St Vincent’s Private Hospitals offer a wide range of Bariatric related services, for details of the Bariatric services at your local St Vincent’s Private Hospital, click here.

Weight loss surgery can be a solution when obesity is adversely affecting your health

From diabetes to infertility — obesity can affect your health and quality of life. According to the World Health Organisation, overweight and obesity play a role in 44% of people with diabetes, 23% of people with ischaemic heart disease and 7% to 41% of those with certain cancers. Losing weight can help reduce the risks associated with these conditions. Weight loss can help reduce sleep apnoea, snoring, joint pain and problems getting pregnant.

If you have a lot of weight to lose in order to improve your health or quality of life— and you’ve tried and failed to do it with diet, exercise and medication — weight loss surgery may be an option for you. Your doctor can recommend a treatment option that’s best for you, whether it be surgical or non-surgical.

Weight loss surgery, (also known as bariatric surgery) is increasing in Australia as research confirms its effectiveness. It can be an effective way to permanently lose weight and reduce the health risks associated with obesity. It’s important for everyone carrying too much weight be familiar with the range of treatment options available, including weight loss surgery.

Our Services

Please check your relevant hospital below for their specific services. **Not all services are available at all hospitals.

• Nutritional review
• Assessment by weight loss physician
• Assessment by exercise physiologist
• Sleeve gastrectomy (gastric sleeve)
• Gastric bypass
• Laparoscopic gastric banding (lap band surgery) 
• Removal of lap bands

Gastric sleeve

This involves the permanent removal of 85% to 90% of your stomach. The procedure is performed under a general anaesthetic using keyhole surgery.

Although the physical size of your stomach is reduced, the normal direction of the food stream through your stomach and the rest of your intestinal tract is not altered. It simply reduces the holding capacity from about 1.5 litres of food and liquid to approximately 200 mL. This allows you to feel comfortably satisfied and full with a meal size approximately equivalent to a cup of food.

Gastric bypass 

Gastric bypass is one of the most common surgical procedures used in the treatment of obesity. It restricts how much food your stomach can hold and also affects how nutrients are absorbed into your bloodstream.

This surgery has the highest success rate for the amount of weight lost — making it an option that is commonly recommended for people who need to lose a lot of weight for health reasons.

Gastric banding (lap band) surgery

With this procedure, a band is placed around your stomach, restricting the amount of food it can hold. The surgeon inserts and adjusts the band using keyhole surgery. 

Gastric banding is particularly effective for people with excessive hunger and those who need big portions of food to feel satisfied.

Gastric band removal

Removal of a gastric band can usually done as a ‘keyhole’ procedure. There is an option to convert to a gastric sleeve or gastric bypass at the same time. This is something you can discuss with your surgeon.

Disclaimer

This information is of a general nature, which may not be relevant to you. Any surgery or invasive procedure carries risk. We encourage you to speak with your doctor about your condition.