Wilbur: The King in the Ring
Notable Pictures have just released a brilliant New Zealand made documentary of one man’s struggle with obesity and journey back to health. It stars Wilbur McDougall, a former pro wrestler, who agrees to let his best friend J. Ollie Lucks make a documentary about his laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy surgery and subsequent transformation. It is a very human story, and is told with respect and compassion. I would highly recommend it for anyone contemplating weight loss surgery, or who knows others who have had it. Wilbur: The King in the...
read moreResources added to web site
I have been busy updating the web site over the past couple of weeks, in particular adding many resources for patients and doctors. In particular I have added a page about gallbladder surgery, and updated the previous links page, now called resources. This page contains downloadable patient information resources about gastro-oesophageal reflux and weight loss surgery, as well as our new patient and GP information guidelines for follow-up after bariatric surgery. The web site has also been updated to confirm our status as affiliated...
read moreChange in vitamin recommendations
I would like to announce a change in our recommended multivitamin for patients who have had gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy. We have been starting to notice a number of patients developing low levels of vitamin B12 at between 18 months to 2 years after gastric bypass surgery. In response to this, Renee Ladbrook has reviewed the detailed descriptions of all the multivitamins currently available in New Zealand and compared them against the vitamin supplementation recommendations by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. ...
read moreWeight Loss Surgery Conference
This October, Invercargill will be hosting the 5th Weight Loss Surgery NZ Trust National Conference. The conference runs from October 31st to November 2nd and will be held at the Kelvin Hotel. Highlights will include patient testimonies, a clothing swap, discussions on weight maintenance and re-gain, and looking at postoperative effects on relationships. To find out more visit www.weightlosssurgery.org.nz or download a flyer....
read moreAgreed prices for bariatric surgery in Dunedin and Invercargill
I am pleased to announce that ABLE Ltd now has agreed pricing contracts in place for Mercy Hospital in Dunedin and Southern Cross Hospital in Invercargill. These contracts mean that people are able to know in advance how much their surgery is going to cost and what is included. In general we have structured our costs to include follow-up for two years following surgery, with the surgeon and dietitian. Prices and inclusions vary slightly according to which operation you choose and where you choose to have the surgery. To find out more...
read moreUnimed insurance now partially covering weight loss surgery
I was very pleased to hear that Unimed health insurance has recently introduced partial coverage for bariatric surgery. Details vary according to individual policies and there are specific requirements that need to be met, but if you have Unimed insurance and are interested in bariatric surgery, then give them a call to see if you qualify. While insurance coverage for bariatric surgery in New Zealand still lags behind other countries such as Australia and the USA, this is an important step forward. Offering insurance coverage acknowledges...
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