Danny’s Place recognises that whilst weight loss surgery is rarely required in young people, there is increasing acknowledgment of its role in managing severe obesity in teenagers. Although surgery is not the first option, if needed, we can provide access and support for bariatric surgery based on internationally accepted guidelines.
THE DANNY’S PLACE ADOLESCENT BARIATRIC SURGICAL COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM brings together the experience of the first multidisciplinary obesity clinic in Adelaide, the Adelaide Bariatric Centre and Danny’s Place, the first private practice set up specifically to provide multidisciplinary weight management services to children aged 10-18 years.
Together they have developed a unique program that allows the adolescent and their family to have access to the specialised care that they need when their adolescent is undergoing weight loss surgery. The unique program and collaboration is designed to ensure a seamless transition to an adult service for life long care.
As team members of both the Adelaide Bariatric Centre and Danny’s Place, Nick Wray (dietitian) and Jane Collins (certified bariatric nurse) provide ongoing care in both programs.
TYPES OF SURGERY
There are many types of weight loss procedures being performed in Australia today including restrictive, malabsorptive and combination procedures. Below is a list of some of the procedures that can be performed by the bariatric surgeons at the Adelaide Bariatric Centre. To find out more about each procedure click the link below.
The success of any bariatric procedure depends upon lifelong care with an integrated health care team. As such, Danny’s Place has developed a team to provide comprehensive pre and post-operative care for the young person undergoing bariatric surgery and their transition through to the same comprehensive care as an adult.
What is included in the Care Program?
PRE-OP
(lasting between 3 – 6 months depending on the progress of the adolescent)
- x 3 Dietitian education sessions
- x 2 Psychotherapist education/counselling sessions
- x 4 Program Coordinator lifestyle education sessions
- x 2 Exercise Physiologist sessions
- Appointments with psychologist for pre-surgical assessment
- Appointments with paediatric and bariatric surgeons
- Appointments with Paediatrican and GP
- No surgeon gap endoscopy
SURGERY AND POST OPERATIVE CARE
- x 4 dietitian sessions
- 1 dietitian visit pre-surgical to provide protocol education
- 3 dietitian post-surgical follow ups to support post-operative care
- Gap free post-surgery follow ups at Danny’s Place for 3 years or until reaches adulthood (whichever comes first) with
- Danny’s Place Paediatrician / Dany’s Place Paediatric surgeon
- Access to Certified Bariatric Clinical nurse for support pre/post-surgery
- Post-Surgery education material/surgical toolkit and supportive tools
- x 2 Psychotherapist education/counselling sessions
- x 2 Exercise Physiology appointments
- Transition to the Adelaide Bariatric Centre for care as an adult including bulk billed appointments with the Bariatric GP and the Bariatric Surgeon enabling access to continued care.*
*If you are uninsured (No private health insurance) you will receive transition to Flinders Medical Centre as an adult for your ongoing care needs.
What is the cost of the Program?
The total co-payment for the pre surgical and post-surgical program is $4900. This co-payment is not claimable through Medicare or your health fund. At the start of the pre-surgical program a monthly payment of $260 per month is due for 4 months when you see the dietitian. The final amount of $3860 is due 2 weeks before surgery. The amount can be paid directly to the bank account or via credit card or EFTPOS.
Bariatric Surgery key points
- Weight loss surgery offers the best long-term results for the treatment of morbid obesity
- The surgery is generally very safe
- The procedures are almost always able to be performed as minimal access (keyhole surgery)
- The best outcomes following surgery can be achieved by having regular follow up with a multidisciplinary team for support
Surgical
How do I know if my child could benefit from weight loss surgery?
Weight loss surgery is currently only available to those aged 14 years and older with severe obesity and related health problem. A thorough medical and psychological assessment must be completed first.
What type of weight loss operations are done in children?
The three main operations for weight loss are adjustable gastric banding , sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass. The procedure most recommended in Australia for children (14-18 years) is adjustable gastric banding.
How does surgery work?
The gastric band procedure works by drastically reducing stomach capacity, and also reducing hunger.
What are the risks associated with weight loss surgery?
Weight loss surgery is a major undertaking. Although it has been demonstrated to be safe and effective in young people, there is still a small chance of major complications.
What happens after surgery?
As surgery is only a tool to help with weight management and it relies on life long care, it is important for you and your child to understand that there will be regular visits to Danny’s Place. The first year is the most intensive with visits but in the 2nd year onwards visits can be scheduled for every 3 months.
Will I need to have multivitamins and protein after surgery?
Yes and Yes, as the amount that your child eats is dramatically altered after surgery, it is important to understand that they will need lifelong multivitamin support and will need to have a whey protein everyday as well as eating good sources of protein from food.
Remember the Benefits?
We provide a 6 month program that focuses on health and wellbeing changes to promote weight loss.