Final Surgeon Appointment

We will make you a “pre-operative” appointment approximately one week before surgery with your surgeon. This is a great time to go over the surgery details again or ask any questions you might have thought of since your first consultation. This can be done via telehealth, and will be bulk-billed as long as your referral is valid and you have met the surgeon at least once face to face within the 12 months.

Paperwork

Approximately two weeks before the surgery, you will receive paperwork, consent forms, financial consent and hospital registrations from us. This will be sent via email so please keep a look out in your email or junk box and if you don’t receive anything call our office on 9760 2777.

Payment for weight loss surgery is required, two weeks prior to your surgery date. After surgery, receipts will be issued for you to claim any Medicare rebates. If you have an excess to pay, this is payable to the hospital on the day. The Anaesthetist’s rooms will also contact you to discuss payment.

Pre-Surgery Diet

Most patients are required to start Optifast diet two weeks prior to weight loss surgery. If you have any problems managing this diet or intolerances, please get in contact with the dietitian immediately.

COVID or the Flu

If you’re unfortunate enough to get COVID or the Flu leading up to surgery, please contact the office immediately. In some cases, this may delay your surgery, for your own safety.

Pre-Admission

Closer to surgery, you will receive a call from the Pre-Admissions nurse from the hospital and from the Anaesthetist.  It is very important you speak to both prior to surgery.

Patients having surgery at Mulgrave Private Hospital are required to buy an antibacterial body wash called Chlorhexidine, which is available from any local chemist. If you can’t get that particular brand you can get another brand as long as it has the same active ingredient.

Admission Time

Your admission time for surgery will be texted to you 1 to 2 days prior to surgery and you will be required to fast for 6 hours prior to that admission time. That will be nothing to eat or drink. If you take any medications, please check with your weight loss surgeon.

Things to Take With You

If you are on CPAP therapy for sleep apnoea, please bring your CPAP machine with you to the hospital. In some cases patients with severe sleep apnoea may be required to spend their first night after surgery in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), so don’t be alarmed if you wake up there, it was all pre-planned.

Please take the dietary book that you received when you spoke to the dietitian. Write your name on it and take it to the hospital with you. Please don’t lose that book, it is a great source of information.

After Weight Loss Surgery

Most importantly, please follow post-op instructions and be “kind to your body”. You will see the nurse approximately one week after surgery. In the unlikely event that you need to see the nurse early phone our office on 9760 2777 to speak to the nurse or one of the surgeons.  If it’s after hours, phone our on-call department and one of our surgeons will be on call to assist you. In any medical emergency, please call 000 or, attend your nearest emergency department.

If you need any clarification any time leading up to your surgery or post-op, please phone the office and one of the team members will be able to help.

Best wishes for your upcoming surgery!