FAQs

An Initial consultation is BULK-BILLED If you have a Medicare card and a valid GP Referral to Dr Reza Adib. If you do not have a referral or Medicare, the initial consultation fee is $200.

Yes! You require referral to see any specialist according to Medicare law. This can be obtained at your local GP and will last for 12 months. If you have a referral from a specialist it will only be valid for 3 months.

No. Dr Adib does not operate out of public hospitals.

Yes. You can have the Gastric Sleeve, Gastric Bypass or Orbera Balloon without private health insurance. Uninsured patients are liable for all costs associated with the procedure and can use their superannuation to cover the cost of the procedure.

Pricing for uninsured weight loss surgery can be found on our uninsured page underneath the cost tab OR click here to be redirected to this page.

Patients can usually expect a consultation with Dr Adib within 1-2 weeks.

This depends on whether you are applying for early release of your superannuation. There currently no wait times at the Brisbane Obesity Clinic for those who are self funded.

We sure do! Visit our before and after photos page on our website. Alternatively, head to our Facebook page ‘Brisbane Obesity Clinic’ and you will have access to photos, reviews and more!.

Yes we have a Facebook page with patient reviews, before and after photos and more! Head to: ‘Brisbane Obesity Clinic‘.

Becoming pregnant can be easier as you lose weight. Your menstrual cycle may become more regular. If you need to eat more while you are pregnant, the band can be loosened. After the pregnancy, the band may be made tighter again, and you can resume losing weight.

The Sleeve Gastrectomy is a two night/three day stay in hospital. The Roux-en-Y Bypass procedure is a two night/three day stay in hospital.

Without private health insurance the cost of a gastric sleeve is approximately $23,050. This includes all out of pocket expenses such as the surgeon, surgical assistant, anaesthetist, follow up care, 12 months of dietitian care, 2 night hospital stay, and all testing. 

You will be able to take prescribed medication normally. You may need to use capsules, break big tablets in half or dissolve them in water so they do not get stuck in the stoma and make you sick. You should always ask the doctor who prescribes the drugs about this.

We can will provide you with instructions and an application form which is completed by the surgeon to access your superannuation. For information on how to get superannuation released early visit our EARLY RELEASE of SUPERANNUATION page or Click Here

To qualify for the Gastric Sleeve patients should have a BMI of 35 and above with or without associated obesity related illnesses such as back pain, diabetes, sleep apnoea, knee and joint problems, to name a few. However If your BMI is between 32-35, Dr Adib will carefully assess your medical history, age & your family history of obesity & associated serious illnesses.  He will then consider your particular case before making a decision about your eligibility for surgery.

Yes. Patients will require to see either of our dietitians, Annette Pinto or Annette Williams, before surgery to organise a pre-operative diet. All bariatric patients will also require to see one of the dietitians 3 times after their procedure to go through the change of diet phases. With all bariatric procedures you may contact our dietitians for 12 months after your surgery. After this, we recommend that you see your own dietitian for long term maintenance.

Weightloss results vary from patient to patient, and the amount of weight you may lose depends on several things. You need to be committed to your new lifestyle and eating habits.

Obesity surgery is not a miracle cure, and the kilograms won’t come off by themselves. It is very important to set achievable weightloss goals from the beginning.

A weightloss of around a kilo a week in the first year after the operation is possible, but half a kilo per week is more likely. Twelve to eighteen months after the operation your weekly weightloss is often less.

Remember that you should lose weight gradually. Losing weight too fast creates a health risk and can lead to a number of problems. Your main goal is to have weightloss that prevents, improves, or resolves the health problems associated with severe obesity.

No. A Sleeve Gastrectomy is not a reversible procedure.

Yes. Depending on which surgery you have, it is likely that you will need to take vitamin supplements for at least a year. At your post surgical check-ups, our dietitian will evaluate whether you are getting enough vitamin B12, folic acid, and iron. We have multivitamin supplements available for purchase at reception.

Yes of course! Order only a small amount of food, such as an entree. Eat slowly. Finish at the same time as your table companions. You might want to let your host or hostess know in advance that you cannot eat very much. We can provide you with a dining card that states that you have had bariatric surgery and can only eat small amounts. 

Yes. It is recommended that patients who undergo this procedure should wait 12 months before trying to conceive. we find that many of our patients who have had difficulty conceiving whilst overweight, become pregnant more easily at a healthy weight.

It is recommended that patients do not engage in cardio exercise for at least 3 weeks following procedure, no weight lifting for at least 6 weeks and no swimming for 3 weeks post procedure.

Patients should not drive for at least one week post-op.

Most patients take 2 weeks to recover following this procedure, however each patient is different. Most patients who come in for their 2 week post op dietitian appointment report that they are feeling FANTASTIC!

Following weight loss surgery we advise that you wait three weeks until swimming in either a pool or the ocean. The reason we advise the three-week wait is to allow your body and wounds to completely heal. This will help avoid unnecessary infections and delay in healing.

After your stomach has healed, you may eat most foods that don’t cause you discomfort. However, because you can only eat a little it is important to include foods full of important vitamins and nutrients such as those recommended by your surgeon and/or dietitian. If you eat foods that contain lots of sugar and fat or drink liquids full of ‘empty’ calories, such as milkshakes, the effect of your surgery may be greatly reduced or cancelled.

Depending on the amount of weight you have lost – and the laxity of your skin, some patients elect to have their excess skin removed. As a rule, plastic surgery will not be considered for at least a year or two after the operation. Sometimes the skin will mold itself around the new body tissue. You should give the skin the time it needs to adjust before you decide to have more surgery. Dr Adib performs Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) for his patients who request this.

There may be some reduction in the volume of your stools, which is normal after a decrease in food intake because you eat less fibre. This should not cause you severe problems. If difficulties do arise, let us know as soon as possible.

Alcohol has a high number of calories. It also breaks down vitamins. We recommend that you do not have any alcohol for 14 days after your procedure.

An occasional glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage, though, is not considered harmful to weightloss.

This is great news! Many of our patients with sleep issues have these resolved after bariatric surgery. It is important to keep your sleep physician informed of your surgery and weight loss.

Recovery time varies from patient to patient; patients usually return to work in around three to five days after the procedure.

The intragastric balloon system is NOT right for you if:

• You have a BMI of less than 27
• You are pregnant or breast-feeding
• You have had previous gastric surgery, or any of the following conditions:
• Prior gastrointestinal surgery
• Major prior or present psychological disorder
• Any inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract
• Potential upper-gastrointestinal bleeding conditions
• A large hiatal hernia (larger than 5 cm)
• A structural abnormality in the oesophagus or pharynx, such as a stricture or diverticulum
• Any other medical condition that would not permit elective endoscopy
• You are addicted to drugs or alcohol
• You are unwilling to participate in an established, medically supervised diet and behaviour modification program
• You are aspirin, anti-inflammatory agents, anticoagulants, or other gastric irritants not under medical supervision.

No. The Orbera Balloon is a temporary weight loss procedure to get you on the path for habit change. It is recommended that it be removed between 6 and 12 months.

Longer periods of use than six months are not recommended because the acidic content of your stomach can weaken the intragastric balloon material and cause the intragastric balloon to deflate. It is recommended that the balloon be removed between 6 and 12 months. After this time it can be replaced with a new intragastric balloon if you wish. This would incur another fee as a new procedure. 

It is important for you to understand that the intragastric balloon is a tool to aid weight loss and must be used in conjunction with diet, exercise and a behaviour modification program. The amount of weight you lose and maintain will depend on how closely you follow your diet and adopt long-term lifestyle changes. Weightloss varies, but the average is around 10-15kg*.

The Orbera Balloon procedure is a day surgery, which means that patients can return home on the same day of their procedure. Although the procedure is very quick (30 mins), expect to be in hospital for 6 hours post procedure to make sure you are fully awake and ok.

Alcohol in moderation is acceptable but keep in mind that it is calories without nutrition..

Quite the contrary! The balloon makes you eat less and feel full by reducing the capacity of your stomach. After a small meal, the amount of which varies from person to person, you should feel full. If you follow the nutrition guidelines when you choose your food and then chew it well, you should not feel hungry or deprived. Remember that the Obera Balloon® is a tool to help you change your eating habits. It is not a permanent fix.

The Endoscopic Gastric Balloon limits food intake. After the insertion you may feel nauseated or sick while your body adjusts to the foreign object that is the balloon. This is normal and will subside in a day or two. Limit your food intake and sip water slowly to get through this phase.

As the Endoscopic Gastric Balloon limits space in your stomach, some people may have reflux issues while it is in your stomach. Some patients will need to take a proton pump inhibitor, (like Nexium) after and during insertion for up to 6 months. Many patients do not have to take Nexium at all.