Balancing Mental Health & Weight Loss | Managing Anxiety Post-Op

June 9, 2022
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Your mental health plays an important role in successful weight loss. As you begin evaluating your goals and developing a treatment plan, you’ll need to consider implementing behavioral and lifestyle changes. One change is considering your mental health and how it impacts your weight-loss journey. After you’ve learned about the mental side of weight loss, you can move forward on your journey and pursue a healthier mind and body.

Focusing on Behavioral & Lifestyle Changes

There is an increased focus today on products or services that promote weight loss. Some of these treatments are effective, but long-term results don’t come without lifestyle changes. For those who pursue bariatric surgery, much of the short-term progress will come from your procedure; however, it will be difficult to keep the weight off unless you implement healthy behaviors.

Long-term behaviors are the key to long-term weight loss. It may sound simple, but it takes dedication and discipline, not a quick solution. Fad diets and popular exercise programs may help you shed pounds initially, but it’s easy to regain the weight after they end. Successful weight loss hinges on permanent behavior changes like healthy eating habits, regular exercise, and improved mental health.

The Mental Side of Weight Loss

Mental health is often overlooked, but with the modern emphasis on prioritizing emotional wellness, everything is changing. New research reveals an important truth for weight loss: mental health is everything. Your mental health dictates whether you will make healthy food selections, stick to your exercise routine, and keep the weight off after you’ve lost it.

Even though mentality plays heavily into weight loss, it’s important to know which aspects of mental health you should prioritize. People looking to lose weight and maintain their mental health need to create healthy habits, prioritize sleep, and exercise positivity.

Creating Healthy Habits

Healthy habits are an important contributor to your mental health and weight loss. Creating these habits relies first on observing your current habits. Which ones are detrimental to your health? Many behaviors are likely impacting your weight, like binge eating, drinking in excess, and smoking. You need to eliminate these unhealthy habits and establish new ones like proper nutrition and exercise.

Prioritizing Quality Sleep

Sleep may not sound like a priority until you realize the effect that it has on your mental health. Adequate sleep lets your brain reset. A full night of sleep will decrease irritation, alleviate stress, and restore your drive. You’ll notice that sleep cures conditions like tiredness and irritability, which can make you stray from your goals.

Focus on Positivity

There is no one-size-fits-all method for promoting positivity. For some, promoting positivity may look like developing a gratitude journal, spending time with uplifting friends and family, or practicing meditation. Think about what keeps you positive and work to make it staple in your life.

Choosing Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric weight-loss programs don’t stop after your procedure; instead, they help your craft a healthy lifestyle. One vital piece of this lifestyle is making choices to improve your mental health. While working with our expert weight loss surgeon in East Cobb, Marietta, LaGrange, or Cobb County, you’ll receive the support you need to manage your emotions and use them to sustain your weight loss. Do you want to start your weight-loss journey? Contact us to learn why you should choose us.

Your Exercise Timeline After Bariatric Surgery

May 26, 2022
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So, you’ve just had bariatric surgery—congratulations! Your recovery begins now, and soon after, you’ll be able to start your exercise journey. What should your exercise timeline look like after weight-loss surgery? The answer will be slightly different for everyone, depending on factors like the type of surgery you received, your starting weight, and your healing process.

Your doctor and surgical team will help you design a physical activity routine that fits your needs and goals, and you should always speak with them before incorporating new exercises into your plan after surgery. Below, we have provided an example of what a typical post-bariatric exercise timeline may look like.

Days After Surgery

In the days after surgery, you’ll still be recovering, so it’s important to start slow and listen to your body. If you don’t have much experience with exercise, it’s important to learn the difference between pain and soreness, especially around the site of your laparoscopic incisions.

Your exercise routine should start just a few days after surgery. Begin talking short 5 to 10-minute walks every day, which will help increase blood flow, speed your recovery, and decrease your chances of blood clots. Aim to build up to 30-minute walks at least 5 days a week. If you find you’re unable to walk continuously for 30 minutes, you can break the time into shorter walks scattered throughout the day.

Avoid anything more strenuous than walking and light, low-impact exercise until 6 weeks after surgery. In addition, avoid lifting over 10 to 15 pounds in the first month after surgery.

Weeks After Surgery

After you’ve worked your way up to longer walks, usually around 6 weeks after surgery, you can begin incorporating other low-impact exercises to build up basic strength and flexibility. This could include things like unweighted leg and arm lifts or stretches. Refrain from doing abdominal exercises to avoid putting pressure on your incision site in the first 2 or so months after surgery.

Months After Surgery

A few months after your procedure, you’ll receive a go-ahead from your doctor to begin more moderate cardio exercises. If your BMI is over 35, you’ll want to ensure these exercises are easier on your joints—cycling and water exercises are great options. You’ll also eventually need to start adding strength training to your workout at least 2 days a week. Be especially careful when starting weightlifting for the first time, and stop immediately if you feel sharp pain or have difficulty breathing.

Exercise is an essential part of your weight-loss journey after bariatric surgery, but it’s important not to neglect the other elements that make up a healthy lifestyle. Nutritious food choices, portion control, proper hydration, and good sleep are all essential to sustainable, lasting weight-loss.

Wondering if bariatric surgery is right for you? Wellstar Bariatrics can help. Visit our website to find out if you qualify, or contact our office today to get started.

Causes of Obesity That May Surprise You

May 19, 2022
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People tend to think that the cause of obesity is simple: eating too much and not exercising enough. And while that is partially true, the reality is far more complex. There are a multitude of factors, from personal choices to socioeconomic status, that can contribute to your likelihood of being overweight or obese. A thorough understanding of which of these factors are affecting your weight will help you and your surgical team design an effective diet and exercise plan post-bariatric surgery.

Genetic Factors Contributing to Obesity

Your genes determine how much body fat you store and where you store it, as well as the speed of your metabolism and your body’s appetite regulation. In addition, a child born to overweight or obese parent has a higher change of struggling with their weight—this is due to the inherited genetic factors, as well as learned behavioral and eating habits.

Socioeconomic and Environmental Factors Contributing to Obesity

People who live in low-income areas may not have access to public gyms or may not be able to afford a membership. These areas tend to have fewer opportunities for outdoor exercise, like bike or walking trails. People in these communities also may not have access to affordable, healthy food, whether it’s due to a lack of options or lack of transportation—private or public. These areas, sometimes called food deserts, often contain a variety of fast-food stops that are affordable for the average income but unhealthy, leading to weight gain.

Health Factors Contributing to Obesity

There are some health conditions that can contribute to your likelihood of obesity. For example, an underactive thyroid can decrease metabolism speed, and Cushing’s syndrome, a rare disorder, causes excess production of cortisol, which can lead to fat accumulation. Joint problems, like arthritis, may prevent people from getting adequate exercise due to pain. Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal imbalance that can cause weight gain, and some mental health conditions, like depression, can cause people to overeat for emotional reasons.

In addition, some medications, like those used to treat mental illness, diabetes, and epilepsy, can raise the chances of developing obesity.

Personal Choices Contributing to Obesity

While all the above factors are out of your control, there are still plenty of ways that your personal exercise and eating habits can affect your weight. Obviously, a high-calorie, high-sugar, or high-fat diet, especially when paired with a sedentary lifestyle, can lead to obesity. Stress eating or bored eating can result in weight gain, as can neglecting the importance of sleep.

It’s clear that obesity is a complex disease. While partially true, simplifying the problem to “too many calories and not enough exercise” is reductive and ignores the various other elements that play into an individual’s likelihood of being overweight or obese. At Wellstar Comprehensive Bariatric Services, our bariatric surgery program takes all factors into consideration as we help patients from Marietta, Cobb County, East Cobb, West Georgia, and beyond navigate their weight-loss journeys. If you’re looking for a trusted weight loss surgeon in East Cobb, we’re here to support you every step of the way. If you’re ready to take control of your weight, we’re ready to help—contact Wellstar Comprehensive Bariatric Services today.

Eating After Gastric Bypass Surgery

April 29, 2022
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During the gastric bypass procedure, your stomach is divided into a small pouch, which will hold about 1 ounce of food. Then, the surgeon removes attaches your small intestine to that pouch. This allows your small intestine to digest the enzymes and acid produced by your stomach. It also reduces your body’s ability to absorb calories and nutrients, since it bypasses most of the small intestine; this makes it easier to lose weight.

After gastric bypass surgery, there are strict dietary guidelines patients need to follow in order to lose the weight, keep the weight off, and stay healthy in general. Along with exercise, proper hydration, and good sleep, diet is a vital part of your weight loss journey post-surgery.

Post-Surgery Diet

Since gastric bypass surgery makes your stomach smaller, you will need to change both your diet and eating habits. After your procedure, your health care provider will provide guidelines regarding the foods you can eat, along with the foods you should avoid. It’s recommended to stay on a strict liquid diet for the first 2-3 weeks after bariatric surgery, unless told otherwise by your surgeon. After 2-3 weeks then you can slowly add in solid foods.

Gastric bypass patients need to be aware of portion size—since your stomach is smaller, you will feel full a lot faster. Over time, your stomach will become slightly larger as your body adjusts, however, it’s important to not stretch your stomach out by overeating.

Gastric Bypass Diet

Your diet after gastric bypass surgery is designed to help you lose and maintain your weight over the course of your journey. Your surgical team will help you understand your meal plan, which will be designed with respect to your age, weight, and unique nutritional needs.

While your diet plan after gastric bypass surgery may look different than the next person’s, there are several tips that will help you find success:

Eat and drink slowly, and chew your foods thoroughly before swallowing

Avoid alcohol and caffeine

Drink at least 64 ounces of fluid every day

Slowly drink liquids between meals but not with meals

Avoid drinking any liquid 30 minutes before and after a meal

Eat lots of protein and lean foods whenever possible

Avoid high-fat and high-sugar food and drinks

Finding Weight-Loss Success with Gastric Bypass Surgery

For some people looking to lose weight, traditional diet and exercise don’t always work. If you’re struggling to lose weight, gastric bypass surgery in Cobb County may be an option. While diet and exercise are still a vital parts of weight loss after bariatric surgery, gastric bypass could be the helping hand you need to meet your weight-loss goals. Find out if you qualify here.

At Wellstar Comprehensive Bariatric Service, our expert weight loss surgeon in East Cobb is ready to help you take control of your life. We offer several different types of bariatric surgery, including duodenal switch, gastric sleeve, and LAP-band removal, and we will help you determine which is the right option for you. Along with East Cobb, we also provide these services in Marietta, Cobb County, West Georgia, and the surrounding areas.

Questions? Reach out to our team! We look forward to helping you get on the path to a healthier lifestyle.

Gastric Bypass Surgery vs. Gastric Sleeve

April 21, 2022
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Obesity has become a major issue in America, with an estimation of over 160 million overweight Americans. While many people try, or have tried, to lose weight, traditional methods of diet and exercise don’t always work for everyone. For those who reach the qualifications, bariatric surgery is a common option. Not only does bariatric surgery assist with weight loss, but it can also help resolve conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and more, leading to stark improvements in general health.

Two of the most common types of bariatric surgery are the gastric sleeve surgery and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. While both options can help you kickstart your weight-loss journey, one procedure may be the better choice for you.

Gastric Bypass Surgery vs. Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Both gastric bypass and gastric sleeve surgery reduce the size of your stomach into a small pouch, restricting the amount of food you can consume. Your production of the hunger hormone (ghrelin) is also reduced, helping you control your feelings of hunger.

During the gastric sleeve procedure, the surgeon will permanently remove 80% of your stomach, leaving behind a banana-shaped “sleeve.” Depending on how you’re feeling after surgery, you may need to stay in the hospital for a few days until you can keep fluids down. Typically, gastric sleeve patients will need to wait longer to see weight-loss results post-surgery.

During gastric bypass surgery, the surgeon will remove most of the stomach and a section of the small intestine. The remaining small stomach pouch will then be attached further down the small intestine. The stomach still provides the necessary digestive enzymes and acid, and bypassing some of the small intestine means fewer calories are absorbed. Weight loss can happen dramatically through the next few months following the procedure. After this procedure, it is normal to stay in the hospital for at least two days, or until you are recovered enough to return home.

Qualifications for Bariatric Surgery

For your overall health and safety, there are qualifications you must meet before applying for any type of bariatric surgery. If you meet these criteria, you may qualify for bariatric surgery:

A BMI over 40
A BMI over 35 with one or more obesity related comorbidities, like type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure

Not sure which surgery is the right choice for you? Wellstar Comprehensive Bariatric Service can help. Our team of experts will help you consider your weight-loss goals, current health, and nutritional needs to determine whether gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery is the best option for you. Contact our team today to learn more.

Bariatric Surgery FAQs

March 24, 2022
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For those looking to lose weight, diet and exercise alone aren’t always enough. If you’ve tried these methods of losing weight and could not achieve lasting weight-loss success, bariatric surgery may be right for you. To qualify, you need a BMI over 40 or a BMI over 35 with obesity-related comorbidities, like hypertension, diabetes, or sleep apnea.

As of right now, there are three different types of bariatric surgery, adjustable gastric banding, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and sleeve gastrectomy. It’s important to know that bariatric surgery isn’t the “easy way” to lose weight—it’s a last option for those whom traditional weight-loss methods have not worked. Whichever surgery you elect to receive, a healthy diet and regular exercise remain necessary parts of losing the weight post-surgery.

As with any major surgery, if you’re considering weight-loss surgery, you likely have questions. We’ve provided the answers to a few of the most common down below.

What is the cost of bariatric surgery?

Depending on the type, weight-loss surgery can range in prices from around $15,000 to $25,000. Some insurance companies will help the cover the cost, depending on the specifics of your situation. This includes factors like previous unsuccessful weight-loss attempts and ruling out obesity as a result of a medical condition.

How long until I can return to work after bariatric surgery?

This all depends on your healing process, but it typically takes 2-4 weeks before you can return to work. Some people are able to return to work as early as one week post-surgery. It is also recommended that patients stay 1–2 nights in the hospital after surgery in order to rest and regain energy before returning home.

Do I need to take vitamins and minerals after weight-loss surgery?

For malabsorptive bariatric surgeries—surgeries that affect your body’s ability to absorb nutrients—you will need to take supplements on a lifelong basis. This will likely include a daily vitamin, iron, calcium, and Vitamin D, among others that your surgical team will help you identify.

Yearly lab checks are needed in order to track your health post-surgery, although some insurance companies might cover the cost of these visits. You also may have the opportunity to over vitamin and mineral supplements through a flex medical account.

Will I lose my hair after weight-loss surgery?

Between the first 3–6 months after surgery, hair loss may occur. Fortunately, the vitamins and minerals that you take post-surgery will help with re-growth and help prevent thinning.

Is plastic surgery necessary after bariatric surgery?

This depends on several factors, including the type of surgery you receive, how much weight you lose, how fast you lose it, and your skin elasticity. Remember, your skin will tighten over time, but if you’re not satisfied with your appearance after 18 months, you might consider talking to your surgical team about excess skin removal surgery.

When can I start exercising after surgery?

As soon as your doctor gives you the go-ahead, it’s recommended you start with small walks after surgery. With the help of your team, you’ll build a workout plan that slowly increases your strength and flexibility. Remember to listen to your body, as it will still be healing form surgery—muscle soreness is a normal part of working out, but stabbing, sudden pain is not.

What is the level of pain post-surgery?

You will experience some abdominal pain post-surgery, which will likely only last a few days. Your surgical team may provide you with pain medication to combat this.

There are so many other questions that are asked before and after getting bariatric surgery. Thankfully, Wellstar Georgia is here to help. With state-of-the-art approaches to minimally invasive bariatric surgery and a team dedicated to your success, our expert weight loss surgeon in East Cobb, Marietta, LaGrange, or Cobb County provides a safe option for bariatric surgery. Contact us today to get answers to your questions and start your personalized bariatric journey with Wellstar Georgia.

Understanding Food Cues

March 3, 2022
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An important part of losing weight includes reexamining your relationship with food, as well as your eating habits. For many people, food cues play a role in developing unhealthy eating behaviors, like stress eating, so a thorough analysis of your personal food cues may help curb these habits.

A food cue is trigger that causes the urge to eat. They can be triggered in a variety of ways, whether it’s specific smells, feeling certain emotions, or food advertisements. As opposed to hunger cues, which are physical signs of hunger, food cues may cause you the urge to eat, even if you’re not hungry. Understanding the difference between hunger cues and food cues is important for everyone, especially those looking to lose weight.

Unmanaged Food Cues

Food cues can cause the urge to eat even when you aren’t hungry. Unmanaged, this can easily turn into boredom-based or mindless eating, which can sabotage your ability to lose weight. Food cues are, quite literally, everywhere in the world, from fast food commercials to the smell of your coworker’s food. Learning how to manage them is key to your weight-loss success.

Overcoming Food Cues

Food cues are entirely external, so turning to your internal hunger cues is a great way to combat that urge to eat. If you’re not sure if you’re actually hungry or have just been triggered by a food cue, look for these signs:

Rumbling, empty-feeling stomach
Irritability or “hanger”
Light-headedness
Low energy
Headache
Difficulty focusing

Once you identify the difference between food cues and hunger cues, it becomes easier to ignore the food cues. Being aware of your personal food cues is the first step to avoiding, ignoring, or eliminating them. Keeping a food diary that notes what, when, and why you ate may help you identify your personal food cues.

Avoiding Overeating

In today’s society, food cues are unavoidable. There’s no way to prevent yourself from seeing, smelling, or even hearing about food, and this has made overeating an unfortunately common occurrence.

Dealing with food cues can be difficult and frustrating at first, but awareness is key to preventing mindless overeating. When you encounter a food cue, use hunger cues to tell whether you’re really hungry. If you’re still not sure, have a glass of water and go for a short walk. Thirst can feel remarkably similar to hunger, and taking a walk gives you some mental space from the food cue, allowing you to determine if you’re hungry or not.

Looking for more assistance losing weight? The bariatric program at Wellstar Georgia offers personalized support designed to help you overcome your food cues, as well other setbacks you might encounter during your weight-loss journey. Learn more.

Diabesity: The Connection Between Diabetes and Obesity

February 11, 2022
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Obesity raises your likelihood for several serious health conditions, including hypertension, heart disease, osteoarthritis, and several types of cancer. Type 2 diabetes is one of the most common obesity comorbidities—so common that the occurrence of diabetes in obese individuals has been unofficially dubbed “diabesity.”

How Diabetes is Linked to Obesity

Besides obesity, there are multiple other factors that affect an individual’s chances of developing type 2 diabetes, including their family history, age, race, and medical history. However, being overweight or obese is the largest risk factor for type 2 diabetes. 90% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight, and those who are overweight are six times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

Why? Especially in those with a high amount of abdominal fat, research suggests excess lipids accumulate in the liver, leading to a lower sensitivity to insulin. This insulin resistance, in turn, leads to type 2 diabetes.

Diabesity and Weight Loss

Between the multiple risks of both obesity and diabetes, it’s safe to say that treating diabesity is essential to improving your overall health. While there is no cure for type 2 diabetes, weight loss is the best way to manage the condition, and some patients even enter remission. If you don’t currently have diabetes but are overweight, reducing your body weight by just 5% can lower your odds of developing type 2 diabetes by over 50%.

A healthy, balanced diet and regular exercise are the best ways to lose weight. Your doctor or surgical team can help you develop a diet plan tailored to your needs, but a diabetes-friendly diet looks very similar to a healthy diet for those without diabetes. Focus on eating balanced meals that are fiber-rich and include healthy sources of carbohydrates, like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Portion size also plays a role in losing weight. If you struggle with portion control, meal prepping and pre-portioning may help.

When it comes to exercise, aim for 30 minutes a day—it’s okay if you’re not there yet, but it’s a good goal to work toward. Exercise lowers your blood sugar levels by triggering glucose uptake, combatting insulin resistance. It also has multiple other health benefits that work to prevent diabesity comorbidities, including lowering your blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels.

Treating Diabetes with Bariatric Weight-Loss Surgery

For some individuals suffering from diabesity, diet and exercise alone may not be enough to reach their weight-loss goals. In these cases, your doctor may recommend bariatric surgery, which has been shown to be effective in combatting type 2 diabetes.

When considering bariatric surgery, it’s important to find a surgical team and facility that has your best interests in mind. At Wellstar Comprehensive Bariatric Services, our bariatric surgery team understands the importance of pre-surgery education and post-surgery aftercare. We are dedicated to supporting our patients through every step of their weight-loss journey, serving Marietta, Cobb County, West Georgia, East Cobb, and beyond. If you’re seeking a trusted weight loss surgeon in East Cobb, we are here to provide expert care and personalized support. Contact us today to know more.

Sleeping After Bariatric Surgery

February 10, 2022
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There are few aspects of our lives that play as large of a role in determining our health as sleep. Not getting enough sleep or not getting quality sleep can make you more susceptible to diseases, affect your ability to focus, and even raise your risks for health problems like high blood pressure and diabetes. For those trying to lose weight and those who are post-bariatric surgery, sleep is especially important for successful, lasting weight loss.

The Importance of Sleep for Weight Loss

While scientists are still trying to fully understand the link between sleep and weight loss, studies have shown that not getting enough sleep can compromise a healthy weight-loss plan. Getting insufficient sleep is linked to decreased impulse control and poor decision-making. This means you might be more likely to succumb to tempting comfort foods or listen to the voice telling you to skip a workout.

Obviously, poor sleep decreases your energy levels, leaving you too tired to tackle your workout for the day. In addition, it can make activities that require coordination and balance, like weightlifting, extremely unsafe.

Running on low sleep also has been shown to increase the body’s production of ghrelin, the “hunger hormone,” and decrease the production of leptin, which helps regulate hunger and energy. This hormonal imbalance makes you more likely to overeat and turn to unhealthy options when hungry.

Sleeping Post-Bariatric Surgery

Long term, bariatric surgery will improve sleep quality, especially for those suffering from sleep disorders, like obstructive sleep apnea. While it is performed via minimally invasive laparoscopy, bariatric surgery is still a procedure. Any procedure may have a small chance to affect your ability to sleep in the days and weeks following. To increase the odds of adequate sleep after bariatric surgery, there are several things you should keep in mind.

Avoid Sleeping on Your Stomach

To allow your surgery wound to heal, try to avoid sleeping on your stomach immediately after your procedure. If you’re a dedicated stomach sleeper, only do it once you can rest comfortably without pain and support your spine with surgery pillows. Some patients also find that sleeping in a semi-sitting position can help them avoid discomfort.

Don’t Take Sleeping Pills

Because of your smaller stomach size, your body’s reaction to sleeping pills will likely be different, and they may interact with other post-surgery medications. If you’re having trouble falling asleep, talk to your doctor before taking additional medication.

Limit Your Naps

You might be tired after surgery, but taking too many mid-day naps can negatively affect the quality of your nighttime sleep. Keep your naps limited to the ideal 10–20 minutes.

Avoid Drinking Before Sleeping

Sleeping on a stomach full of water is uncomfortable and increases the chance of sleep disruptions from having to use the bathroom. In addition, when your stomach is full of fluid, it can put pressure on your upper abdomen and lungs in certain sleeping positions.

Good sleep is conducive to healthy, lasting weight loss. A good surgical team can provide the resources you need to be successful after surgery and help you tackle any sleep issues that may arise. At Wellstar, our team provides the highest level of care before, during, and after surgery to help you achieve your weight-loss goals. Learn more about our bariatric program on our website.

The Different Types of Bariatric Surgery

January 20, 2022
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If you’re considering bariatric surgery, you know there’s no shortage of decisions you need to make before going through with the procedure. One of the most important choices you’ll make is deciding which type of bariatric weight-loss procedure to undergo.

The procedure that’s right for you will depend on your unique situation, goals, and health, and your surgeon and weight loss team will help you carefully consider the options. That said, the first step toward making a well-informed decision is understanding what each of the common types of bariatric surgery entail.

Gastric Sleeve

During gastric sleeve surgery, also called a sleeve gastrectomy, the majority of the stomach is removed. The remaining portion is about 1/10 of the original size and shaped like a banana—hence, the “sleeve.”

The smaller stomach can hold much less food than it originally could, leading to a caloric decrease that helps patients rapidly lose weight. In addition, the removal of most of the stomach decreases hunger-causing hormones like ghrelin and leptin, causing patients to feel less hungry less often.

Sleeve gastrostomies are the most commonly performed bariatric procedure in the United States. To qualify for surgery, patients need a BMI of 40 or higher. They can also qualify with a BMI of 35 if they have one or more obesity-related conditions that could be relieved with weight-loss, like:

High blood pressure
Obstructive sleep apnea
Diabetes
Joint pain

Gastric sleeve surgery takes about an hour and is minimally invasive, performed through several small incisions with the use of a tiny camera called a laparoscope. Patients can expect to stay in the hospital 1–3 days following the procedure. With proper diet and exercise, gastric sleeve patients typically lose about 50–60% of their excess body weight.

Gastric Bypass

Gastric bypass surgery is sometimes called Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. During the surgery, the surgeon sections off a small portion of the upper stomach, leaving behind a small pouch. This pouch is then connected to a middle portion of the small intestine, allowing food to bypass the upper section, as well as most of the stomach.

Again, with a smaller stomach, patients feel hungry less often and can hold less food when they do eat. In addition, because the food bypasses parts of the digestive tract, the patient absorbs fewer calories. While this facilitates rapid weight-loss, it also means the patient won’t get all the nutrients they need from their food, meaning they’ll need to take supplements on a lifelong basis after surgery.

The requirements to qualify for gastric bypass are the same as those to qualify for the gastric sleeve. The surgery takes about 1½ hours, and the hospital stay lasts 1–3 days. Like gastric sleeve surgery, gastric bypasses are performed laparoscopically. Patients usually lose about 70% of their excess weight.

Duodenal Switch with Gastric Sleeve

As the name implies, this weight-loss surgery includes a sleeve gastrectomy. However, during surgery, the lower intestine is also divided, allowing food to bypass 2/3 of the intestines. This significantly decreases the calories that can be absorbed from food, and like other malabsorptive surgeries, patients will need to supplement their food with vitamins and minerals.

The full surgery is performed laparoscopically and takes about 2–3 hours, but on extremely overweight patients, the procedure is sometimes done in two parts spaced 9–12 months apart. If you have struggled to reach your desired weight with gastric sleeve alone, your surgeon may also recommend the duodenal switch to help further encourage weight-loss.

Patients can typically expect to lose 60–80% of their excess weight with this procedure.

If you’re seriously considering bariatric surgery, it’s essential to go into the procedure confident in your choice. It’s also important to choose a facility that offers long-term follow-up care, which lowers the risk of complications and ultimately ensures greater weight-loss success.

The Wellstar team can help you determine which weight-loss surgery is right for you, and we’re committed to providing the long-term care you need to feel supported during your weight-loss journey. Schedule a consultation with our experts today, and learn how we can help you take the first steps toward a healthier life.

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