What is bariatric surgery and how to prepare for it

Each year in Australia almost 16,000 bariatric surgeries take place.¹

Data shows that bariatric surgeries lead to better long-term weight loss than other methods.

Learn more about bariatric surgery and what to expect before and after the operation.

The term bariatric surgery² covers several procedures that are designed to support weight loss.

Common type of bariatric surgery include:

• Gastric bypass
• Gastric sleeve surgery
• Lap band surgery/gastric banding.

Each type of bariatric surgery differs in design but generally they work to make the stomach smaller. This can help the patient reduce the amount of food they eat, leading to weight loss over time.

Loss of excess weight can support many health outcomes. This includes:

• better heart health
• lower risk of type 2 diabetes
• improved blood pressure
• overall higher quality of life.

Any surgery comes with risks and your eligibility for bariatric surgery will depend on your unique health status.

Your doctor may suggest bariatric surgery if:

• You have a BMI over 35, regardless of other health conditions
• You have a BMI over 30, and have type 2 diabetes
• Previous attempts to lose weight have been unsuccessful.

Find out your BMI here.

Talk to your doctor to see if bariatric surgery is right for you.

Before you have bariatric surgery, your doctor and healthcare team will explain all the details of the surgery, including any risks involved.

If you’re a smoker, you will be encouraged to quit at least 6 weeks before the surgery as smoking can increase complications during recovery.²

If you need help quitting smoking talk to your GP or go to Quitline.

Depending on the type of surgery you have and how you recover you may need to stay in hospital following surgery for up to 3 days. You will be discharged once your surgical team are sure that you can cope with any post-surgical pain and you are able to drink and move.

In the days and weeks following surgery you will introduce foods in liquid form to start, then pureed food. Once you progress to solid foods, your meals will be much smaller than before surgery.

Due to the significant decrease in the amount of food you can eat, your doctors may suggest following a specific diet and to take certain supplements to ensure you’re getting the nutrients you need to support good health.

The reduction in how much you can eat can take some time to get used to. It may also be important to increase your level of activity after you’ve recovered from surgery, to support healthy weight loss and general good health.

Your healthcare team will be there to help you navigate these challenges as you get used to a new way of eating and drinking.

Data shows that bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for people with obesity, resulting in good long-term outcomes, low risks and improvements across other critical health areas such as diabetes.¹

However, like any surgery, bariatric procedures are not suitable for everyone living with obesity and there are risks, such as infection and nutrient deficiencies.²

Talk to your GP about your eligibility for bariatric surgery.