Bariatric Surgery
Being overweight can severely impact your physical and mental health. In fact, obesity is closely linked to health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer. Surgery can be an effective part of your treatment plan for weight loss. At Tallahassee Memorial, we offer a range of bariatric surgery options as part of an overall treatment plan for obesity.
Bariatric Surgery Basics
Bariatric surgery is a powerful tool to help you live a healthier and happier life. It’s not a quick fix – it takes work and dedication, but your bariatric surgery team will be here to guide you every step of the way.
Learn the basics about weight loss surgery from Joey Jarrard, MD, bariatric surgeon at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare.
Why Bariatric Surgery
Obesity is a disease caused by many factors, some of which are out of your control. It can also increase your risk for many serious health conditions. Fortunately, surgery is an effective and safe tool to help you lose weight.
The National Institute for Health says bariatric surgery is the most effective weight-loss solution for morbid obesity.
Bariatric surgery has many benefits. Surgery improves or resolves obesity-related illnesses, reduces how much medical care you need and reduces your healthcare costs.
When coupled with lifestyle change, meal replacement and/or medication, weight loss surgery may be the best option for you if you have:
• A BMI over 35 and a qualifying health condition
• A BMI over 40
Need help calculating your BMI?
Overall, bariatric surgery improves quality of life for 95 percent of patients.
Comprehensive Weight Loss Care
In addition to surgery, our comprehensive bariatric surgery program includes individualized services designed to help you keep the weight off from our Obesity Medicine team at the TMH Physician Partners – Endocrinology, Obesity & Diabetes.
Gastric Bypass Surgery
How Gastric Bypass Surgery Works
Gastric bypass is a restrictive surgery technique that also alters the digestive process. The surgery restricts food intake by creating a smaller stomach pouch. It alters the body's normal digestive process by decreasing the amount of calories and nutrients the body is able to absorb. After surgery, food bypasses a large part of the stomach and most of the small intestine.
The Gastric Bypass Procedure
Gastric bypass surgery can be performed as an open procedure or a laparoscopic (minimally invasive) procedure. Laparoscopic surgery is performed using small incisions. This usually means a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, smaller scars and less pain than open surgical procedures. Most surgeons prefer the laparoscopic approach.
First your surgeon creates a small stomach pouch. Then a section of the small intestine is attached directly to the pouch. This causes food to bypass a portion of the small intestine, where calories and nutrients are absorbed. Having a smaller stomach pouch causes you to feel full sooner and eat less food. Gastric bypass patients report an early sense of fullness and satisfaction that reduces the desire to eat.
One study found, following laparoscopic gastric bypass, patients were able to leave the hospital after 3 days and return to work after three weeks.
Gastric Sleeve Procedure
How a Gastric Sleeve Works to Help You Lose Weight
During this procedure a thin, vertical sleeve of stomach is created and the rest of the stomach is removed. This procedure limits the amount of food you can eat and helps you feel full sooner. It allows for normal digestion and absorption. Food consumed passes through the digestive tract in the usual order allowing it to be fully absorbed in the body.
The majority of gastric sleeve procedures performed today use a laparoscopic (minimally invasive) technique. Laparoscopic surgery usually results in a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, smaller scars, and less pain than open surgical procedures.
The length of time of the surgery varies.
On average, operative time is 1.5 to 3.5 hours and the average hospital stay is 2 to 5 days. Patients usually return to normal activities in 2 weeks and are fully recovered in 3 weeks.
One-Step and Two-Step Gastric Sleeve Procedure
A gastric sleeve procedure can be the first step before gastric bypass, or it can be a single procedure for weight loss. If it is used as part of a two-step procedure, the first step is for your surgeon to create the small stomach "sleeve." After a period of time determined by your surgeon, another procedure would be done in which your surgeon attaches a section of the small intestine directly to the stomach pouch. This allows food to bypass a portion of the small intestine. This causes your body to absorb fewer calories and consume less food.
The two-step procedure can be done when patients may not be able to tolerate both procedures during a single operation. Studies show the two-step procedure has been used successfully in patients with a body mass index greater than 50 or in high-risk patients.
Why Choose TMH
TMH has earned accreditation by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®), a joint quality program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). We’re also home to the region’s only fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon.
Our comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to weight loss goes beyond surgery and includes personalized, tailored services from our Obesity Medicine team, to help you achieve your weight loss goals and have lifelong success.
Contact Us
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