Bariatric Surgery, Sydney
Experienced and Patient-Centred Care
for Weight Loss Surgery
For some people, medical management of weight alone is not enough. When obesity is significantly affecting your health and quality of life, and other approaches have not achieved sufficient results, surgery can be a life-changing, evidence-based treatment option.
Noi Clinic has joined with The Sydney Institute of Obesity Surgery to offer the full suite of weight management options, coordinated under one roof. SIOS has over 20 years of experience treating patients whose health has been affected by obesity. Our surgeon, Dr Joel Budge, is an experienced bariatric and general surgeon who has been with SIOS for 10 years.
Having your surgery through SIOS/Noi Clinic means that you have access to an integrated multidisciplinary team, who are familiar with the full scope of potential management options for weight concerns.
In-clinic consultations at Crows Nest, Sydney. Regional consultations available in Bathurst and Cowra.
No referral required.
Is weight loss surgery right for you?
Surgery is not the right pathway for everyone, and at Noi Clinic, we believe the decision should always be made carefully, collaboratively, and with a full understanding of all your options. Surgery, however, is the strongest intervention we have, with average weight loss exceeding non-surgical options.
Weight loss surgery may be worth considering if:
You have a BMI of 40 or above, or a BMI of 35 or above with significant obesity-related health conditions.
You have been living with obesity for a significant period of time and have tried other approaches without achieving sufficient health outcomes.
Your weight is significantly affecting your health, mobility, or quality of life.
You have one or more obesity-related medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea, high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, fatty liver disease, or osteoarthritis, that are likely to improve with significant weight loss.
You are committed to long-term follow-up care, including nutrition and medical monitoring.
If you are unsure whether surgery is the right pathway for you, our team can help. Book in with our Doctor to help you understand your options before committing to anything.
Health conditions that weight loss surgery can improve.
Obesity is a complex medical condition, not a lifestyle choice, and its health consequences can be wide-ranging and serious. Significant, sustained weight loss following surgery has been shown to improve or resolve many obesity-related conditions, including:
Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance
Obstructive sleep apnoea
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Heart disease and cardiovascular risk
High cholesterol and metabolic syndrome
Fatty liver disease (MASLD/NAFLD)
Osteoarthritis and obesity-related joint pain
Asthma and respiratory conditions
Reflux and GORD
Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) - previously known as PCOS
Gout
Bariatric surgery is not simply about weight loss, it is about real, measurable health gains, such as lower blood pressure, better blood sugar control, improved sleep, and more physical freedom. For many patients, the greatest change isn't a number on the scales, it is improvement in health, function and quality of life.
Individual outcomes vary. The impact of surgery on specific health conditions will be discussed with you during your surgical consultation.
Meet your surgeon
BSc(Med) MBBS FRACS General and Bariatric Surgeon
Sydney Institute for Obesity Surgery (SIOS)
Dr Joel Budge
Dr Joel Budge is a highly experienced bariatric and general surgeon with a career dedicated to helping patients achieve meaningful, lasting improvements in their health through weight loss surgery.
Dr Budge graduated with Honours from the University of New South Wales in 2000. His surgical training and early career took place across Western Sydney and Western NSW, where he built broad general surgical experience before developing specialist expertise in bariatric surgery. He has been an integral part of the SIOS team since 2016, and brings over 10 years of combined bariatric and general surgical experience to every patient he treats.
He is well regarded for his compassionate, patient-centred approach — taking the time to properly understand each person's situation, health history, and goals before recommending any surgical pathway. He works closely with the broader Noi Clinic team — including our medical doctor, dietitian, and psychologists — to ensure surgical care is fully integrated with the medical and allied health support that gives every patient the best possible long-term outcome.
Dr Budge also consults in Bathurst and Cowra for patients outside Sydney.
Weight loss surgery procedures we offer
Every person and every body is different. The right surgical procedure for you depends on your health history, medical conditions, previous surgical history, lifestyle, and long-term goals. Dr Budge will discuss every option with you in detail and recommend the approach most likely to achieve the best outcome for your individual circumstances.
Gastric sleeve (sleeve gastrectomy)
The stomach is reduced to approximately 20% of its original size, forming a narrow sleeve. This significantly reduces appetite and food intake while preserving the normal digestive pathway. Gastric sleeve surgery is currently the most commonly performed bariatric procedure in Australia.
Gastric bypass
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
The stomach is divided to create a small pouch, which is then connected directly to the small intestine — bypassing the majority of the stomach and the first section of the small intestine. Gastric bypass achieves significant weight loss and has particularly strong outcomes for patients with type 2 diabetes and severe reflux.
One anastomosis ‘mini’ gastric bypass
A simpler variation of the standard gastric bypass, the mini bypass creates a longer gastric pouch connected to a single loop of the small intestine. It offers comparable weight loss results to the standard bypass with a shorter operating time.
Lap band surgery
If you have a gastric band, we perform adjustments (adding or removing fluid) to optimise performance. You can have your band adjusted at Noi Clinic regardless of where you had your original procedure.
We also perform band removals, either as a standalone procedure or as part of conversion to another form of bariatric surgery.
Revision & Conversion bariatric surgery
For patients who have previously undergone weight loss surgery — whether a lap band, sleeve, or bypass — and are experiencing inadequate weight loss, weight regain, or complications, we offer consideration of conversion to a different procedure.
Revision and conversion surgery is technically complex and requires a surgeon with specific expertise in this area. Dr Budge has extensive experience in revision bariatric surgery.
General Surgery Services.
for patients with chronic gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) not responding to medication
Reflux surgery (anti-reflux / fundoplication)
Hernia surgery
all hernia types, including inguinal, umbilical, incisional, and hiatus hernia
removal of the gallbladder for gallstones and gallbladder disease
Gallbladder surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy)
Endoscopy and colonoscopy
diagnostic and screening procedures for the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract
Your pathway to surgery at Noi Clinic.
Weight loss surgery is a significant, life-changing decision, and the pathway to it should be thorough, unhurried, and fully informed. At Noi Clinic, surgery is never recommended in isolation. It is considered part of a complete picture of your health, and supported by the full multidisciplinary team before, during, and after the procedure.
1. Initial enquiry
Book your appointment through our Clinical Nurse Specialist or friendly admin team. There is no obligation and no pressure. They will direct you to the clinician who is best placed to see you for an initial consultation.
2. Medical assessment
At Noi Clinic, we often recommend that your initial appointment to consider surgery is booked with our GP, Dr Rosemary Atkinson, especially if you are unsure of how to proceed. A comprehensive medical assessment with Dr Rosie Atkinson will take into account your full health picture, weight history, metabolic profile, and any relevant conditions. This ensures surgery is being considered within the context of all available options, not as the sole intervention.
3. Surgical consultation
with Dr Joel Budge
If you feel informed about surgery and are keen to move forward, we will book you with our surgeon. He will take you through a detailed surgical consultation to discuss your individual circumstances, the procedures available, expected outcomes, risks, recovery, and long-term requirements. Dr Budge will only recommend a procedure when he is confident it is the right choice for you, and will ensure you feel informed at every point.
4 . Pre-surgical
preparation
Pre-surgical preparation typically includes nutrition optimisation with our dietitian, a psychological assessment, and any additional medical investigations required. This stage is important — pre-surgical preparation directly affects surgical outcomes and recovery.
5. Surgery
Dr Joel Budge operates at East Sydney Private Hospital. Procedures are performed laparoscopically (keyhole surgery), minimising recovery time, surgical risk and scarring. Dr Budge will discuss the specific approach and expected recovery timeline with you at your surgical consultation.
6. Post-surgical support
Surgery is the beginning, not the end. Long-term success after bariatric surgery depends significantly on the quality of follow-up care, including nutrition monitoring, medical review, psychological support, and lifestyle guidance. At Noi Clinic, this support is built into your care from day one, coordinated across the whole team.
Why integrated surgical and medical care matters
Most bariatric surgery services operate independently of medical and allied health care — patients see a surgeon, have their procedure, and are left to navigate nutrition, behaviour change, and long-term maintenance largely on their own.
At Noi Clinic, surgical care is integrated with the whole team from the beginning. Your surgeon, doctor, dietitian and psychologist work from the same picture of your health — communicating and coordinating at every stage of your journey. This means:
We determine that surgery is truly the best option for you
Pre-surgical preparation is thorough and medically supervised
Nutritional deficiencies and risks are identified and managed from the start
Psychological readiness and post-surgical adjustment are supported by specialist clinical psychologists
Medical monitoring continues long after surgery, not just in the immediate recovery period
Weight regain, nutritional complications, and the need for revision surgery are identified and addressed early
This is the standard of care that significantly improves long-term outcomes, and it is what separates an integrated clinic from a surgical service operating in isolation.
What patients commonly experience after weight loss surgery
With appropriate surgical care, preparation and long-term support, patients commonly experience:
Significant and sustained weight loss
Improvement or resolution of obesity-related health conditions — including type 2 diabetes, sleep apnoea, high blood pressure and joint pain
Improved energy, mobility and physical function
Reduced cardiovascular and metabolic health risk
Improved quality of life and self-confidence
Long-term weight stability with appropriate follow-up support
Individual outcomes vary significantly depending on the procedure, pre-surgical health, post-surgical nutrition and lifestyle factors, and ongoing follow-up care. Expected outcomes for your specific circumstances will be discussed in detail during your surgical consultation.
The first step is a conversation — not a commitment. Book a free discovery call or a consultation with either Dr Rosemary Atkinson or Dr Joel Budge, and get a clear, honest picture of your options.
Ready to understand whether surgery is right for you?
No referral required to enquire. Medicare and private health insurance rebates apply to surgical procedures — our team will explain your entitlements at your consultation.
FAQs
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No, you do not need a referral to enquire or to book an initial appointment. Our team can assist you with the referral process if needed.
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There is a Medicare rebate for the surgical procedure, however private hospital admissions are not covered by Medicare.
As bariatric surgery is performed in the private hospital system, private health insurance is required to cover the costs. You must have held gold-level private health insurance for at least 12 months in order for your health fund to subsidise the cost of the admission to hospital.
Alternatively, you can self fund your surgical procedure.
Our team will give you further details, and provide a full fee estimate and explain your entitlements before any procedure is booked.
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Both procedures achieve significant weight loss, but they work differently. Gastric sleeve surgery removes a large portion of the stomach to reduce its capacity and appetite signalling. Gastric bypass creates a small stomach pouch and reroutes the digestive pathway, bypassing part of the small intestine. Bypass typically achieves slightly greater weight loss and has stronger outcomes for type 2 diabetes and reflux, but is a more complex procedure. Dr Budge will discuss which option is most appropriate for your individual circumstances at your surgical consultation.