Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass

• Gastric bypass surgery has been performed for over 30 years and its effectiveness is well proven
• Gastric bypass surgery is now usually performed with keyhole surgery
• Complication rates are very low
• Patients commonly lose 60 to 70% of their excess weight over 18 to 24 months
• Patients with type II diabetes experience improvement in diabetes control, often within days of the operation
• Many patients with Type II diabetes can achieve long-term remission
• Associated conditions such as high blood pressure and sleep apnoea often improve quickly after surgery
• Hospital stay is 3 to 4 days when performed with laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery
• Patients can be back at work in as little as two to three weeks depending on the job
• You will be able to eat (small amounts of) most food types
• Long-term follow-up, as in all bariatric operations, is vital.

At LapSurgery Australia we perform each of the major types of weight loss surgery. In most cases we do not recommend the gastric banding so the choice lies between the sleeve gastrectomy and the gastric bypass. Studies comparing the two over five-year time frames show very similar degrees of weight loss.

However, patients with Type II diabetes and those with gastric reflux have better results with the gastric bypass. The choice of operation will be discussed with you very thoroughly, and in the end, we present the facts and you make the decision as to which form of surgery suits you best.

Gastric bypass is generally considered when your BMI is 35 or above, or 30 or above with a weight related health condition such as type 2 diabetes, sleep apnoea, high cholesterol, gout or liver disease. For people of Asian descent, lower thresholds apply: a BMI of 32.5 or above, or 27.5 or above with a weight related condition. Because the bypass is particularly effective for type 2 diabetes and reflux, it is often the recommended option for patients with these conditions.

BMI is only the starting point. Your overall health, weight history and readiness for long term lifestyle change are all assessed by our surgeons and multidisciplinary team. No GP referral is needed to book a consultation, although a referral entitles you to a Medicare rebate and we can help you arrange one.

Check your eligibility with our BMI calculator

When comparing costs, please be aware that our costs include all of the following:

• Initial consultation with Surgeon
• Pre-operative assessment with Specialist Physician
• Clinical Psychologist consultation
• Dietitian consultations inclusive of 1x pre-operative, 3x post-operative appointments
• Exercise professional appointment
• Surgeon and Assistant Surgeon
• Access to on-call Surgeon at all times
• Comprehensive after care at Medicare rebate

Our operations are performed only in Private Hospitals. These costs can vary according to your particular private health cover. It may be possible to fund this out of pocket cost from your Superannuation.

See if you are eligible for the Gastric Bypass, and check out our quote generator here:

Patients commonly lose 60 to 70 per cent of their excess weight over 18 to 24 months after gastric bypass. The health results reach beyond the scales: patients with type 2 diabetes typically see improvement in diabetes control within days of the operation, many achieve long term remission, and conditions such as high blood pressure, reflux and sleep apnoea often improve quickly. Individual results vary, and long term follow up with our multidisciplinary team is essential to maintaining your result.

Eating after a gastric bypass progresses in stages, guided by our bariatric dietitian. You begin with fluids, move to pureed foods, then soft foods, over approximately four to six weeks, before settling into a normal healthy diet in small portions. You will be able to eat small amounts of most food types, though very high fat or high sugar foods can trigger dumping syndrome and are best avoided.

Because part of the small bowel no longer absorbs food, daily multivitamins are essential for life, and you will have regular blood tests through our follow up program to keep your nutrition on track, including dietitian reviews and a Specialist Physician review with comprehensive blood tests.

Most Gold tier hospital policies that include weight loss surgery cover gastric bypass. If you are taking out or upgrading cover, a waiting period, usually 12 months for pre existing conditions, generally applies before you can claim. Medicare item numbers apply and contribute to the rebates available.

Gastric bypass at LapSurgery Australia is performed in private hospitals across Melbourne's south east and, unlike our sleeve gastrectomy, does not currently have an uninsured package, so adequate private health insurance is the usual pathway. It may be possible to fund out of pocket costs through the compassionate release of superannuation. Our team can help you understand your cover and confirm your costs before you commit to anything.

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.

Our experienced surgeons can discuss the Gastric Bypass or other weight loss surgery with you at our Dandenong North, Berwick, Frankston, Warragul or Cranbourne locations.

See our location addresses here.

What you have read above is a summary of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery. This is not sufficient information in itself and every aspect of the bypass, including the preparation for surgery and the possible complications, is always specific to an individual and must be discussed at length with your surgeon.