Diet and exercise are key components for ensuring success following Bariatric surgery. Compliance with dietary changed, combined with the right exercise program, will help you lose weight in the post-surgical period, as well as maintain that weight loss over time. These principles, along with many others, are discussed at each Summa Bariatric support group meeting to help keep you on track.

Patients can expect to be out of bed by evening of the same day of the surgery, with a total hospitalization stay of about 3-4 days. The surgical recovery period averages between 3-5 weeks. Every person's weight loss experience is different. As a rule of thumb, the heavier the patient, the more weight they are likely to lose. Most patients can expect to lose two-thirds of their excess weight. Most of that weight loss will occur within the first 18 months.

Laparoscopic gastric bypass results in a shorter hospital stay, less pain, less scarring, and a quicker return to usual activities. Complications such as wound infections and wound hernias are nearly eliminated with the laparoscopic approach. The risk for serious complications (such as leak) is similar with both laparoscopic and open gastric bypass.

Gastric bypass surgery provides an effective tool to limit the amount of food eaten and to change how food calories are absorbed. It must be understood that the surgery is not magic: it works with you, not for you. By working consistantly to make appropriate food choices and behavioral changes, a successful, long-term health impact is possible.

The LAP-BAND® System is a silicone band that is placed around the stomach, creating a small upper stomach pouch that prevents a patient from eating excessively. It is only a restrictive device (not a malabsorptive one), and can be adjusted and/or removed, if necessary. The procedure to place the band is done laparoscopically on an outpatient basis, so our patients go home the same day as surgery in most cases.

ObesityCare.com's mission is to provide information about severe obesity and the treatment there of. Our service is informational only. To find a doctor who can do your gastric bypass surgery or lap band procedure, we recommend using ObesityDirectory.com. It is a nation wide directory (United States) and all of the bariatric surgeons listed are members of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

Patients should avoid aspirin or aspirin-containing medications and anti-inflammatory drugs; they can irritate the intestinal tract's inner lining and sometimes cause ulcers. For the same reason, alcohol and tobacco products should be avoided, as well.

Despite the billions of dollars spent yearly by consumers on weight loss programs and dietary supplements, no medical treatment has been demonstrated to sustain a long term weight loss in a significant number of men or women. In fact, the 1992 NIH consensus statement concerning obesity asserts that medical treatment is considered ineffective in 95% of patients.

You have failed repeated, medically-supervised attempts at losing weight and controlling your obesity You are 100 pounds over your ideal body weight and have a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than or equal to 40, or a BMI of 35 (approximately 80 pounds over ideal body weight) if you have a serious associated medical complication or other obesity-related disease(s) You have had a consultation with one of our Bariatric Surgeons and have been determined to be a surgical candidate.

Like every operation, there is a risk. Because you may already have health-related problems, there is an increased risk of complications. Your doctor should thoroughly screen you to make sure that there are no surprises on the operating table.

The surgery is not a cosmetic procedure, but rather, a course of last resort for people who are at least 100 pounds over their ideal weight and have a body mass index (BMI) of over 40. Patients with a slightly lower BMI may be considered for the procedure if they have other obesity-related problems such as Type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or sleep apnea.

is true with any operation, there are complications associated with gastric bypass surgery. One of the most serious is leakage where the stomach pouch meets the small intestine. With no treatment, approximately one in four gastric bypass patients will develop gallstones following surgery. That is why a bile thinning medication is prescribed after surgery. Some other complications include abdominal hernia, wound infection, and bowel obstruction.

Gastric bypass surgery is considered a permanent operation. However, it can be reversed for medical reasons only if you suffered from severe malnutrition which is extremely rare. None of your organs are removed from the body so theoretically the surgery can be reversed. Dr. Garber has never had to reverse any patient with this surgery.

During Roux-en-y, the surgeon reduces the size of the stomach to a small pouch, limiting the amount of food the patient can eat and digest. To find out if you are eligible for surgery, see your physician.

Sexually active women should use more than one method of contraception for at least 18 months post surgery. Due to malabsorption with gastric bypass, hormonal methods of contraception such as birth control pills or injections like depoProvera may be less effective. A barrier method such as condoms (male or female), diaphragms and spermacides should be used in conjunction with a hormonal contraceptive. Unplanned pregnancy during the first 18 months post surgery carries high risk.

After the stomach stapling surgery, most doctors recommend you exercise to help you lose the weight more quickly. Regular exercise can usually proceed after 6 weeks, but consult your doctor. If the lap band surgery is performed laparoscopically, patients typically spend less than 24 hours in the hospital. It takes most patients about a week to return to work and a month to six weeks to resume exercising. In the case of open surgery or if there are complications, recovery may take longer.

After your Gastric Bypass surgery, you will begin to awaken in the post-op recovery room, in what may seem like just an instant. Many patients will have little or no recollection of being there, a normal side effect of the medicine given to you during anesthesia. Ordinarily, your breathing tube is removed from your throat as you begin awakening - usually before you are aware of it being there. You will be started on pain medication by the nurses in recovery as soon as you need it.

Open Gastric Bypass is performed through a larger incision and abdominal wall retractors to create space to work. By reducing the size of the surgical incision and the trauma associated with the operative exposure, the surgical insult has been shown to be much less after laparoscopic surgery compared to open Gastric Bypass. A limitation of the laparoscopic approach is the steep learning curve of this technically challenging procedure for the surgeon.