Support options at Obesity Surgery WA
Summary
Email - Text Message - Call
You can call, text or email our expertsClosed Facebook Group
Feel supported by others who are on the same journeyBloom sessions
Learn from our experts and meet people that are on the same journeyOngoing support
We are here to support you at any time on your journey. In this article, you will discover the support options we offer at Obesity Surgery WA in Perth.
Email, text and phone support
We aim to be as accessible as possible to all our patients,so if you have any questions, please call, text or email us. At the start of your weight loss journey, you will receive a set of important phone and mobile numbers, including Dr Harsha’s personal contact details. Our practice nurses are also available to answer your questions. Feel free to also ask questions to our front desk team - they have a good understanding of what you are going through as some of the front desk team members have had weight loss surgery themselves.
Closed Facebook group
Once you join Obesity Surgery WA and you have had your surgery, we will add you to our closed Facebook group. You will get to meet other people who are going through the same process.
“The thing about obesity is that it is really isolating. You feel like no one else understands what you are going through and no one else knows how you are feeling. So it’s great to meet people who are going through the same things. It’s one of the best things that we can do for you: trying to break down that isolation that tends to occur.”
Dr Harsha Chandraratna, Bariatric Surgeon in Perth
Bloom sessions
Every two to three months we also run a Bloom session. We will invite you to come and join us and one of our team members will talk about different aspects of life after bariatric surgery. We will talk about food and what you can and should not eat. We talk about protein and how to get the right protein intake. We will also talk about your mental health and how you might want to start an exercise program. Once you have had your surgery, please come to one of our Bloom sessions. And again, the best part about Bloom is that you get to meet other people who are on the same journey as you.
About Obesity Surgery WA: Our 7 commitments
Taking surgery seriously
We know that entering into an operation is a big deal and we are very serious in getting the best outcome for you. We practice what is considered to be a world class standard. Our staff regularly attend national and international conferences and bring back what is the latest research and technology.Running on time
Our Surgeons and all of our staff try their best to run on time. Although it's not always possible, our commitment is that we do our best. Your time is valuable and we respect that.Readily available
Our surgeons (or at least one of them) is always available in a crisis. Some of them may provide you with a direct contact, but all are available through the hospital switchboard and happy to chat any time if there is a crisis.An obsessive attention to detail
We do our best to not miss anything. Every stitch, every staple and every clip is applied to exactly where it needs to be with the greatest care possible.A clean workplace
We do our best to remove any debris / blood / air / foreign material that may be left inside after an operation. It's a simple thing but it just doesn't feel right to leave this behind. It takes just a few minutes to do this and we believe it makes our outcomes better.Commitment to performing the best operation possible
Not all operations are the same and there a few extras that we do to make things better. We know that our results are better with the minimiser ring so we offer it to everyone. We know that reflux can be an issue so we try to tighten every oesophageal hiatus to make reflux control as good as possibly can be.A commitment to new technologies
- We have brought in STRETTA into Western Australia, which we believe will revolutionise reflux management. (Have a look at the Stretta page for more information). We hope to extend Stretta to include managing anal incontinence soon.
- SJOG Murdoch has just purchased a new DaVinci robot and we believe that this will allow us to do operations with keyhole surgery that previously needed a major laparotomy incision. Lynx is on the horizon and promises to also help manage reflux, we hope to have access to this in early 2020.
Useful links
Weight loss
surgery
If you have struggled to achieve or maintain weight loss long-term, you may be considering weight loss surgery. Here, we answer your biggest questions about the surgery, including potential weight loss, dumping syndrome, and insurance coverage.
Weight loss surgery
Obesity
Whether you are overweight or obese, there are significant lifestyle and health challenges associated with excess weight. There are a range of medical interventions for obesity, including medications, psychological support and lifestyle changes, and a choice of bariatric surgeries.
Obesity
Bariatric
diet
There are a number of bariatric diets that you will need to follow to give yourself the best chance of a successful surgery and long term sustained weight loss. Each diet is specific to the stage of your surgery and recovery process, designed to help you achieve specific goals along the way.
Bariatric diet