you enjoy and resolve the serious comorbidities like type 11 diabetes and sleep apnoea that are so common in this group.
Additionally, the bariatric surgery program at St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital uses the latest minimally invasive techniques in weight loss surgery and the principles of ERAS (enhanced recovery after surgery) to help you recover faster and with less pain compared to open surgery. Meaning often just a one-night stay in hospital is required.
So you don’t want to wait for these benefits.
How to find the shortest waiting period for weight loss surgery
1. Weight loss surgery with private health insurance
If you have gold level private hospital insurance, you are likely to be covered for weight loss surgery already, but check with your private health insurer to make sure you are eligible.
Using your private health insurance will mean you can access weight loss surgery with no waiting period.
But what are your options if you aren’t insured?
If you have a lower level of private hospital insurance, you can speak with your fund about upgrading your cover (just make sure you are aware if there are any waiting periods that may apply).
2. Accessing weight loss surgery without private health cover
Bariatric surgery in the public system is usually considered an elective surgery. This means that there can be long waiting periods as other urgent, non-elective surgeries are prioritised.
If you don’t have private health insurance you can consider self-funding your care.
How to arrange weight loss surgery to avoid public waiting lists
By choosing to pay for weight loss surgery yourself, you can get fast access and avoid public hospital waiting lists.
When you have private weight loss surgery you’ll also be able to choose your bariatric specialist who will care for you from your initial consultation, during your surgery and stay in private hospital, and for care after your surgery.
This is the philosophy behind the St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital bariatric gastric sleeve package which provides a low-cost program without compromising on the preparation and standards of post-operative care.
This quick and easy guide to self-funded care can help you navigate the steps involved and consider whether this option is right for you.
St John of God Murdoch Hospital in Perth, WA, and St John of God Berwick Hospital in Victoria also have self-funded gastric sleeve surgery packages available.
Find out more
