Weight loss surgery

Many traditional weight loss methods don't work for everyone, and excess pounds can threaten your health. If you are obese or suffer from an obesity-related condition, you may need to explore other methods.

Bariatric surgery refers to procedures that help you lose weight by changing how the body digests food. Our surgical weight loss program specializes in a number of long-term weight loss techniques, including adjustable gastric banding, gastric bypass, and sleeve gastrectomy.

Redefine Clinical Weight Loss is our premier bariatric weight loss program. This comprehensive treatment program spans the entire treatment process, starting with presurgical counseling and preparation and continuing with postsurgical support and education.

Redefine Clinical Weight Loss offer you access to:

• A multidisciplinary team — Our team includes highly skilled bariatric weight loss surgeons, a dedicated weight loss coordinator and registered dietitians.
• A complete program of ongoing care — We offer support starting with the initial consult through follow-up care.

Surgical excellence — Our comprehensive bariatric center has been accredited by the American College of Surgeons as a Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP).

The weight loss procedures we perform can dramatically improve and control complications from health conditions, such as Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, blood pressure and sleep apnea. Other benefits of weight loss surgery can include:

• Decreased risk of heart disease
• Increased fertility during childbearing years
• Less joint pain
• Relief from depression due to improved body image 

An important determining factor for weight loss surgery is your body mass index (BMI). It's a numerical expression of the ratio of your weight to your height. This number will determine if you're overweight and, if so, by how much.

Your weight loss team will use your BMI and other factors to determine if you're a candidate for weight loss surgery and which option would best suit you.

You might be a candidate if:

• Your BMI is 40 or higher
• Your BMI is over 35, and you have one or more obesity-related conditions
• You are 100 pounds over your ideal weight

You can calculate your BMI using our helpful online tool.

Certain physical and emotional conditions can cause an elevated risk of complications. You will undergo a series of physical tests to determine if you are a candidate for surgery. Your team will also examine your medical history to see if any past procedures or issues will elevate your risk.

When you meet the medical criteria for morbid obesity, Medicare, HMOs and many private insurance companies may cover surgical weight loss. Your team will work with you and your provider to determine if the costs are covered.

If your insurance doesn't cover the treatment of morbid obesity, financing options are available. If you have questions regarding insurance coverage and benefits, ask your weight loss team. They will be happy to help you explore your options.

Our bariatric surgeons, nurses and staff focus on successful outcomes through methods that are right for you. Redefine Clinical Weight Loss provides options for weight loss surgery, including minimally invasive robotic techniques that may result in in a quicker recovery and shorter hospital stay.

Adjustable gastric band

An inflatable ring is placed around the top portion of your stomach, creating a tiny pouch that restricts food consumption. This restriction allows you to feel full faster.

Gastric bypass

Staples are used to permanently close off part of your stomach, which leaves only a stomach pouch for the food you eat. A Y-shaped piece from an upper portion of the small intestine is then attached to this stomach pouch. As a result, food from your stomach pouch bypasses the intestine's initial section, which generally would absorb calories and nutrients after eating.

Sleeve gastrectomy

A surgeon creates a small, sleeve-shaped stomach that is slightly larger than the pouch made during gastric bypass. This surgery is completed with a small incision and permanently reduces your stomach's size by about 85 percent.

Your weight loss team will prepare you for what to expect and what to bring for your procedure. Each surgery has its own unique set of operative and postoperative requirements.

Your physician will determine your length of stay. Also, depending on your procedure, you may experience some physical discomfort. Make plans for plenty of rest following your discharge from the hospital.

After your procedure, your physician and nursing team will consult with you on a wide variety of issues like pain management, diet and physical rehabilitation. Each procedure will have its own unique set of expectations, so be sure to ask your team questions to understand them fully.

Once your immediate recovery needs are addressed, your team will walk you through your dietary and exercise expectations to achieve your journey's goal. Undergoing bariatric surgery is a significant life-changing and emotional experience. But this event is also a new beginning. Comprehensive nutritional care and lifestyle changes after surgery are essential to your weight loss success. 

Regardless of the surgery performed, your physician, registered dietitian and care team will help construct a healthy, balanced nutrition plan to use after surgery and throughout your journey.

Before the surgery, our team will host a nutrition guidelines class where you learn more specifics about diet and lifestyle changes encouraged for weight loss success. Your surgeon and dietitian will also provide guidance after surgery to help you build sustainable, realistic eating habits.

After weight loss surgery, the road toward healing is not always easy. We provide comprehensive support groups to those who have undergone surgery, focused on assisting with life changes and adjustments.

Our team is committed to providing you with compassionate care while helping you achieve personal weight loss goals, providing education and support. We host monthly support groups on the first Tuesday each month from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.

We offer free seminars for those interested in learning about surgical weight loss procedures. These informative seminars are held at our hospital. They are hosted by one of our bariatric surgeons and usually last two hours.

During this time, the surgeon will discuss the different types of bariatric surgery, the rationale for surgery and the expected outcomes. After the lecture, you will have the opportunity to participate in a question-answer session.

If you are interested in weight loss surgery, you should bring friends and family to the seminar for support and to share in the experience.