Following bariatric surgery it is important to follow a special diet designed by a physician and/or nutrition professional. Protein plays an essential role in that diet as it is the primary food source following surgery. Inadequate amounts may contribute to hair loss, muscle loss, and poor skin tone. Whey protein isolate is an excellent protein choice post surgery as it is very easy to digest and efficiently absorbed into the body.

Bariatric surgery is the area of surgery that focuses on operations to reduce weight and treat obesity. The name comes from the Greek words baros, meaning weight, and iatrike, meaning treatment.

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.

Surgery is sometimes the best option for severely obese people who cannot lose weight by traditional means or who suffer from serious obesity-related health problems. The surgery promotes weight loss by restricting food intake and, in some operations, interrupting the digestive process. As in other treatments for obesity, the best results are achieved with healthy eating behaviors and regular physical activity.

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.

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.

We are proud to offer the most comprehensive weight loss surgery program in Akron, led by two surgeons, both fellowship trained in laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Combined, Dr. Zografakis and Dr. Dan have performed over 400 laparoscopic weight loss surgeries. In addition, we have dedicated staff to care for all of your needs, including a dedicated nurse case manager, a full time program dietitian and a financial counselor available to help you navigate your insurance company's requirements.

Surgeons use techniques that produce weight loss primarily by limiting how much the stomach can hold. These restrictive procedures often combined with bypass procedures that somewhat limit calorie and nutrient absorption and may lead to altered food choices. By decreasing food intake (restriction). Gastric banding, gastric bypass, and vertical-banded gastroplasty are operations that limit the amount of food the stomach can hold by closing off or removing parts of the stomach.

Bariatric surgery is considered successful when the patient loses 50% of their excess body weight and keeps it off for life. For example, if a patient who is 150 lbs. over ideal body weight loses 75 lbs. and keeps it off for life, then the surgery is considered a success. Successful outcomes occur in 85% of patients having a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

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.

The American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) recommends that you use the following guidelines in selecting a weight loss physician:

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.

Most patients lose  weight rapidldy for 18-24 months after sugery.  Some patients may then regain some of their weight, although few will regain it all.  Sugery also improves most obesity related health problems, such as diabetes.

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.