Gastric Sleeve Melbourne

The cost of gastric sleeve surgery in Melbourne can vary depending on whether you have private health insurance, self-fund the surgery, or use Medicare. Below is a handy table breaking down the costs.

The short answer is YES, gastric sleeve surgery is partially covered by Medicare; however, the coverage is for only a small portion of the surgery (approximately $700).

Gastric sleeve surgery still carries out-of-pocket costs for the patient. It is also important to take into account that Medicare will only cover a portion of the surgery if you meet the required medical criteria.

In most cases, the people who qualify for a sleeve gastrectomy, otherwise known as gastric sleeve surgery, are those who are considered to be severely obese (those with a BMI of >40 or BMI of >35 with more than one present disease or condition are usually required).

If you are someone who has or is at risk of developing a serious medical condition as a result of your body weight, then a gastric sleeve can be the perfect way to improve or even eliminate disease risk.

Some common diseases or conditions that gastric sleeve surgery can improve include:

• Type 2 diabetes (partial or complete remission)
• Hypertension and hypertensive heart disease (reduced blood pressure)
• Sleep apnoea (weight loss from gastric sleeve can eliminate or reduce sleep apnoea severity)
• High cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) and arterial disease (improves cholesterol and reduces cardiovascular risk over time)
• Osteoarthritis & joint pain (reduces pressure on knees, hips, and spine and improves overall mobility)
• Depression & anxiety from obesity (improvements in self-image, mobility, and health often lead to better mood and lower depression scores)
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis (reduces liver inflammation and can reverse early liver damage)

Approximately 60 minutes.

No, gastric sleeve surgery is not reversible. 70 to 80% of your stomach is permanently removed during the surgery. As a result of this surgery’s permanence, it is essential to understand the long-term outcomes and commitments involved before making the decision whether or not gastric sleeve surgery is right for you.

You can expect your diet to undergo rather significant changes after gastric sleeve surgery to ensure that your body makes the necessary adjustments to your smaller stomach size.

This usually involves a multi-stage post-operation diet to ensure that your body recovers in the way that it needs to.

• Stage 1: Recovery Phase Post Surgery (1-2 Weeks) - Liquid only diet (water, tea, sugar-free drinks) to allow your body to heal and avoid any complications. Do not drink anything with sugar in it, and avoid beverages that contain caffeine or are carbonated.
• Stage 2: Pureed, Soft Food and Full-Liquid (2-4 Weeks) - Once you have passed through the first two weeks, you can begin to slowly incorporate (smooth soups, scrambled eggs, silken tofu, hummus, baby food, Greek yoghurt). It is integral that you eat slowly and chew thoroughly. In this period, it is essential that you focus on increasing your protein intake. Keep portions to small amounts to avoid stretching the stomach.
• Stage 3: Soft and Slightly Solid Foods (4-8 Weeks) - When you reach just over a month post-surgery, you can begin to incorporate the softer side of solid foods back into your diet. These options include chicken, fish, turkey, soft vegetables, sweet potato, eggs, and soft fruit such as bananas. Taking your time to slowly digest and chew your food is essential to reducing any discomfort or nausea.
• Stage 4: Going Forward (Long Term) - To make the most of your surgery and see the biggest changes, you will want to keep the focus on consuming lean proteins, vegetables, fruits and healthy fats so that you can monitor your body’s reaction. It is also recommended to consume vitamin supplements to avoid any deficiencies due to reduced food intake. Consult with your dietitian or healthcare provider to ensure that you are meeting your nutritional goals. It is always essential that you follow a medical professional's recommendations closely.