Do I need surgery?

There are a number of widely accepted criteria which make a patient suitable for Bariatric or weight loss surgery:

• Weight greater than 45kg above the ideal body weight for sex, and height 

• BMI > 40 by itself or >35 if there are associated comorbidities E.g. obesity illness, such as diabetes or sleep apnoea 

• Reasonable attempts at other weight loss techniques

• Age 18-65 

• Obesity related health problems 

Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator

BMI is a calculation of the balance between your height and your weight. It is a general approach used in determining the amount of body fat you carry and is the first measuring tool when considering levels of obesity.

Do I qualify for surgery?

There is considerable flexibility in these guidelines. Patients as young as 12 have been offered surgery. Sometimes a lower BMI between 30-35 is accepted if potentially severe and life threatening comorbidities exist.

• Is my BMI > 40, or > 35 with co-morbidities (see our BMI calculator to calculate your BMI) 

• Co-morbidities are other medical conditions such as type two diabetes or sleep apnoea or arthritis 

• There may be times when a lower BMI (<35kg/m²) may be considered, however this will be at the discretion of the team and must be discussed with the team (please advise us on phoning your BMI is on the lower side)  ​

As well as the medical reasons, there are also some other factors we need to consider before approving a patient for surgery. Largely they are more behavioural elements, and some of the questions you need to ask yourself are:

​Questions to ask yourself:​

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• Have you dieted in the past?

• Do you think you may need help?

• Can you commit to surgery as a tool and use behaviours to determine your long term success?

Weight loss after surgery

Approximately 60-70% of excess weight can be lost if the general rules pertaining to exercise and diet are followed post-operatively. Some weight regain is commonly seen at 18 months but sustained weight loss in the order of 50% of excess weight loss is generally seen at 5 years and beyond.

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Most weight loss is seen in the first 12 months. Sometimes it can be precipitous which is not of concern as long as vitamins and adequate protein, 60-80g, per day are taken.

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Sometimes patients plateau for periods and do not lose weight. This may last from a few weeks to longer but weight loss resumes as long as the correct diet and exercise recommendations are being followed.

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If sudden weight gain occurs then xrays may need to be taken to see if the staple lines have disrupted. This is generally seen at a later date and the incidence has reduced now that the stomach is divided between staple lines.