Surgery provides a control mechanism that is with you where ever you go. While it is still important to make good decisions and exercise on a regular basis, surgery makes these goals realistic for our patients in New York. After bariatric surgery you must change your eating habits. If not, you'll experience unpleasant side effects. On average, patients lose between 50 to 80% of their excess weight and keep the majority off for an extended period.

This really depends on the type of weight loss surgery you have and the type of job you do. For lap band surgery the procedures are usually done laparoscopically and don't require stapling or rearranging of your stomach anatomy, thus your hospitalization is usually less than 24 hours. And your recovery can be as little as a few days. For gastric bypass surgery, most patients can proceed with a regular activities after 6 weeks.

You will arrive at the hospital the morning of the operation. The nursing team, anesthesia team, OR team, and surgery team will all visit you in the pre-operative room and make sure that all of your questions and concerns are answered. Preparation before surgery includes changing into a hospital gown, placing an IV and giving preoperative medications as necessary. It usually takes about one half hour from the time you leave the pre-operative room to the time we start the operation.

Candidates for surgery are usually at least 100 pounds over their ideal body weight. Another measure of obesity is the body mass index (BMI) The body mass index is your height in kilograms divided by the square of your height in meters. There are several web sites that have body mass calculators. Generally a body mass of 40 or higher qualifies for surgery, or over 35 with certain health problems called co-morbidities.

There are several different kinds of surgical procedures to help people who are significantly overweight. By reducing the size of the stomach, these procedures restrict the amount of food you can consume. Long-term success depends in large part on permanently following a restricted diet and making major lifestyle changes.

The lap band procedure is reversible and does not modify your internal anatomy. Stomach stapling is designed to be permanent, but in general gastric bypass procedures are reversible. But ask your doctor about your specific procedure.

Most patients lose weight rapidly for 18 to 24 months after surgery. Some patients may then regain some of their lost weight, although few will regain it all. Surgery also improves most obesity related health problems, such as diabetes.

A3. Patients undergo a thorough screening process at the Weight loss institute of Arizona to identify whether they are appropriate candidates for surgery. Surgical candidates need to be at least 100 pounds overweight. A more accurate measurement is the Body Mass Index or BMI. Surgical candidates need to have a BMI above 30 or a BMI above 30 with other obesity-related conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

You will want to obtain a copy of your current insurance policy to determine if these procedures are covered. Insurance details can be difficult to navigate, and our insurance specialists will gladly assist you in determining if these procedures are a covered benefit in your plan.

Weight loss surgery is considered successful when 50% of excess weight is lost and the loss is sustained up to five years. For example, a patient who is 100 pounds overweight should lose at least 50 pounds; a patient who is 200 pounds overweight should lose at least 100 pounds. And they should be able to maintain loss successfully for the following five years. Ninety-five percent of patients reach that goal after gastric bypass surgery.

If you're lucky, the weight loss institution you choose will handle insurance matters for you. In any event, you might be surprised to learn that many insurance companies will cover the treatment of health problems caused by obesity but not obesity itself. So it is a good idea to have a basic understanding of what your insurance will cover prior to setting up a meeting with a bariatric surgeon.

Your personal surgical history and the technique to be used are discussed at your surgical consultation.

Weight-loss surgery alters the body's digestive process by limiting the amount of food the stomach can hold and/or by limiting the absorption of nutrients. The most common procedures are restrictive, malabsorptive or a combination of both procedures. Restrictive procedures reduce the amount of food the stomach can hold, but don't interfere with the body's normal digestion of food and nutrients.

The most common operations are adjustable open Gastric Bypass and Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass. With both procedures, the size of the area in stomach where food collects is reduced and a portion of the small intestine is bypassed limiting absorbtion. During (Roux-en-Y) Gastric Bypass, a surgeon creates a small pouch at the top of the stomach using staples. The small intestine is then rearranged and connected directly to the pouch, creating a bypass of the small intestine.

It is very important that you do not get pregnant for at least 12 to 18 months after any type of weight loss procedure. You must use a reliable method of birth control throughout this time period. Once your weight has stabilized and the appropriate months have passed, you can become pregnant. It is important, however, to be monitored closely by an obstetrician and nutrition expert familiar with your weight loss surgery.

The short answer is no. Surgery is not a solution for everyone. We only determine whether a patient is right for surgery after a complete evaluation and discussion with the patient. Because weight loss surgery is a life-altering procedure, we want to make sure our patients are committed to making the lifestyle changes needed for a successful procedure.

All major surgery comes with risks, and the risks are different for each patient. At the University of Chicago Hospitals, our surgeons have better outcomes than most medical centers. Our lifetime mortality rate is only 0.001 percent. During your first appointment, your surgeon will explain your individual risk level.

Women should avoid pregnancy for at least 18 months after surgery. Please discuss any pregnancy plans with your surgeon during one of your clinic appointments.

Regular exercise is extremely important for maintaining your weight loss. Your bariatric surgery team will help you with the types of exercise you should be doing, and how soon after surgery you should start doing them.

The physician’s education, knowledge and reputation, including specialized training in bariatric surgery and experience in performing surgical weight loss procedures.

Patients do not lose pounds and inches at the same pace from week to week. Weight loss is greatest in the first three months after surgery. A person usually loses at least 20 percent of his/her excess body weight within the first two months, and 50-100 percent at one year, depending on how well they adhere to the program. As you begin to near your weight loss goal, weight loss will slow to approximately one to three pounds per week. Remember that men generally lose weight faster than women.

New Bariatric program appointments with the nurse practitioner are made once we receive your personal history form. An evaluation appointment with the surgeon is usually booked 4-6 weeks after we receive a clearance letter from your clinical nutritionist or bariatric physician. Once a patient is seen by the surgeon and the surgeon and patient agree surgery is appropriate, the operation can usually be scheduled within 8 weeks.