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Our Practice is designed to help weight loss surgery patients lose
weight and keep it off. We go far beyond the weight loss surgery
procedure by providing a life-changing program that includes nutritional
guidance, support groups, and coordination of counseling services.
All of the weight loss procedures are performed by laparoscopic
or minimally invasive technique. The procedures we offer include:
At our program you will enjoy a team approach to your weight
loss surgery treatment. Your weight loss surgery team consists of a bariatric
surgeon, program coordinator, diet and exercise counselor, and medical assistant.
This team approach to your weight loss surgery procedure is specifically designed
to maximize your long-term outcome. You will be accessing a bariatrics program
that is tailored to your needs. This will include an empowering approach resulting
in a new life and way of eating. You will attend an educational seminar and meetings
with our weight loss surgery staff. Additionally, we will refer you to a psychologist
who will provide an evaluation before weight loss surgery. Finally, your care
is assisted by a program coordinator, who will work along with your team to help
you lose weight. This life altering experience returns the control of your weight
to you. If you have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater, a BMI of at least
35 with existing co-morbidities, or are facing other health risks due to obesity,
contact us for information on attending a free educational weight loss surgery
seminar.
Life after Weight Loss Surgery
Weight loss surgery is considered a major procedure, and, as such, represents
a life changing event. Not only will the physiology and physical structure of
your body be different, but major lifestyle changes will be necessary in order
for you to achieve the greatest benefit from your surgical weight loss procedure.
Following are considerations to address after weight loss surgery.
Diet: The modifications made to your gastrointestinal tract during weight
loss surgery will require permanent changes in your eating habits that must be
adhered to for successful long-term weight loss. You may hear of other weight
loss surgery patients who are given different guidelines following their weight
loss procedure. Bariatric surgeons do not perform the exact same weight loss surgery
procedure and the dietary guidelines will be different for each surgeon and the
procedure they perform. The most important thing to remember is to follow the
guidelines given by your dietitian.
The following are some of the general
guidelines for our weight loss surgery patients. - Starting from one
week before your operation, you will progress through different nutritional phases.
These phases allow your body time to prepare for the operation and time to heal.
This progress from liquids to solids also gives you a time to change eating habits.
- Follow your post-operative diet, as directed by your registered dietitian.
- Eat only three meals a day at no more than a ½ cup portion. Avoid snacking
between meals.
- Eat slowly, 30 minutes to finish a meal.
- Stop
drinking fluids thirty minutes before your meals and wait 30 minutes after eating
to start drinking. Don't drink fluids while eating.
- When you start eating
solid food, it is essential that you chew thoroughly. You will not be able to
eat steaks or other chunks of meat if they are not ground or chewed thoroughly.
- Omit desserts and other items with sugar listed as one of the first
three ingredients.
- Avoid tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, and carbonation.
- Take vitamin/mineral supplement as directed.
- Exercise 40 minutes,
5 times a week.
Return to Work: Your ability to resume pre-surgery
levels of activity will vary according to your physical condition, the nature
of the activity and the type of weight loss surgery you had. Most of our patients
return to work within two weeks or less of their procedure.
Long-Term
Follow-Up: Effects of weight loss surgery are well understood. Your surgeon
will be involved in your post-operative care to ensure long term success after
your weight loss operation. Assessment of appropriate weight loss, nutritional
status, and monitoring for nutritional deficiencies that occur over the course
of many years are just some of the reason you should anticipate long term follow
up care with us. We will coordinate frequent follow up visits within the first
two years, then on an annual basis.
Weight Loss Surgery Support Groups:
The widespread use of support groups has provided weight loss surgery patients
an excellent opportunity to discuss their various personal and professional issues.
Most learn, for example, that weight loss surgery will not immediately resolve
existing emotional issues or heal the years of damage that morbid obesity might
have inflicted on their emotional well being. Our support groups will assist you
with short-term and long-term questions and needs. Your regular attendance and
participation is essential to ensure long term success after your weight loss
operation. | 
