Patient Resources

Your Journey

Chances are that if you are looking at this page, you have been thinking about bariatric surgery. Do these statements sound familiar?
I feel like I am not getting the most out of life.
I try so hard and nothing happens.
I want to live a long life and be there for my kids but I am scared I won’t be able to do that because of my weight.
Bariatric surgery is a very real option for those who meet the criteria Deciding to have bariatric surgery is brave. It is not the easy way out, despite what others may think and say. Preparing for, undergoing and recovering from bariatric surgery is a lifelong commitment. You have to put the work in to get the results. We are confident that your results will make it all worth it.
The first thing you will need to do is meet with your GP to determine if you are a candidate. If you are, you can ask them to refer you to Sydney Bariatric Clinic. You’ll then have an initial consultation with Dr Ryan or Dr Jameson to discuss what surgery option is best for you. You will attend some appointments before your surgery with other members of SBC’s multidisciplinary team. You will attend the pre-anesthesia clinic 2 – 4 weeks before your surgery with Dr John Leyden. Find out more here. You will start a liquid diet two weeks before your surgery. It is normal for patients to find this part particularly difficult. The team at SBC will give you some strategies to help you cope during this diet change. After two weeks of liquid dieting, your surgery day will arrive. Lots of patients feel different things on the day of their surgery. You might feel nervous, you might feel excited, you might feel lots of things!
You’ll be admitted into hospital and members of the SBC team will make sure you are prepared for your surgery. You will be put under general anaesthetic by Dr John Leydon and your surgeon will perform the procedure. You will wake up in the recovery room and your surgery will be complete. Expect to feel very drowsy, sore and tender.

You will stay in hospital for a few days and your liquid intake will be limited. After being discharged, you will return home (make sure you have someone to drive you home) to continue your recovery.
Two weeks after your surgery you will have a review with your surgeon and your dietician. You should be driving by this point and will probably be able to undertake light activities like cooking. In the months after this, you will work with our multidisciplinary team of dieticians, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists and psychologists. It will not be an easy journey but the results will be worth it.

If you would like to talk to other people who have bariatric surgery at SBC, contact us and we would be very happy to put you in touch with them. Our friendly team is here to answer any questions you may have. We look forward to working with you to achieve your weight loss goals.

Before Surgery

You will have an initial consultation with your surgeon. They will talk to you about what has been going on for you and what you hope to get out of surgery. They will talk you through the types of surgery and their pros and cons. Dr Ryan and the team are very friendly and empathetic. They aim to create open, two-sided communication so that you feel comfortable asking questions and can make an informed decision about your surgery. Depending on the outcome of your initial consultation your surgery will be tentatively scheduled. This can vary any time from two weeks to six months. In the leadup to your surgery, you will meet with other members of SBC’s multidisciplinary team to ensure you are prepared for your surgery. This will include sessions with our dieticians, exercise
physiologist and psychologists. You will also attend something called the ‘pre-anaesthetic clinic’. Two week before your surgery, you will need to commence a liquid diet (Optifast). This will help kickstart your weight loss and also reduce the size of your liver, making it easier for your surgeon to perform the surgery. Information about the pre-anaesthetic clinic:
This appointment is essential and will take place at our Westmead Clinic, 2 – 4 weeks prior to your surgery with Dr John Leyden. The pre-anaesthetic assessment is critical to ensure you are prepared (physically and mentally) for surgery and post-surgery.
The objective of our pre-anaesthetic assessment is for you and Dr Leyden to establish a ‘doctor- patient’ relationship. Dr Leyden will formulate an anaesthetic plan for your surgery tailored to your specific needs. It is important to know that coexisting medical conditions such as high blood pressure can have a significant impact on anesthesia. Rest assured that Dr Leyden is extremely experienced in planning for and safely executing anesthetic plans for even the most complex cases.
The pre-anaesthetic clinic assessment includes:
Discussing your medical history and a physical examination

• A comprehensive review of your blood tests with attention to full blood count, kidney
  function, liver function, hormonal and nutritional abnormalities
• An ECG (electrocardiogram)
• A chest x-ray and cardiac echocardiography (if needed)
• Basic lung function tests
• Functional assessments – including cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and a six
  minute walk test
• An assessment by our physiotherapists (a prehabilitation program will be developed
  after this)
• After the pre-operative assessment and review of the results, Dr Leyden will offer you a clear explanation of the proposed plan of treatment and ask if you consent to the anesthetic plan.

As a result of Dr Leyden’s assessment, some patients may have their surgery delayed whilst we improve their medical conditions or improve their functional abilities through our rehabilitation program. These interventions will result in significant improvements in the health of the patients, success of the surgery, minimisation of potential complications and enhanced recovery. If you would like to find out more about our multidisciplinary approach to weight loss as SBC, contact us and one of our friendly staff will be happy to assist you.

Surgery

Your surgery day will eventually come (after what will probably feel like forever)! Read the Hospital Admissions page if you would like to find out more about what happens when you check in to hospital. To help you feel as comfortable as possible, here are some things to pack in your hospital bag for surgery:

• Loose clothing
• Slippers (your surgeon will want you to start walking as soon as possible after your
  surgery)
• Lip balm (your lips will likely get dry as your liquid intake will be restricted straight after
  surgery)
• Your medications (be sure to give this to your nurse when you check-in so they can
  make sure you get everything on time)
• Any medical devices (blood glucose monitor, hearing aid, etc)

The team at SBC can answer any questions you may have about what to pack for your surgery.

Risk: It is important to know that there are risks associated with any surgical procedure and general anaesthetic. These include allergies, chest infections, deep vein thrombosis and in even the remotest possibility however rare of death. At SBC, your Anaesthetist works to create the safest environment possible for you to have general anesthesia. Your surgeon will talk you through the risks associated with your type of surgery and answer any questions you may have. The multidisciplinary team at SBC are happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have about bariatric surgery. It is a big decision and we know it is something that will change your life for the better. Contact us to book your initial consultation.

Hospital Admission

You will be admitted into hospital on the day of your surgery. The hospital admission team will generally call you the afternoon before the day of your surgery and will advise you what time you need to arrive at the hospital.  It is advised someone drives you to the hospital. It is not advisable to drive yourself as you will not be able to drive home and you might be feeling nervous on the day of your surgery. 

When you arrive at the hospital on the day of your surgery, the admissions staff will welcome you and confirm if there are any paperwork or details you need to fill out. You will have already filled out an admission form with your personal, medicare and private health insurance (if relevant) details before the day of your surgery. 

Once it is confirmed that all of your paperwork is complete, you will do a pre-admission assessment with the admission nurse to make sure you are ready for your procedure. This will include some questions and some basic tests like taking your blood pressure and temperature.

You will then wait in the pre-admission room before being called into surgery. This time is variable of course awaiting the completion of the previous operation by your surgeon. Your anaesthetist will speak to you in the pre-op bay and make sure you are ready. This is also a chance for you to ask any questions you may have before your surgery. 

When Dr Ryan or Dr Jameson arrives, they will check in with you and make sure you are ready. Then, you will be administered the anaesthetic and when you wake up, it will be in the recovery room and your surgery will be complete! 

After some time in the recovery room (usually 1-2 hours), you will move to the surgical ward. You will spend time recovering here (usually between 2 – 3 days but that is only a guide) before being discharged to continue your recovery at home.

Online Hospital Admissions

***PLEASE DO NOT FILL OUT ANY PAPERWORK UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN TO YOUR PRE-OP CLINIC APPOINTMENT****

Lakeview Private Hospital

You can complete your admission form and medical history in your own time in the privacy of your own home. Please visit http://admission.lakeviewprivate.com.au

Cambelltown Private Hospital

Please complete your admission forms and peruse the patient information booklet by accessing the Healthscope eAdmission portal at https://healthscope.eadmissions.com.au

Westmead Private Hospital

If your surgery has been booked at Westmead Private Hospital, to ensure that your admission runs smoothly, and that everything is ready and organised for when you arrive we ask that you complete your online booking registration form. 

1. www.westmeadprivate.com.au
2. Click the online admission button
3. Create and account with your email and password or login with existing details
4. Complete your online admission form and submit forms. You will then receive a confirmation email.