Bariatric Clinic

What we do

Our specialist multidisciplinary bariatric clinic includes a general surgeon, respiratory physician, general medicine physician, dietician and registered nurse.

Patients are first enrolled in the Health Improvement Program; a sixteen week educational course designed to assist patients to maximise their health prior to consideration for bariatric surgery. Patients need to complete this program prior to attending their first Bariatric clinic appointment.

There are several treatment and care options, and the patient and specialist team will together decide the best course of action. These may include surgery for laparoscopic banding, sleeve gastrectomy or other bariatric surgeries offered.

It may also involve conservative treatment for a period of time depending on the patients clinical health assessment and lifestyle requirements.

If you need surgery, you will be placed on a surgical waiting list after being seen in clinic. You may also need to attend the Pre-Admission Clinic prior to your surgery.

Who we care for

The Department of Health has a framework for who should access bariatric surgery. Patients should:

• Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 40, or a BMI under 35 with two or more morbid obesity-related co-morbidities
• Be aged between 18 and 60 years
• Have tried but failed to achieve or maintain clinically beneficial weight loss using non-surgical measures
• Must be a Victorian resident

How to access this clinic

Referral from your GP

You need a referral letter from your GP or medical practitioner to access this service. Your doctor will fax your referral letter to us. Once we receive it, we will send you a confirmation letter.

If you need surgery, you will be placed on a surgical waiting list after being seen in clinic. You may also need to attend the Pre-Admission Clinic prior to your surgery.

What to bring

Every time you come

• Medicare card
• Health Care Card and/or concession card (if you have one)
• Private health insurance card (if applicable/if you want to use it)
• Adverse drug alert card (if you have one)
• Previous X-ray films, scans, ultrasounds or any other test results or reports
• Medicines you need to take while you are here
• List of medicines you are currently taking (or the boxes), including medicines you have bought without a prescription, such as herbal supplements and vitamins
• Glasses, hearing aid(s) and/or walking frame if needed

For a clinic appointment

• Your appointment letter
• Any special items listed on your letter
• TAC or WorkCover claim number (if relevant)

Clinic times

Clinic consultants

• Prof Wendy Brown: Endoscopy, General Surgery (The Alfred)
• Mr Paul Burton: Endoscopy, General Surgery (The Alfred)
• Mr Damien Loh: General Surgery
• Dr Kirk Kee: Respiratory physician
• Mr Yao-Yen Richard Chen: Endoscopy, General Surgery (The Alfred)
• Mr Andrew Packiyanathan: