Obesity Surgery, Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery Voorhees
An Introduction to Bariatric Surgery
Obesity has risen to epidemic levels in America. Millions of people have sought options, from diets to obesity surgery, to help them lose weight and reduce their risk of suffering from the chronic health conditions associated with obesity. Those who are morbidly obese arethe best candidates for more drastic surgical weight loss procedures. Echelon Bariatric in Voorhees offers many types of laparoscopic bariatric surgery, including restrictive weight loss surgeries such as LAP-BAND® or REALIZE™ and malabsorptive weight loss surgery procedures such as gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy. Each of these surgeries provide the primary benefit of promoting drastic weight loss, whether this occurs through reducing the size of the stomach, reducing the amount of calories you can absorb, or a combination of the two. Dr. Yves Manigat will work with you to identify which type of obesity surgery is appropriate for you while his staff will advise you on how to maintain your weight loss results after surgery. To schedule a consultation, contact Dr. Manigat at Echelon Bariatric.
Health Risks Associated with Morbid Obesity
Health professionals measure a person’s body fat by calculating his or her body mass index (BMI). The higher this number, typically the more body fat they have. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines a healthy BMI as between 18.5 and 24.9. An adult with a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese, while those with a BMI of 40 or higher are considered severely, or morbidly, obese.
Obesity is associated with an increased risk of the following serious health problems:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Type 2 diabetes (diabetes mellitus)
- Endometrial, breast, and colorectal cancers
- High blood pressure
- Respiratory problems such as asthma and sleep apnea
- Gynecological problems including infertility and polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Mental health issues such as depression
- Back and joint conditions such as osteoarthritis
Benefits of Bariatric Surgery
The primary benefit of bariatric surgery is that it promotes weight loss. Obesity surgery gives patients a realistic chance to reach their target weight. As pounds are dropped to reveal a healthier frame, your risk for chronic conditions also decreases. According to the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, many chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and polycystic ovarian syndrome, are resolved in more than 50 percent of patients.
To minimize scarring and recovery time, Dr. Manigat performs laparoscopic bariatric surgery, a technique on which he has lectured extensively. During laparoscopic bariatric surgery, small incisions are made to accommodate a miniature video camera that aids Dr. Manigat in monitoring his work. The entire procedure is performed with special surgical equipment while images are projected in real time on a television screen. Since less skin and tissue have to be cut into compared to open bariatric surgery—in which one single large incision is made—recovery time is much shorter and scar tissue is less extensive.
Is Bariatric Surgery Right for You?
For morbidly obese patients, bariatric surgery can be a life-saving procedure, providing many with a second chance at a healthy life. Many people who lose weight through traditional weight loss methods regain the weight that they worked so hard to lose, not only because they were unable to permanently change their lifestyle and eating habits, but also because the stomach itself failed to shrink, allowing them to continue the bad eating habits that made them gain weight to begin with. The different types of obesity surgery, including gastrectomy and gastric banding surgery, work to solve this problem by either rerouting a portion of the stomach and intestines or reducing the size of the compartment of the stomach that receives food.
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with obesity surgery. Bariatric surgery is performed on obese adults with one of the following conditions:
- A BMI of 40 and above, or 35 or above accompanied by serious obesity-related health problems
- Obesity-related health problems such as Type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure
Obesity surgery can only provide you the tool for weight loss; it is up to you to use it to reach and maintain a healthy weight. Though most procedures are performed only on adults, in very rare instances, the procedure is performed on obese teenaged patients. It is thought that teenagers and children have not yet made every effort to lose the weight on their own and are therefore not good candidates for obesity surgery.
Life after Surgery
As with any surgical procedure, it is imperative that you have realistic expectations of your outcome and adopt life-changing habits in order to reduce the risk of complications and keep the weight off for life. Good habits that will help you lose weight and maintain your weight loss include exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet with appropriate portions, redefining your relationship with food, and creating a strong support system—family, friends, other patients, and health professionals—to give you the emotional support you need to achieve and maintain your weight loss goals.
Your stomach will be drastically smaller after obesity surgery—typically only able to hold one ounce of food—so you will find that you will only be able to eat smaller portions of food. After your procedure, you will be required to eat only low sugar, clear fluids such as broth, juice, milk, and cooked cereal for a few days. After a three to four week period of eating pureed foods, you will begin to eat soft foods including cooked vegetables, ground or diced meats, or canned fruit for eight weeks. Finally, you’ll be able to eat regular foods under the guidance of your nutritionist.
Since you are eating smaller portions than your body was used to before the surgery, your body will naturally go into starvation mode, burning up anything, muscle or fat, in order to function. Regular, sweat-inducing exercise can prevent this by ramping up your metabolism to help the body burn fat instead of muscle. Building muscle also helps burn calories and increases energy and self-confidence.
Diet Following Bariatric Surgery
Post-op:- Sips of water or ice cube
- Clear liquids.
- Clear broth or soup (with no vegetables or meat and not creamy)
- Skim milk
- Fruit juice
- No-sugar-added popsicles
- Full Liquid
- Baby food will help the transition to more solid foods later
- Soft/Puree diet
- Pureed skinless chicken or fish
- Mashed potatoes
- Peas
- Low fat yogurt or pudding
- Regular Diet
- Tender cooked foods like fish and ground turkey
The Lap-Band was designated to restrict solids, not liquids. Eat only three small meals a day and make sure that these meals contain adequate nutrients. Your stomach can only hold about ¼ cup of food or 2 oz. at a time.
Ten rules for eating, drinking and exercise for the best results with the Lap-Band:
- Eat only three small meals a day
- Eat slowly and chew thoroughly
- Stop eating as soon as you feel full
- Do not drink while you are eating
- Do not eat between meals
- Eat only good quality foods
- Avoid fibrous food
- Drink enough fluids during the day
- Drink only low-calorie liquids
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day
As time progresses, you will work with a nutritionist to create a balanced and nutritious meal plan that will help you continue to lose weight with healthy, filling foods. Over time, your stomach will stretch a bit to accommodate more food. By adopting healthy habits directly after surgery, you may be able to keep the weight off for life.
Contact Dr. Yves Manigat
If you are a good candidate for obesity surgery, Dr. Manigat and his bariatric team will work with you to select a procedure to fit your needs and weight loss goals. For patients in the Voorhees, Cherry Hill, and South Jersey areas, contact us for a consultation to determine whether obesity surgery is a suitable option for you.