MAKING WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY MORE ACCESSIBLE

ACCORDING TO THE AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, IN 2022 65.8 PERCENT OF AUSTRALIAN ADULTS WERE CLASSIFIED AS OBESE - AN INCREASE OF 3 PERCENT FROM THE PREVIOUS DECADE. THIS CONTINUING INCLINE IN OBESITY RATES AMONG ADULTS IS DRIVING DEMAND FOR INTERVENTIONS TO HELP MANAGE THIS HEALTH CONCERN AND TO MAKE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY MORE ACCESSIBLE.

Being admitted to hospital for weight-loss surgery may be perceived as a major event for many people, but in reality the process can be made extremely smooth, quick and easy.

At the Surgery Gold Coast weight-loss clinic, they have spent over ten years developing and refining methods to improve their processes to help patients through their surgical journey with minimal impact on their lives.

Employing years of research and experience, they have implemented a multitude of methods to improve the patient experience, decrease their discomfort and eliminate unnecessary medical expenses, all whilst still maintaining exceptional quality and safety.

The good news is weight-loss surgery can now be performed safely as a day procedure. This option is becoming increasingly popular worldwide due to its safety and accessibility for eligible patients. Day stay surgery decreases the significant cost of hospital stays for patients, and can even potentially reduce complications.

The reduction in cost by having the surgery performed in the day stay theatre environment increases the accessibility of these procedures, especially for those patients who do not have private health insurance and who will need to cover the full ‘gap’ payment themselves.

This is particularly significant as few bariatric procedures are currently performed in the Queensland public system.

Dr Jason Free from Surgery Gold Coast has spent significant time researching day stay surgery as an option for his patients.

Dr Jason Free MBBS BVSc (HONS) FRACS | Specialist Weight-Loss and Hepatobiliary Surgeon Surgery Gold Coast | Suite 2, Pindara Professional Centre, 8-10 Carrara Street, Benowa QLD 4217 Phone: 07 5564 6501 Email: info@surgerygoldcoast.com.au surgerygoldcoast.com.au

“I’ve recently visited several hospitals and weightloss clinics in Australia and the USA, specifically for the purposes of assessing their day stay protocols, and finding ways to improve the patient experience across the entirety of their surgical weight-loss journey.

“In the USA, day stay weight-loss surgery has become hugely popular and performed in the mainstream. There has been much research undertaken by many groups demonstrating its safety and I’ve been able to bring back a lot of this knowledge back home so that it can be implemented safely here. We have had a great deal of success performing day stay weight-loss surgery with many patients,” said Dr Free.

All forms of bariatric surgery are able to be performed as a day stay surgery option, and patients will thoroughly consult with the surgeon to determine which type of surgery is most appropriate for their particular circumstances well before the day surgery is performed.

The vast majority of bariatric surgical patients are eligible for day stay surgery, however there will be some instances where this might not be possible.

For patients undergoing complicated revisional surgery, a day stay option may not be possible, as the surgery can go for an extended length of time and an overnight stay would be the best option in this case.

Day stay patients would need to meet a number of criteria in order to be eligible for the day stay option and no patient will be released if their progress post surgery does not meet specific milestones.

Pre-surgery, day stay candidates would need to have:

• A BMI under 55

• No comorbidities (other medical conditions)

• A residence or accommodation no more than 50km from the hospital

• A support person who could stay with them

Post surgery, patients should be able to go home if:

• They are out of bed and able to move around

• They are able to swallow a certain amount of liquid

• Observations are normal

• Pain and nausea are controllable

• All scripts and pain medication have been provided

• Follow-up phone call scheduled for the next day

“Our patient safety is of the utmost importance to me and the whole team at Surgery Gold Coast, so we will need to be very confident our patient is where they need to be and have the right support available post surgery before sending them home,” said Dr Free.

If you have been considering whether weight-loss surgery is right for you, your first step should be to speak with your General Practitioner to discuss your specific needs and to identify a specialist bariatric surgeon who can provide advice as to which procedure will be best for you.

WHICH BREAST IS BEST?

THE BREASTS ARE A STRONG SYMBOL OF FEMININITY AND WOMANHOOD AND BEING HAPPY WITH THE FORM AND FUNCTION OF YOUR BREASTS IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN MANY PEOPLE’S QUALITY OF LIFE; BUT WHEN IT COMES TO COSMETIC BREAST SURGERY, JUST LIKE BRA SIZES, THERE IS NO ‘ONE SIZE FITS ALL’.

Cosmetic breast surgery encompasses a variety of procedures designed to alter the appearance of the breasts, as well as address medical issues related to the breasts.

There are a number of options available to patients who are considering cosmetic breast surgery. The type you choose will ultimately be guided by the results you want to achieve. Some patients may want to increase the size and improve the shape of their breasts, others may want to reduce their breast size, while others may have had previous surgery that has resulted in an implant rupture or other health concerns and the implant now needs to be removed.

The Lotus Institute offers patients four main types of cosmetic breast surgery.

Breast augmentation

The purpose of augmentation is to increase the size or change the fullness or shape of the breasts, either by placing implants under the breast tissue or by using fat from another part of the body and transfering to the breasts. People considering breast augmentation often have a level of dissatisfaction with the size or shape of their breasts and seek augmentation for both reconstructive and cosmetic reasons.

Breast reduction

Overly large breasts can cause patients neck, back and shoulder pain among other medical issues and these are often the types of reasons patients seek a breast reduction. Breast reduction surgery will involve removing some of the breast tissue and excess skin to reshape the breasts and create a more proportionate and comfortable size.

Breast lift (Mastopexy)

The purpose of a breast lift is to reshape the breast by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissues, re-shaping and raising the breasts. Patients often consider undergoing a breast lift as they age, after having children and breastfeeding or due to fluctuations in body weight.

Breast implant removal (explant surgery)

There are numerous reasons patients may consider breast implant removal, it may be due to a rupture, health concerns or due to financial considerations. In this procedure the surgeon will remove the entire breast implant along with the ‘capsule’ (the scar tissue that the body forms around an implant after it has been placed). A breast lift is also commonly performed with this type of surgery in order to shape and contour the breast for a more pleasing result.

Patients should be aware that all surgical procedures carry risks and the decision to undergo any type of breast surgery should be thoroughly considered and discussed with both your doctor and plastic surgeon. It is also important to remember that outcomes, recovery times and results may differ greatly between patients due to numerous factors including age, genetics, skin condition etc.

A referral from your GP is necessary for any cosmetic surgery procedure. Patients will need to have two consultations with their surgeon prior to going ahead with surgery, and at least one of these consultations must be in person. There is a mandatory seven day waiting period between undergoing surgery and your in person consultation to give you the time to fully consider your surgery and make the best decision for you.