Benjamin Wheeler
Ormiston Hospital Specialist Centre & Consulting Suites, 125 Ormiston Road, Flatbush, Auckland
(09) 271 3305
[email protected]
Qualifications
MB ChB 2007 Auckland; FRACS (GS) 2015
Profile
I am a dedicated laparoscopic Bariatric Surgeon having completed my surgical training in New Zealand. I underwent further specialist training at the Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital with Dr George Hopkins, a high-volume bariatric surgeon with a subspecialty interest in revisional bariatric surgery, as well as working alongside Dr David Schroeder at Weight Loss Surgery Hamilton.
I am a member of the Australia and New Zealand Metabolic Surgery Society (ANZMOSS) and I sit on the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Indigenous Health Committee and Māori Health Advisory Group. I am also part of the New Zealand Medical Assistance Team that deploys to the Asia-Pacific region for medical disaster relief.
I perform both the one anastomosis gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy, as well as Roux-en-Y gastric bypasses in both the primary and revisional setting.
Morbidly obese patients are usually identified by their Body Mass Index (BMI) measurement, although other factors may also be taken into account. Morbid obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing illnesses such as: heart attack, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, sleep disorders and joint pain. Bariatric surgery can cure or greatly improve these illnesses as well as give the patient an improved quality of life.
Procedures fall into three main types:
Malabsorptive - these procedures involve bypassing a section of the small intestine thus reducing the amount of food absorbed into the body.
Restrictive - these procedures involve reducing the size of the stomach, usually by creating a small pouch at the top of the stomach which limits the amount of food that can be eaten.
Malabsorptive/Restrictive Combination - these procedures combine both techniques e.g. gastric bypass surgery in which a small stomach pouch is formed and its outlet connected to part of the small intestine.
Referral Expectations
Telehealth options are readily available.
An initial GP referral is not required but is necessary prior to the operation itself.
Charges
There is no fee for the first appointment.
If you want to proceed with surgery, the preoperative assessments cost $900; this includes 2 dietitian appointments, a psychologist and a second surgeon appointment.
The surgery itself costs approximately $24,000 - $26,000, made up of a hospital fee, anaesthetist fee, surgeon fee and a 5 year postoperative follow-up package including regular appointments with your dietitian and psychologist, as well as Dr Wheeler.
Title or Designation
Bariatric Surgeon
Gender
Male / Tāne
Full NZ Registration Date
18 December 2007
Vocational Scope
General Surgery