Advanced Gastric Bypass Surgery in Adelaide with Dr Michael France
Laparoscopic gastric bypass is a powerful weight loss surgery combining food restriction with a modest degree of malabsorption to promote effective, long-term weight loss. The procedure involves creating a small stomach pouch from the upper section of the stomach, which is then directly connected to the small intestine. This configuration reduces the amount of food a patient can consume, while also influencing gut hormones that regulate hunger, helping patients control their appetite as they lose weight.
At his Adelaide practice, Dr Michael France — a highly experienced bariatric surgeon — offers two main types of gastric bypass:
- Single Anastomosis Gastric Bypass
- Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, which is often recommended for individuals experiencing severe reflux or heartburn.
Gastric bypass can be particularly beneficial for patients with previous gastric surgeries, such as those who have had a gastric band or fundoplication for reflux management. It’s also a proven option for many people with type 2 diabetes, as bypassing the upper small intestine alters gut hormones that help regulate blood sugar. In fact, about 80% of diabetic patients not on insulin leave hospital after surgery without needing diabetic medications.
Key Benefits of Gastric Bypass Surgery:
- Consistent, effective weight loss
- Average excess weight loss of 65–70% maintained up to 10 years post-surgery
- Minimally invasive laparoscopic approach
- Faster recovery with shorter hospital stays
- No implanted foreign devices
Although gastric bypass has been routinely performed laparoscopically in the United States since the early 1990s, it wasn’t widely available through keyhole surgery in Australia until the mid-2000s. Many Australian patients previously chose gastric banding instead, as the thought of open surgery — with larger incisions and longer recovery — was understandably daunting.
Performing laparoscopic gastric bypass is technically demanding and requires advanced skills that many general surgeons lack. When conducted by less experienced surgeons, complication rates can be higher compared to simpler procedures like gastric banding. Dr France, however, brings extensive experience to each procedure: during his training, he assisted in more than 100 open gastric bypass surgeries with renowned Adelaide surgeon Mr Phillip Game, who completed over 400 gastric bypasses. Inspired by these outcomes, Dr France undertook a year-long fellowship in the USA, where he gained advanced training in laparoscopic gastric bypass, making him one of the first Australian surgeons formally qualified in this technique.
A Safer Approach for High-Risk Patients
For patients classified as super obese or those with serious obesity-related health conditions, Dr France may recommend a staged approach. The first step involves performing a sleeve gastrectomy to induce weight loss, lowering the risk of complications before proceeding to a second-stage gastric bypass. Clinical studies have shown this method reduces complication rates while still achieving effective weight loss for those who need it most.
Patients who previously had a gastric band removed — or who did not achieve significant weight loss with the band — may also be candidates for conversion to a laparoscopic gastric bypass. This conversion can sometimes be performed in stages, especially when the gastric band needs removal during the same surgery.
In most cases, Dr France advises patients to follow a pre-operative diet to prepare for surgery and reduce potential complications.