Weight Loss Surgery in Christchurch with Dr Steven Kelly
Bariatric Surgery process for achieving excellent results
Weight loss Surgery is currently the only treatment that results in sustained, long-term substantial weight loss. It is highly safe and effective.
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It transforms lives and improves multiple health problems. It gives people back their lives.
So not only does it improve your quality of life, but it also lengthens your life.
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Large studies have shown that, on average, a person having bariatric surgery​
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Will live an additional 6 years due to the surgery
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If the person has diabetes, they will live an additional 9 years due to the surgery
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How to qualify for weight loss surgery in New Zealand
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The minimum Body Mass index (BMI) for surgery is 30. There is generally no Upper limit to BMI but it depends more on suitability for anaesthesia
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Age range for surgery is 17 years to 79
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Obesity related health problems and fitness for surgery play a role in decision-making for surgery.
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Book a consultation with Mr Kelly to discuss whether surgery may be right for you
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How does bariatric surgery work
The surgery has many powerful changes that start immediately after surgery.
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Surgery significantly reduces physical hunger
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A small meal causes early fullness and satisfaction
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The desire for the bad foods ie fat and sugar, disappears
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​With gastric bypass dumping occurs if a person eats the "Bad stuff", ie fat or sugar. This results in nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea 20 minutes after eating and is an excellent aversion to avoid bad foods​
Preoperative preparation
You have an initial consultation with Dr Kelly and a Dietitian. Further tests may need to be arranged. Most people don't need to see our clinical psychologist. This is determined at the first consultation.
Also, you will be pleased to know that most people don't need a pre-op diet, as this is only required for very large people. We believe that you have been on enough diets in the past and that for most, the preop diet makes no difference to surgery and the results.
After the operation
You will be in the hospital for 1 to 2 nights. When discharged, people are mobile and pain is well-controlled with a simple tablet pain relief.
Tiredness can be an issue in the first month but usually by 2 to 3 months after surgery, people have more energy than they have had for years.
Mr Kelly wants people to resume a normal diet as soon as possible. In general, the drinking of fluids starts immediately after surgery. The pureed diet starts shortly after, and then by 9 days after surgery, people are consuming soft food. At one month, everyone is back to eating three small healthy meals per day.
It has been shown that this early introduction of food is safe, leads to better results and has high patient satisfaction
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Return to work and physical activity
Most people return to work at two weeks following surgery. For jobs that are sedentary some people go back to work at one week.
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With physical activity, the general rule is that you listen to your body.
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Walking begins straight after surgery
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Light sports or gym activity - 3 to 4 weeks
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Strenous activity - 6 weeks
How safe is surgery
With Mr Kelly surgery is very safe. Complications are uncommon, and if they were to occur, Mr Kelly will fix the problem, in many cases at no extra cost. Complications would be managed either in the public or private health care systems. This gives you real peace of mind.
The risk of surgery is the same as the operations of appendicectomy or gallbladder removal, ie low risk.
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From an overall risk point of view. The risk of staying obese far outweighs the risk of surgery.
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Why Medical Tourism is not advised
We recommend against travelling overseas for bariatric surgery. New Zealand bariatric surgeons have seen many serious complications from this. The quality of medical tourism bariatric surgery is very variable, with sometimes a lack of standards and quality that we have in New Zealand.
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With bariatric tourism, you may not get the operation that you consent to or that you need. If problems occur, you may not have the backup and support that you need.