Are You Considering Weight Loss Surgery? Read This First

Are you considering weight loss surgery, it transforms—and saves—lives.

By changing the size of the stomach, this surgery has helped thousands of Americans. These Americans have been unable to achieve their weight loss goals through diet and exercise. As a result, it dramatically reduces risks caused by diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. These diseases are common in those who are obese.

More than 200,000 bariatric (weight loss) procedures are done every year, according to the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. But despite its popularity, less than 2 percent of those who qualified had bariatric surgery.

This means that many who could benefit from the procedure aren’t getting it—are you one of them?

We’re sure you have a lot of questions about the surgery. It’s a major decision, and it’s vital that you have the information you need. We’ve compiled a brief list of some important aspects before considering getting weight loss surgery. This includes the different types of surgery and criteria you must meet in order to qualify.

If you think weight loss surgery is the right choice for you, contact our CMC Weight Loss practice to find out the next steps today!

Is Weight Loss Surgery for Me?

This is an important decision that you shouldn’t take lightly. So, when asking yourself if weight loss surgery is the right choice for you, consider the following:

• You must meet certain criteria before you will qualify for the procedure. These criteria include:
  • Inability to lose weight despite diet and exercise.
  • Being 100 pounds or more above your body weight.
  • Having a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 40 or more or having a BMI of 35 and a serious health condition related to obesity, such as diabetes.
•  You’ll need to adhere to a strict eating plan both before and after weight loss surgery. This helps ensure your success.
• You will likely be required to start or continue an exercise program before your surgery.
• It is important to resume an exercise program—under a doctor’s supervision—after surgery when it is safe to do so.
• You should have a support plan in place after the surgery. This may mean participating in a surgical weight loss support group, meeting with your health care team, or having friends and family there to help you as you recover from the procedure.
• We encourage you to speak to our surgical weight loss health care team if you have any questions about whether or not you qualify.
• Realize that weight loss surgery isn’t an “easy fix.” The procedure transforms aspects of your everyday life and requires that you follow your doctor’s instructions carefully.

Are There Different Types of Weight Loss Surgery?

Yes, there are. The surgeries depend upon the technique that is used to reduce the size of the stomach.

We perform gastric bypass surgery and sleeve gastrectomy procedures.

Gastric Bypass Surgery

During gastric bypass surgery, a small stomach pouch—roughly one to two ounces in size—is created. This dramatically reduces the portions that your body can digest. We then attach part of the small intestine to the pouch. This  enables the food to bypass the lower stomach and parts of the small intestine.

Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

During this procedure, we remove the majority of the “curvature” of the stomach, creating a thin sleeve roughly the size of a banana. Like the gastric bypass, this dramatically changes the amount of food that your stomach can process, which will aid in weight loss.

We can perform the sleeve gastrectomy robotically through our da Vinci Surgical System robotic technology.

Which Type of Surgery is Right for Me?

There are several different factors that decide which procedure would be right for you. We evaluate each individual case to be sure you have the one that will bring the best benefit. Schedule an appointment with one of the members of our health care team to discover for which procedure you are the best candidate.

Conway Medical Center’s Services Combine Advanced Technology and Compassionate Care

If you’re considering weight loss surgery, we’ve combined all the services you need in one department. From the nutritionists that will help guide you after your procedure to the advanced medical team performing the surgery, we’re dedicated to providing you with the best in care.

Interested in learning more? You have to watch the online weight loss seminar and complete the form in order to start the process unless you are referred by your primary care physician.