Specialist-led bariatric surgery and medical weight management for patients across Melbourne’s North and West. A judgement-free, multidisciplinary approach designed for results that last.
Bulk-billed telehealth available for regional patients.
★★★★★
4.9 · Verified Google reviews
15 years’ experience · UK · NZ · AU
Specialist-led bariatric surgery and medical weight management for patients across Melbourne’s North and West. A judgement-free, multidisciplinary approach designed for results that last.
Bulk-billed telehealth available for regional patients.
Affiliations & credentials
“We treat obesity as a medical condition — never a moral failing.”
Weight is shaped by hormones, genetics, metabolism and decades of life. Trial-and-error rarely works for long — and shouldn’t have to.
OptiWeight exists to give you something different: a specialist-led plan that meets you where you are. Medical pathways. Surgical pathways. Bridges between them. And a clinical team that treats you as a person, not a body weight.
Founder & Director
Pathways
From gastric balloon to gastric bypass, with bridging support for patients coming off weight-loss injections. We match the treatment to you, not the other way around.
Dr Ashok Gunawardene has 15 years of clinical experience across the UK, New Zealand and Australia, with subspecialist training in upper GI and bariatric surgery, and a PhD in surgical research.
Specialist-led
Multidisciplinary
Bariatric dietitians and clinical psychologists are woven into your care plan from day one — because surgery is a tool, and lifestyle is the lever.
Personal phone and SMS access to Dr Ashok in the peri-operative period. No call-centres. No being passed around. Just your surgeon, on the other end of the line.
Direct access
Weight-loss injections work — but they’re designed to be taken indefinitely. The cost adds up. The side-effects don’t always settle. And weight regain after stopping is well documented in clinical studies. Bariatric surgery offers durable results — often beyond 10 years — and we can help you transition safely from medication to a long-term solution.
Every patient at OptiWeight begins with a comprehensive assessment. Together with Dr Ashok, you’ll choose the pathway that matches your health, your goals, and your lifestyle.
Most popular
The most performed bariatric procedure in Australia. A laparoscopic surgery that reduces stomach size by up to 90%, helping you feel fuller sooner and dramatically reducing hunger hormones.
Weight loss
Hospital stay
Recovery
From
Best for diabetes
Creates a small stomach pouch and reroutes part of the small intestine in a “Y” shape. Particularly effective for type 2 diabetes — remission in up to 80% of patients.
25–35% total loss · From $25,000
Shorter operation
A simplified bypass with a single connection. Shorter operating time, fewer potential complications, and similar long-term results to a traditional bypass.
60–80% excess loss · From $25,000
Non-surgical
A soft balloon placed in the stomach for up to 12 months to reduce capacity and appetite. Reversible. No incisions. Day procedure.
Day procedure · From $7,000
Bridging pathway
Specialist-monitored prescription medications for those not ready for surgery, or as a bridge from injections to a long-term surgical solution.
No surgery · Quoted at consult
Pricing is indicative and includes hospital, theatre, surgeon, anaesthetist and assistant fees. Final fees depend on your private health insurance and individual case. We provide an itemised quote at consultation.
FRACS
MBChB Hons
GESA
PhD
ANZMOSS
Dr Ashok Gunawardene is a registered specialist general surgeon with 15 years of clinical experience across the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia. His subspecialist training is in upper gastrointestinal and weight loss surgery, matched by a PhD in surgical research and a teaching role as an Examiner for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
But what sets Ashok apart isn’t only his credentials. It’s his unhurried, judgement-free consultations, his commitment to long-term follow-up, and the personal phone access he gives every patient through their peri-operative period.
“My approach is simple: I want every patient to feel safe, supported, and never rushed. Surgery is a tool — your long-term health is the goal.”
Bariatric surgery is more than a procedure — it’s a lifestyle reset. With our bariatric dietitians and clinical psychology partners, you’ll have specialist support woven into your care, before and after surgery.
Specialist Bariatric Surgeon
FRACS, MBChB(Hons), PhD. Fifteen years across the UK, NZ and Australia, with subspecialist upper-GI training.
FRACS
Bariatric Dietitian
Accredited Practising Dietitian with over 18 years’ experience. Member, Dietitians Australia. Individualised nutrition planning for pre- and post-operative bariatric patients.
APD
Bariatric Dietitian
Bachelor of Human Nutrition and Master of Dietetic Practice (La Trobe). Compassionate, non-judgemental support for sustainable, long-term behaviour change.
APD
Specialist Anaesthetist
Bariatric and upper-GI anaesthesia specialist with two decades of theatre experience across Melbourne’s major private hospitals.
FANZCA
Specialist Anaesthetist
Subspecialty interest in safe airway management and recovery for higher-BMI bariatric patients. Calm, methodical and meticulously prepared.
FANZCA
Specialist Anaesthetist
Focused on opioid-sparing, enhanced-recovery techniques for laparoscopic bariatric surgery — getting patients home sooner, comfortable and clear-headed.
FANZCA
A 60-second eligibility quiz tells us if surgery may be right for you.
Telehealth or in-person with Dr Ashok within 1–2 weeks. Bulk-billed for regional patients.
Investigations, dietitian and psychologist support, and a clear, itemised quote.
At Northern Private (Epping) or St Vincent’s Private (Werribee), using the latest minimally-invasive techniques.
Most patients return to light activity within a week, normal life within 2–4 weeks.
Reviews at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, then 6–12 monthly for life.
Northern Private Hospital, Epping
Northern Private Hospital — main consulting & surgery site
Wallan Medical & Specialist Centre
Sunbury Consulting Suite
Point Cook Consulting Suite
St Vincent’s Private Hospital — surgery site
Australia-wide, priority for regional Victoria
Transparent, itemised quotes covering hospital, theatre, surgeon, anaesthetist and assistant fees. We work with AccessMySuper for patients exploring early release of superannuation.
In-depth guides on injections, surgery readiness, recovery timelines, and the difference between sleeve and bypass — written by Dr Ashok.
60 seconds. No obligation. A clear answer on whether surgery is the right fit for you.
