The SADI-S procedure, or Single Anastomosis Duodenal-Ileal bypass with Sleeve Gastrectomy, is a weight loss surgery that combines restrictive and malabsorptive techniques to reduce food intake and nutrient absorption.

Patients can lose over 95% of their excess weight within two years post-surgery. It is one of the most effective bariatric procedures available.

Yes, over 90% of patients achieve complete remission of diabetes following the SADI-S procedure.

While generally safe, risks include surgical complications, nausea, vomiting, reflux, and small bowel obstruction.

No, SADI-S surgery is typically performed laparoscopically, resulting in a shorter hospital stay (usually one night) and faster recovery.

While the SADI-S surgery is generally safe, there are some risks to consider, including:

• Standard surgical risks (infection, bleeding, etc.)

• Nausea and vomiting

• Staple line leaks

• Reflux

• Small bowel obstruction

• Diarrhea

In Canada, there are public options and a few private avenues that are not aways well known to patients and referring doctors. Generally, the public system requires a referral from your primary care provider to a surgeon. There can be a wait to see the primary care provider, a wait to see the surgeon, and then often a long wait to have the surgery. Many Canadians struggle to gain access to surgery due to the long wait times and the lack of a primary care provider to start the process.

The Canada Health Act prohibits patients from paying for medically necessary care. Physicians that are part of a provincial healthcare insurance plan cannot charge patients for medically necessary care in that province. It is currently possible to have a surgeon from another province perform the surgery and pay the costs of the surgeon, anesthesia, nursing, and related procedure costs directly. It is, therefore, possible to travel to another province within Canada or to another country for private care. Another option is to find a surgeon that has opted out of the public system and can provide private care in your home province. This, of course, is the ideal private avenue as it precludes the need for patients to travel. At Vital, these are the scenarios we try to create for patients.

For most people it is about timely access to care. Many of our patients also appreciate a more premium service that caters to their health, personal priorities, and convenience. Some patients don’t like the hospital setting and prefer a higher level of privacy, discretion, and individual consideration. In the private context it is possible to deliver care with more attention to the patient experience pursuing excellence with each patient rather than trying to do as many surgeries as possible with limited resources.

Yes, we work with a few financing partners. Many patients simply do the math and see that the income they will lose from lost work while waiting for care in the public system exceeds the cost of the surgery itself. Others value their time and health enough to accept the cost of not waiting. Our financing options can make private surgery accessible to almost any budget. Patients can have the flexibility to pay over a short or long term and finance whatever portion of the surgery they wish.

Different provinces have different interpretations of the Canada Health Act. There are differences in terms of what each province deems “medically necessary” and differences in what types of surgery each provincial College permits in private surgical centres. This leads to a shifting landscape and it is always best to check with us to understand how the system works and what options you may have. We are here to help and will always try to direct you to your best option whether it be public or private. Vital is a 100% physician owned company and is duty bound to put patient interests first.

For BC patients:

Our surgeons work closely with the Cambie clinic to provide private general surgical services to BC residents in Vancouver. The major advantage to patients is that we come to them instead of making them travel.

For Alberta Patients:

You can meet with your surgeon at our clinic in Calgary. We can plan your surgery and deliver your follow up care close to home. We do not charge Alberta patients for consults or follow up appointments as these are publicly insured. We are currently offering private general surgery (hernias, endoscopy, gallbladder removals, and more) for Albertans in Vancouver with Dr. Sean Gregg. If there is sufficient interest, we will start offering private general surgery services in Alberta for Albertans in the second half of 2024. Don’t hesitate to contact us with questions about this program.

For patients elsewhere in Canada or the US we are able to offer services in Calgary, Vancouver, or Montreal depending on the surgery required and the preference of the patient.