Has anyone in Perth had WLS and was self funded ? I am not in a position to increase my Private Health Insurance however I have enough in my Super to fund WLS. Has anyone found a surgeon that is willing to do surgery on self funded person and also what was the cost associated - cheapest I have found is $20000.
Perth - Cheapest Surgeon for Weight Loss Surgery
ELH05 on 13/10/2022 - 17:37
Comments
Not sure if you should cheap out on surgery
Not sure if you should spend superannuation on anything other than living once you are retired.
I am sorry OP I am going to be that guy.
I know someone else who did this and I was absolutely disgusted.
The Super money should only be released under severe financial distress or the superannuant is terminal (let him have it).
By taking the money out you are putting your retirement at risk of taxpayers having to fund you because there's not enough. And for what? Weight loss, something so fundamentally simple as eating less and moving more.
Worse still, it won't stop there, one done and the weight drops off, you will want surgery to remove excess skin, another lot of money from super gone because some doctor says its required for your mental health.
If we are to allow early withdrawal of super for such frivolous reasons, then it must be taxed at as income for the drawer (less 15% already paid), furthermore, that missing $20k must be counted (and indexed) when determining the person's pension eligibility in the future.
Weight loss, something so fundamentally simple as eating less and moving more.
Please don't comment on things you know absolutely nothing about. You are not allowed to get surgery unless you have made multiple efforts which haven't been successful. It is incredibly invasive, and has lots of (permanent) side effects and it is definitely the last resort after every other option has been exhausted.
Also it would be cheaper for the taxpayer than Medicare funding the health issues associated with this condition. That's the reason super would be allowed to be released for this.
Stalker much 🤦♀️
Yeah I think weight loss, especially fat loss is pretty hard. While I advocate for softer methods, if it cannot be helped surgery might be the way. But I'll say most people that are obese live in an obesogenic environment. Their friends are fat, unhealthy choices are so easily accessible, it's so easy to vegetate, their habits are all they've known or they've never consulted a dietician.
I feel like surgery is one of those thing where you don't want the cheapest available options. Hi doctor nick!
OP there are some very effective new medication options these days, it might be a good idea to consider those first if you haven't.
Surgery should be the "you're going to die if we don't do it now" absolute last option.
Not sure of your situation but move to QLD temporarily if it meet your needs https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/10…
Just be careful and try to lose a certain amount and see if you can maintain it first. I have a friend who had the surgery and put the weight all back on as they did not adapt to a new lifestyle. Think it cost them like $17k a few years back in melb too.
Its worth considering some of the new medications on the market.
Ozempic (Semaglutide) is roughly $140 a month. I've had patients lose up to 30kg over the course of the year, without changing lifestyle/habits. Its a once a week injection, you just may need to find a pharmacy who are doing private imports because Australia currently has a shortage. (5 years Ozempic = 8.4k, alot less than the 20k for the surgery)
Wegovy - Will hit the market next year, stronger version of Ozempic. Stronger meaning higher dose, but with also faster and higher weight loss. Wegovy will likely be 300-400 a month unfortunately.
5 year success rates for WLS is pretty average. Ask around, you probably know a few people. Most end up putting significant weight back on, and going forward after surgery you now have distorted anatomy which can bring its own issues. Several patients end up having 2-3 goes at WLS (Band to Sleeve to Bypass)
Thank you for your comment, it means a lot when someone actually has some factual advice
Just a heads up, Ozempic is NOT approved by TGA for weight management, it's unlikely that your GP would prescribe you given the current shortage.
Consider Saxenda as an alternative (approved by TGA), and switch to Wegovy when it becomes available.
It looks like you can get referred to a gov service. Might be a better option if you’re eligible https://www.scgh.health.wa.gov.au/Our-Services/Service-direc…
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then become a Vegan?