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Here is information related to this category.
| Category | Q&A | Last Q&A published |
 Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery is a procedure designed to make the stomach smaller so the patient feels satisfied with less food. It is intended for people who are 100 pounds or more overweight (with a Body Mass Index of 40 or greater) and who have not had success with other weight loss therapies such as diet, exercise, medications, etc. A person with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 or greater and one or more co-morbid condition also may qualify for bariatric surgery. |
39 | Is there an online support system of call center if I can't make it to group? |
| 14 | What do you mean by a puree diet? | |
| 9 | What if my cravings don’t go away? | |
| 2 | What is a co-morbid condition? | |
Q&A
Here are the published Q&As of that category.
(249 reads)
If you are unable to attend a group meeting you can call the office or email questions at any time. You can schedule a phone consult with the dietitian during office hours. You will not have the same experience as meeting with other patients in person. You may benefit from listening to their ideas and questions as well. There is no sense of urgency for the group meetings and you can come when it is convenient for you to attend.
(529 reads)
Patients who undergo weight loss surgery sometimes complain of problems with their hair and fingernails during the first year or so after the operation. They are a few possible explanations related to the stress state after the operation as well as possible nutritional deficiencies.
Immediately after a gastric bypass, you may lose as much as a pound or two of weight each day. When the body is losing weight this quickly, it sometimes goes into a stress state in order to conserve resources. The result of this is that hair and fingernail growth might not be the same as it was before the operation. Typically this is stress-state after the operation is temporary and once your weight once again stabilizes then your hair and nail growth will return to its pre-surgery level.
One nutritional deficiency that can cause problems with fingernails is iron deficiency. Signs of iron deficiency include brittle nails, constipation, depression, headaches, fatigue and mouth lesions. Some patients can develop severe anemia, even with supplements and can be treated with parenteral iron therapy. This may occur more often in menstruating women. It is very important that you take your vitamins after you have your operation and continue to drink protein supplements between meals.
Another possibility to explain problems with fingernails and hair growth is Biotin deficiency. Biotin deficiency may cause problems with hair and nails and therefore cause them to become brittle and weak. There are no known common side effects for biotin supplementation. An adequate amount should be somewhere between 30 and 100 micrograms. To improve hair and nails, an effective dosage would be 1000 to 3000 micrograms per day. Any concerns should be discussed with both your doctor and dietitian so that you receive appropriate recommendations.
Immediately after a gastric bypass, you may lose as much as a pound or two of weight each day. When the body is losing weight this quickly, it sometimes goes into a stress state in order to conserve resources. The result of this is that hair and fingernail growth might not be the same as it was before the operation. Typically this is stress-state after the operation is temporary and once your weight once again stabilizes then your hair and nail growth will return to its pre-surgery level.
One nutritional deficiency that can cause problems with fingernails is iron deficiency. Signs of iron deficiency include brittle nails, constipation, depression, headaches, fatigue and mouth lesions. Some patients can develop severe anemia, even with supplements and can be treated with parenteral iron therapy. This may occur more often in menstruating women. It is very important that you take your vitamins after you have your operation and continue to drink protein supplements between meals.
Another possibility to explain problems with fingernails and hair growth is Biotin deficiency. Biotin deficiency may cause problems with hair and nails and therefore cause them to become brittle and weak. There are no known common side effects for biotin supplementation. An adequate amount should be somewhere between 30 and 100 micrograms. To improve hair and nails, an effective dosage would be 1000 to 3000 micrograms per day. Any concerns should be discussed with both your doctor and dietitian so that you receive appropriate recommendations.
(229 reads)
The group meetings that you attended prior to surgery are available to all patients post surgery. We encourage you to remain part of the bariatric patient community. It is a good idea to come and ask questions and network with other patients. As you lose weight and gain confidence and enthusiasm it is important to remember that the surgery is not a cure for obesity. Attending group meeting will remind you that weight gain is a possibility and weight maintenance is hard work. If you have specific food related questions and already a patient of Dr. Belsley that please feel free to reach out to our team.
(155 reads)
A majority of patients will regain some weight after a bariatric surgical procedure. The amount regained ranges between a few pounds and all of the weight lost during the operation. The amount of weight regained after the operation is dependent on many factors and this is one of the reasons why so much stress and attention is made to the importance of a healthy lifestyle during the pre-op and post-surgical period.
For laparoscopic gastric bypass, long term weight loss after gastric bypass is suggested to be approximately 60-70% of your excess body weight at 2 years, and 45-50% of your excess body weight at 5 to 10 years after the operation. These numbers do not mean that you will regain weight after the operation however underscore the fact that for some reason, weight-loss after gastric bypass only occurs for approximately a 18 months. After 18 months weight-loss is due to healthy life style choices and exercise.
Weight regain may occur when patients eat high-calorie soft foods that easily pass through the opening in the stomach into the intestines. Others gain weight because they do not change their eating habits and do not lose much weight to begin with. Successful results depend on the patient’s willingness to adopt a long-term plan of healthy eating and regular physical activity.
These statistics are generalizations and averages. Some patients have more success than others
For laparoscopic gastric bypass, long term weight loss after gastric bypass is suggested to be approximately 60-70% of your excess body weight at 2 years, and 45-50% of your excess body weight at 5 to 10 years after the operation. These numbers do not mean that you will regain weight after the operation however underscore the fact that for some reason, weight-loss after gastric bypass only occurs for approximately a 18 months. After 18 months weight-loss is due to healthy life style choices and exercise.
Weight regain may occur when patients eat high-calorie soft foods that easily pass through the opening in the stomach into the intestines. Others gain weight because they do not change their eating habits and do not lose much weight to begin with. Successful results depend on the patient’s willingness to adopt a long-term plan of healthy eating and regular physical activity.
These statistics are generalizations and averages. Some patients have more success than others
(519 reads)
Bariatric surgery is like other major abdominal surgery. You can best prepare by knowing the benefits and risks of surgery, and by closely following your doctor's instructions.
– Understand the surgical process and what to expect afterward.
– Keep in mind that you’ll never be able to eat the way you did before, and that you’ll have to watch what and how you eat for the rest of your life.
– Talk to people who have had bariatric surgery.
– Write down your reasons for having bariatric surgery and outline your plans to maintain your weight loss after surgery.
– Practice the post-op diet, including the transition from an all-liquid diet, to pureed food, to a normal diet of smaller portions with 4 ounces of protein.
– Start a journal. Record how you feel now, the challenges you face, and the things you hope to be able to do after bariatric surgery.
– Ask your family and friends for their support. Talk to them about why you want to have bariatric surgery. It helps to have people behind you, waiting to help.
– Understand the surgical process and what to expect afterward.
– Keep in mind that you’ll never be able to eat the way you did before, and that you’ll have to watch what and how you eat for the rest of your life.
– Talk to people who have had bariatric surgery.
– Write down your reasons for having bariatric surgery and outline your plans to maintain your weight loss after surgery.
– Practice the post-op diet, including the transition from an all-liquid diet, to pureed food, to a normal diet of smaller portions with 4 ounces of protein.
– Start a journal. Record how you feel now, the challenges you face, and the things you hope to be able to do after bariatric surgery.
– Ask your family and friends for their support. Talk to them about why you want to have bariatric surgery. It helps to have people behind you, waiting to help.
(498 reads)
Studies show that bariatric surgery can effectively improve and resolve many weight-related health conditions. A review of more that 22,000 bariatric surgery patients showed: Improvement in or complete resolution of conditions including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea and 61.2% reduction of excess weight.
(395 reads)
There are multiple side effects that can occur after laparoscopic gastric bypass or laparoscopic banding.
Side effects include:
– Vomiting
– Dumping syndrome
– Nutritional deficiencies
– Gallstones
– Need to avoid pregnancy temporarily
– Nausea, vomiting, bloating, diarrhea, excessive sweating, increased gas, and dizziness
Side effects include:
– Vomiting
– Dumping syndrome
– Nutritional deficiencies
– Gallstones
– Need to avoid pregnancy temporarily
– Nausea, vomiting, bloating, diarrhea, excessive sweating, increased gas, and dizziness
(422 reads)
As with any surgery, there are immediate and long-term complications and risks. Possible risks can include, but are not limited to:
– Bleeding
– Complications due to anesthesia and medications
– Deep vein thrombosis
– Dehiscence (separation of areas that are stitched or stapled together)
– Infections
– Leaks from staple lines
– Marginal ulcers
– Pulmonary problems
– Spleen injury
– Stenosis (narrowing of a passage, such as a valve)
– Death
– Bleeding
– Complications due to anesthesia and medications
– Deep vein thrombosis
– Dehiscence (separation of areas that are stitched or stapled together)
– Infections
– Leaks from staple lines
– Marginal ulcers
– Pulmonary problems
– Spleen injury
– Stenosis (narrowing of a passage, such as a valve)
– Death
(420 reads)
Because every insurance policy is unique, it's important that you thoroughly understand your Certificate of Coverage to know exactly what is and isn't covered through your plan.
The qualification process includes a series of tests with your bariatric surgeon. You also will meet with a nutritionist, psychologist, and other support staff members in sessions leading up to surgery. Each healthcare professional will help you prepare for the changes and challenges that lie ahead.
The qualification process includes a series of tests with your bariatric surgeon. You also will meet with a nutritionist, psychologist, and other support staff members in sessions leading up to surgery. Each healthcare professional will help you prepare for the changes and challenges that lie ahead.
(411 reads)
BPD/DS is a combination restrictive and malabsorptive procedure that reduces the size of the stomach by 70%. The pouch is still a bit larger than with other procedures that use restriction. By connecting the pouch to the lower part of the small intestine, absorption of calories and nutrients is greatly reduced.
(389 reads)
Roux-en-Y (pronounced ROO-en-why) gastric bypass surgery is the most popular bariatric surgery in the United States. In this procedure, the surgeon creates a small stomach pouch and then constructs a “bypass” of some of the small intestine. The smaller stomach pouch restricts the amount of food the patient can comfortably eat, and the bypass decreases the number of nutrients and calories absorbed.
(395 reads)
Talk with your surgeon about the different surgical treatments, as well as the benefits and risks.
Remember:
1. Bariatric surgery is not cosmetic surgery.
2. Bariatric surgery does not involve the removal of adipose tissue (fat) by suction or surgical removal.
3. The patient must commit to long-term lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise, which are key to the success of bariatric surgery.
4. Problems after surgery are rare, but corrective procedures may be required.
Remember:
1. Bariatric surgery is not cosmetic surgery.
2. Bariatric surgery does not involve the removal of adipose tissue (fat) by suction or surgical removal.
3. The patient must commit to long-term lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise, which are key to the success of bariatric surgery.
4. Problems after surgery are rare, but corrective procedures may be required.
(386 reads)
Patients should have:
– 100 pounds or more of excess weight; or a BMI of 40 or greater
– A BMI of 35 or greater with one or more co-morbid condition
Other common guidelines include:
– Understanding the risks of bariatric surgery
– Committing to dietary and other lifestyle changes as recommended by the surgeon
– Having a history of weight loss treatments having failed the patient
– Undergoing a complete examination including medical tests
– 100 pounds or more of excess weight; or a BMI of 40 or greater
– A BMI of 35 or greater with one or more co-morbid condition
Other common guidelines include:
– Understanding the risks of bariatric surgery
– Committing to dietary and other lifestyle changes as recommended by the surgeon
– Having a history of weight loss treatments having failed the patient
– Undergoing a complete examination including medical tests
(404 reads)
BMI is a measure used to index a person’s height and weight. BMI allows healthcare professionals and patients to better understand health issues associated with a specific weight classification (classifications such as obesity and morbid obesity).
