Houston Weight Loss Surgery

What Is A Bariatric Center Of Excellence?

2011-01-07T13:59:00.000-08:00

As you look for providers for your weight loss surgery in the Houston area, you may have noted that some providers list themselves as "centers of excellence" (COE). What does this designation mean though? Who is accrediting these facilites as COEs. In case you were confused, check out what Gary M. Pratt, the CEO of surgicalreview.org and independent nonprofit entity that monitors bariatric surgery worldwide, has to say about the COE program:

Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), in collaboration with the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), has created a program to help highlight providers who deliver excellent care. The ASMBS Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence® (BSCOE) designation helps identify where patients like you can expect to receive safer and more effective surgical treatment. Our program is tough, comprehensive and increasingly recognized by leading government and private insurers when making coverage decisions. These aren’t general surgeons who “dabble” in bariatric surgery - instead, you’ll hear most BSCOE surgeons refer to their work as a vocational calling.

Simply put, the application process to become a BSCOE is tough. In fact, we believe it to be the most rigorous in the industry. Applicants must meet a list of requirements. They must pass a thorough site inspection that includes a full review of the facilities; interviews with surgeons, staff and leaders of the hospital; and a detailed review of medical charts.
But, our process is tougher for another reason. Other center of excellence programs focus their review on the hospital only. We believe that both the hospital and the surgeon must work together to ensure that you receive the best care possible. SRC reviews both and designates them individually based upon whether they meet program requirements. Just because the hospital receives the BSCOE designation does not mean that all surgeons working there should automatically pass,

The requirements of the BSCOE program are comprehensive. They were established to assess each facet of care specific to bariatric surgery patients. Once the center and its surgeons achieve this prestigious designation, they must continue to work hard to keep it. In fact, they are re-evaluated and site inspected every three years.

Education and commitment are two key elements of designation. BSCOE surgeons must be board-certified and demonstrate significant expertise in bariatric surgery. They must also stay abreast of the most current and appropriate treatments through ongoing continuing medical education.

Experience is demonstrated through the number of cases that BSCOE centers must perform each year. Studies show that surgeons and hospitals with higher volumes achieve better results with fewer mortalities, complications, re-operations and revisions.
Also, higher volume centers are more likely to offer extended resources, such as a multidisciplinary team of specialists, important for the care of bariatric patients.
SRC requires that each BSCOE hospital perform at least 125 bariatric surgical cases each year. BSCOE surgeons must perform at least 50 bariatric cases each year with a minimum of 125 total bariatric cases in their lifetime.

Multidisciplinary care is integral to the treatment of a bariatric patient and is required for BSCOE designation. The multidisciplinary team assembled at a BSCOE generally includes nutritionists, psychologists, pulmonologists, cardiologists and other medical specialists trained in bariatric care.

BSCOE centers devote a tremendous amount of time and resources to training these team members, BSCOE centers also offer support groups that meet regularly and are led by healthcare professionals who can address questions you might have before and after your surgery. BSCOE centers also invest thousands of dollars annually to ensure that their patients return after surgery for proper follow-up. This postoperative care is critical to maintaining weight-loss and ensuring your nutritional needs are met.

All BSCOE participants are also required to report their detailed patient outcomes information on a regular basis using SRC’s Bariatric Outcomes Longitudinal Database™ (BOLD™). It helps SRC keep watch on how well these hospitals and surgeons are doing in real-time, but it also serves other important purposes.

Several major health insurers have taken notice of the ASMBS BSCOE program and BOLD™. Insurers such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), CIGNA, Humana, Kaiser Permanente, and some Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans, require the BSCOE designation as a first-step for inclusion in their bariatric surgery networks and reimbursement. However, more work is needed to increase access to bariatric surgery. SRC and the Obesity Action Coalition are actively committed to patient advocacy, but your voice is needed.

While the BSCOE designation represents excellence, it doesn’t guarantee perfection. As with any surgery, there are associated risks and complications with bariatric treatment. Care is particularly challenging because morbid obesity usually involves a myriad of other medical problems that need to be addressed.

To summarize, here are the key points that separate a bariatric surgery center of excellence from other providers of weight loss surgery around greater Houston:

Board-certified Houston-based surgeons
Separate certification process for Houston area bariatric surgery hospitals
Re-evaluation process every 3 years
Surgeons must perform 50 bariatric surgeries per year with a minimum of 125 weight loss surgeries performed lifetime
Weight loss centers must perform at least 125 obesity surgery cases per year
Multidisciplinary care
Long-term follow-up
Improved insurance coverage

While no system can guarantee weight loss surgery success, having your weight loss surgery in a Houston area Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence can improve your chances of having a safe and effective bariatric surgery experience.

More People To Become Eligible For Obesity Surgery

2010-12-22T22:17:00.000-08:00

The FDA is considering revising the thresholds that guide who is allowed to have bariatric surgery. While there may be some concern that this is being pushed by the manufacturer of one of the lap-band products, there is some valid medical merits to having a more nuanced set of guidelines. A one-size-fits-all (pardon the pun) approach simply does not encompass the diverse needs of patients with not only obesity issues, but other comorbid conditions such as hypertension or diabetes. As the NYTimes article from December 1, 2010 notes:

Weight-loss surgery, once a last resort for extremely overweight people, may soon become an option for those who are less heavy.

An advisory committee to the Food and Drug Administration will consider on Friday a request by Allergan, the pharmaceutical company, to significantly lower how obese someone must be to qualify for surgery using the company’s Lap-Band device, which restricts intake to the stomach.

On Wednesday, the F.D.A. acknowledged that a new study by the company showed that people in the proposed range of obesity who had the band experienced “statistically significant decreases in all measures of weight loss.”

If the agency approves the change, the number of Americans eligible for the Lap-Band operation could easily double, ensuring more sales for Allergan and probably more insurance coverage for such operations. But the proposed change, sought at a time when the obesity epidemic in the United States seems intractable, still leaves some people uneasy, in part because of side effects and failure rates. In addition, long-term weight reduction is hard to maintain.

“You’re talking about millions and millions of people who would meet these criteria,” said Dr. George Blackburn, associate director of the division of nutrition at Harvard Medical School. “Let’s make sure by the most rigorous research that this is safe and effective.”

Like any medical advance, it is important to consider the benefits as weighed against the risks. Specifically, one must consider a metric called the "number needed to treat" or NNT. What the NNT is define the number of people that have to receive a treatment in order for one person to have the intended outcome. For example, the NNT of lap-banding might be 3, meaning that 3 people need to have lap-banding in order for (on average) one person to achieve a BMI less than 25 (ie, a normal BMI). But, there already is a large research on banding itself showing it to be effective; the issue now is merely extending this research. The article goes on to discuss how lap banding has expanded over the years:

Doctors have already started to operate on extremely heavy teenagers, not just adults. And some experts are recasting weight-loss procedures, known as bariatric surgery, as metabolic surgery, saying that it might be justified to treat diabetes, even in people who are barely obese or not obese. Gastric banding involves placing an inflatable silicone ring around the upper part of the stomach, which limits food consumption and makes one feel full faster.

Current guidelines say weight loss surgery is appropriate for people who have failed to lose weight through diet and exercise and have a body mass index, or B.M.I., of 40 and above, or 35 and above if a person has at least one serious health problem, like diabetes or high blood pressure, that is tied to obesity. Allergan wants to lower the threshold for the Lap-Band to a B.M.I. of 35 with no associated health problems and to 30 with such problems.

For instance, a person who is 5 feet 6 inches and has diabetes would have to weigh 216 pounds to qualify now. Under the proposed lower threshold, that person could weigh 30 pounds less, or 186 pounds.

Federal statistics suggest that nearly 20 percent of the adult population has a B.M.I. between 30 and 35, more than double the population above 35. Probably half or more of the people between 30 and 35 have some associated health condition.

Bariatric surgeons and some obesity experts say that surgery has proven to be the only way many people can lose a lot of weight and keep it off, and some cite a Swedish study suggesting that it prolonged lives. And, they say, the operations have become safer since the obesity thresholds were first set in 1991 in a meeting organized by the National Institutes of Health.

“The whole risk-benefit ratio is completely different than it was back then,” said Dr. Marc Bessler, chief of the division of minimally invasive and bariatric surgery at Columbia.

Banding is a less radical operation than the main alternative, the gastric bypass. It is also reversible and costs less — from $12,000 to more than $20,000, compared with $20,000 to more than $30,000 for a bypass. But banding also leads to a weight loss of about 20 percent on average, less than that of bypass.

Bypass has been the preferred operation in the United States, though Allergan executives said on a recent call with investors that banding now has about 50 percent market share. Within the banding market, Allergan’s Lap-Band has about 70 percent market share, according to the company, with the rest belonging to the Realize Band sold by Ethicon Endo-Surgery, a division of Johnson & Johnson. Allergan’s band was approved in 2001.

The research also needs to consider the impact on not only BMI but other comorbid conditions like diabetes (blood glucose levels) and hypertension (blood pressure). These other major diseases are leading causes of kidney and heart disease, not to mention blindness and amputations. If banding can help stem the onset of the epidemic of diabetes in this country, then it may possibly be worth the fact that some people will not be helped by the procedure. And, even in those cases, is it the banding that failed, or that the individual did not stick with the treatment plan? If you get banding, you need to realize that this is a total life change, not a one-stop quick fix. Be the change you want to see in your life. The article describes these comorbid effects:

One factor that is moving some experts to advocate surgery for lower body mass index levels is its effectiveness in resolving diabetes, hypertension and some other ills associated with obesity.

“There are dramatic metabolic effects that in many cases go well beyond the weight loss effects,” said Dr. Lee M. Kaplan, director of the weight center at Massachusetts General Hospital.

He said that while it was once thought that surgery worked mainly by mechanically restricting how much one can eat, it is becoming clear that gastric bypass, at least, has effects on hormones.

Some experts say body mass index does not adequately measure risk of health problems. For instance, Asians tend to get diabetes at a lower B.M.I. than whites.

“The B.M.I. limitation of 35/40, set in the period when the major objective of the operations was weight control, is no longer the primary appropriate guideline for the selection of candidates for bariatric surgery,” Dr. Walter J. Pories, a surgeon, and colleagues wrote in the journal Obesity earlier this year. Dr. Pories will be a member of the F.D.A. advisory committee on Friday.

Today can be the day you make the change. Whether you live in downtown Houston or the outer reaches of Galveston, the Woodlands to Sugar Land, start the process of your personal metamorphosis today. Don't simply be that man or woman in the mirror you've come to despair about. Be the change you want to see in your life now!

Reference:
1. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/business/02obese.html?_r=1

Tips On Finding Your Weight Loss Surgeon

2009-11-30T16:05:00.000-08:00

Once you have made the decision to get bariatric surgery, the next major step is choosing the right surgeon. There are many factors to consider in making this decision, and many ways to go about it. Here are some general tips and pointers about what to consider in making this key decision:

Know your options - Before deciding, check out who the bariatric surgeons in the Houston area are. Consider where they are located relative to you. Is it close by? Convenient? Also, consider whether they are covered under your insurance plan and if you have sufficient funds to pay their fees.

Visit their websites - Start looking at websites of weight loss surgery centers in the Houston area. Find out what services they offer and how they differentiate themselves from their competitors. Learn about the experience and expertise of the surgeons at the weight loss centers.

Ask a friend - There's a good chance you have a friend who has had gastric bypass or lap banding, or at least, a friend who knows someone who has had the procedure. Get in touch with this person and ask them about their experience. What did they like about their surgery and surgeon, and what did they dislike. This kind of firsthand experience is invaluable in making a final decision.

Call their office - Ultimately though, you have to decide for yourself. Make a list of questions that capture your concerns. Call up the surgery center that interests you and ask them your questions. Call up any other centers you are interested in, and elicit the same responses. Compare the responses and see what makes sense to you.

Make an appointment - The last major step is setting up an appointment with your potential surgeon. They should be happy to see you, explain your options in detail, and allay any concerns you may have. You can do all the research you want beforehand, but this meeting is key to see whether you feel comfortable with that particular surgeon performing this procedure on you. You have to be committed in this process, and you need a person you can depend on, as well as care team, that will help you achieve your goals.

Choosing a surgeon and bariatric center can make a significant difference in your overall outcome. Take your time, and you will feel much more comfortable with your decision! Good luck!

Gastric Bypass And Diabetes

2009-11-20T22:19:00.000-08:00

Obesity is a very common disease. Diabetes is also a very common disease. It comes as no surprise that these two diseases occur together with a high frequency. While there is no clear causal link between obesity and diabetes, there is a fairly high correlation. If you are obese, you are at much higher risk of developing diabetes, and vice versa.

The link between two diseases raises the question: is gastric bypass surgery an option for diabetic obese patients? The question is intriguing. Diabetes is a disease in which the body has either a total lack of insulin, or decreased insulin production paired with decreased sensitivity to insulin in end organ tissues. The result of this is that blood sugar levels remain elevated, a state termed 'hyperglycemia.' Diabetes can lead to many debilitating problems, such as blindness, kidney problems, and even foot amputations. Diabetes also increases your risk for strokes and heart attacks. With such harmful effects a possibility, the question of whether gastric bypass surgery can be effective for diabetic patients is a valid one.

To address this question, the American Diabetes Association, or ADA, released in 2009 a Standard of Care statement addressing bariatric surgery specifically:

Gastric reduction surgery, either gastric banding or procedures that involve bypassing or transposing sections of the small intestine, when part of a comprehensive team approach, can be an effective weight loss treatment for severe obesity, and national guidelines support its consideration for people with type 2 diabetes who have BMI at or exceeding 35 kg/m2. Bariatric surgery has been shown to lead to near or complete normalization of glycemia in 55–95% of patients with type 2 diabetes, depending on the surgical procedure. A meta-analysis of studies of bariatric surgery reported that 78% of individuals with type 2 diabetes had complete “resolution” of diabetes (normalization of blood glucose levels in the absence of medications), and that the resolution rates were sustained in studies that had follow-up exceeding 2 years (96). Resolution rates are lowest with procedures that only constrict the stomach and higher with those that bypass portions of the small intestine. Additionally, there is increasing evidence that intestinal bypass procedures may have glycemic effects that are independent of, and additive to, their effects on weight.

Given these results and this view from the ADA, if you are diabetic, obese, and living in the greater Houston area, you should consider asking your physician about gastric bypass surgery, or contacting a bariatric surgeon yourself. Ultimately, the person in charge of your obesity and your diabetes is *you*, so take charge today and make a difference in your life!

How Bariatric Surgery Can Gain You Respect

2009-11-07T16:38:00.000-08:00

A recent study from Johns Hopkins showed that doctors treat obese patients with less respect as compared to their non-obese patients:

Scientists reporting in the November issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine say they found that the higher a patient’s body mass index (BMI), the less respect their doctors had for them.

Mary Margaret Huizinga, MD, MPH, of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and lead author of the study, says she came up with the idea for the research from her experiences working in a weight loss clinic.

She says that patients who'd visit would, by the time they left, “be in tears, saying 'no other physician talked with me like this before,'" and had failed to listen.

“Many patients felt like because they were overweight, they weren’t receiving the type of care other patients received,” she says in a news release.

She and colleagues looked at data on 238 patients and 40 physicians. The average BMI of the patients was 32.9.

A person with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, and 30 or greater obese.

In the study, patients and physicians filled out questionnaires about a doctor’s visit. They were asked questions about their attitudes and perceptions of one another at the end of their encounter. Physicians were asked to rate the level of respect they had for each patient compared to “the average patient” on a 5-point scale.

The patients for whom doctors expressed low respect, on average, had a higher BMI than patients for whom the physicians had high respect, the researchers report. The researchers note that the findings don’t show a cause/effect relationship between BMI and physician respect. Their study also didn’t investigate patients’ health outcomes.

For more on this, Medscape: Doctors' Lack of Respect Weighs on the Obese.

Clearly, getting bariatric surgery will not only help directly in terms of disease burden but will also improve how you are perceived by health professionals and society at large. Ideally, doctors should treat all of their patients equally, with dignity and respect. However, doctors for better or worse are human as well. They have their own perceptions and biases, which can affect how they provide care in a detrimental manner. As this report indicates, being overweight can cause doctors to hold certain beliefs about their patients, in terms of the patient's attitude or commitment to change, leading the doctors to unconsciously change how they treat those patients.

Bariatric surgery can help change those perceptions. By helping patients who are unable to lose weight on their own get over the hump of weight loss, bariatric surgery can change the external morphology, or body shape, of a patient in a quick and dramatic manner. This change may alter perceptions by healthcare physicians, who may then be better able to look past their patient's weight in order to address other health issues. Instead of weight being a perceptual roadblock, bariatric surgery can help the patient-physician team on the right path to lifelong health.

Should doctors discriminate or disrespect overweight and obese patients? Of course not, but the reality is that it occurs. While obese patients may have sadly come to expect such callousness from the public at large, no one should have to endure disrespectful or suboptimal care at the hands of someone they place their trust in. A morbidly obese patient should be motivated to consider any options available, including weight loss surgery, to take control of their lives and commit to living healthily. Whether you choose lap band or gastric bypass or some other procedure, the important thing is that you have taken the first step in taking charge of your health and your life.

Texas Bariatric Surgery Centers Of Excellence

2009-11-01T18:43:00.000-08:00

Among the sites listed in the Houston Bariatric Surgery Directory and Houston Bariatric Surgery Directory Updated, some are Centers of Excellence. According to the Surgical Review Corporation, the following sites in Texas are Centers Of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery. Many centers are located in or near the Houston area:

FACILITY

PRACTICE

SURGEON

Austin, TX

Seton Medical Center 1201 West 38th Street Austin, TX 78705 512-324-3404	Southwest Bariatric Surgeons, PLLC 3705 Medical Parkway, Suite 210 Austin, TX 78705 512-338-5024	Dr. Mark R. Sherrod
		Dr. Tim L. Faulkenberry
		Dr. Patrick C Dillawn
		Dr. Nancy G Marquez
		Dr. Steven M Fass

St. David's Medical Center 919 East 32nd Street Austin, TX 78705 512-544-5433	Southwest Bariatric Surgeons, PLLC 3705 Medical Parkway, Suite 210 Austin, TX 78705 512-338-5024	Dr. Mark R. Sherrod
		Dr. Tim L. Faulkenberry
		Dr. Patrick C Dillawn
		Dr. Nancy G Marquez
		Dr. Steven M Fass

Bellaire, TX

First Street Hospital 4801 Bissonnet Bellaire, TX 77401 713-275-1111	T. Jayakumar, MD, PA 7737 Southwest Freeway #830 HOUSTON , TX 77074 713-995-1202	Dr. Thirumalairaj Jayakumar
	Said Bina, M.D., P.A. 11850 F.M. 1960 W. Houston, TX 77065 281-469-0596	Dr. Said Bina

Carrollton, TX

Baylor Medical Center at Carrollton
4343 N. Josey Lane
Carrollton, TX 75010
972.394.2332

North Texas Bariatric
4333 N Josey Lane Suite # 207
Carrollton, TX 75010
972-939-8218

Dr. Frank David Veninga

Dallas, TX

Weight Loss Surgery Program at BUMC 3500 Gaston Avenue Dallas, TX 75246 214-820-7528	WLS Surgical Associates, P.A. 3409 Worth Street Suite 420 Dallas, TX 75246 1-877-WLS-DOCS (957-3627)	Dr. Colleen Irene Kennedy
		Dr. Joseph Allen Kuhn
	NICHOLSON CLINIC 5425 W. Spring Creek Suite #140 Plano, TX 75024 972-494-3100 visit website	Dr. Nick Nicholson IV

Methodist Dallas Medical Center
1441 N. Beckley Ave.
Dallas, TX 75203
214-947-8181

New Beginnings Surgical Group, PA
221 West Colorado Boulevard
Pavilion II, Suite 740
Dallas, TX 75208
(214) 948-0475

Dr. Manuel Eduardo Castro-Arreola

Columbia Hospital at Medical City Dallas 7777 Forest Lane, Suite A240 Dallas, TX 75230 972-566-6938	WLS Surgical Associates, P.A. 3409 Worth Street Suite 420 Dallas, TX 75246 1-877-WLS-DOCS (957-3627)	Dr. Colleen Irene Kennedy
		Dr. Joseph Allen Kuhn

THR Presbyterian Dallas 8200 Walnut Hill Lane Dallas, TX 75231 214-345-7474	Bariatric Surgery Center Dallas 8210 Walnut Hill Lane Suite 513 Dallas, TX 75231 214-265-7546	Dr. James A Davidson
	Southwest General Surgical Associates (No contact info provided)	Dr. Robert Miller Hagood
		Dr. richard scott anderson

Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake
9440 poppy drive
Dallas, TX 75218
214-324-6629

Wade Barker, PA

(No contact info provided)

Dr. Wade N. Barker

Renaissance Hospital Dallas
2929 S. Hampton Road
Dallas, TX 75224
214-623-4444

Metroplex Surgical Specialists
1420 8th Ave
#101
Fort Worth, TX 76104
817 207 9775

Dr. Michael Lewis Green Jr.

Edinburg, TX

DBA Day Surgery at Renaissance,
308 Lindberg Avenue
McAllen, TX 78501
956-994-1423

Renaissance Surgical Associates
5513 Doctors Drive
Edinburg, TX 78539
956-994-1423

Dr. Robert Eugene Alleyn III

El Paso, TX

Providence Memorial Hospital
1250 E. Cliff, St 1-C
El Paso, TX 79902
915-577-7939

Southwest Surgeons for Obesity and General Surgery
125 W. Hague
Suite 550
El Paso, TX 79902
915-351-6272

Dr. Bruce Jeffrey Applebaum

Del Sol Medical Center (No contact info provided)	Rio Grande Surgeons, P.A. (No contact info provided)	Dr. Jorge Acosta
		Dr. Michael David Lara

Frisco, TX

Baylor Medical Center at Frisco 5601 Warren Parkway Frisco, TX 75034 214.407.5006	Stephen V. Hamn, M.D.P.A. 6020 W. Parker Rd Plano, TX 75093 972-981-8440	Dr. Stephen Victor Hamn
		Dr. Allan Joseph Cribbins III

Ft. Worth , TX

Plaza Medical Center of Fort Worth
900 8th Avenue
Fort Worth , TX 76104
817-87PLAZA

Metroplex Surgical Specialists
1420 8th Ave
#101
Fort Worth, TX 76104
817 207 9775

Dr. Michael Lewis Green Jr.

Garland, TX

Vista Hospital of Dallas 2696 W. Walnut St. Garland, TX 75042 972-665-3000	Bariatric Surgery Center Dallas 8210 Walnut Hill Lane Suite 513 Dallas, TX 75231 214-265-7546	Dr. James A Davidson
	Wade Barker, PA (No contact info provided)	Dr. Wade N. Barker

Houston, TX

Memorial Hermann Hospital 6411 Fannin St. Houston, TX 77030 713-704-4000	The University of Texas Bariatric Center 6700 West Loop South, Suite 500 Bellaire, TX 77401 713-892-5500	Dr. Terry Kent Scarborough
		Dr. Erik Browning Wilson
		Dr. Sherman C. Yu

Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital 10655 Steepletop Dr. Houston, TX 77065 281-890-4285	Not Found 11302 Fallbrook Drive, Suite 305 Houston, TX 77065 281-894-9200	Not Found (No contact info provided)
	Carlos A Ferrari MD,PA. 915 Gessner Road, Suite 375 Houston, TX 77024 713 864 5487	Dr. Carlos Abel Ferrari

Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital 921 Gessner Road Houston, TX 77024 713-242-4290	T. Jayakumar, MD, PA 7737 Southwest Freeway #830 HOUSTON , TX 77074 713-995-1202	Dr. Thirumalairaj Jayakumar
	Carlos A Ferrari MD,PA. 915 Gessner Road, Suite 375 Houston, TX 77024 713 864 5487	Dr. Carlos Abel Ferrari

Park Plaza Hospital and Medical Center 1313 Hermann Drive Houston, TX 77004 713-527-5127	The University of Texas Bariatric Center 6700 West Loop South, Suite 500 Bellaire, TX 77401 713-892-5500	Dr. Terry Kent Scarborough
		Dr. Erik Browning Wilson
		Dr. Sherman C. Yu
	Hadar Spivak, MD P.A. 1200 Binz Suite 1470 Houston, TX 77004 713-520-8900	Dr. Hadar Spivak

Renaissance Hospital Houston (No contact info provided)	CLIFTON THOMAS MD BARIATRICS 800-664-9177	Dr. Clifton Erwin Thomas
Renaissance Hospital Houston (No contact info provided)	Metroplex Surgical Specialists 1420 8th Ave #101 Fort Worth, TX 76104 817 207 9775	Dr. Michael Lewis Green Jr.

Houston , TX

Houston Northwest Medical Center 710 FM 1960 West Houston , TX 77090 281-716-1028	Philip L. Leggett, M.D. 800 Peakwood Suite 8B Houston, TX 77090 281-580-6797	Dr. Philip L. Leggett
	Dexter G. Turnquest, MD, 17070 Red Oak, Ste. 507 Houston, TX 77090 281-444-8090	Dr. Dexter G. Turnquest

Houston, TX

University General Hospital 7501 Fannin Street Houston, TX 77054 713-375-7000	Houston Surgical Consultants 6560 Fannin Suite 738 Houston, TX 77030 713-528-0597	Dr. Garth Philip Davis
		Dr. Robert Davis
	Houston Surgical Specialists 1213 Hermann Dr. Ste. 470 Houston, TX 77004 713-993-7124	Dr. Robert George Marvin
	CLIFTON THOMAS MD BARIATRICS 800-664-9177	Dr. Clifton Erwin Thomas
	Texas Laparoscopy Center (No contact info provided)	Dr. FELIX SPIEGEL

McAllen, TX

Rio Grande Regional Hospital
101 E. Ridge Road
McAllen, TX 78503
956-661-3560

Luis Reyes, M.D. P.A.
416 Lindberg Avenue
McAllen, TX 78501
(956)630-4161

Dr. Luis M. Reyes

North Richland Hills, TX

North Hills Hospital
4401 Booth Calloway
North Richland Hills, TX 76180
817-255-1720

Dr. David D. Kim Bariatric Surgery Center
35 Veranda Lane Ste 100
Colleyville, TX 76034
817-581-6100

Dr. David D. Kim

Pasadena, TX

Surgery Specialty Hospital of America - SE Campus
4301 Vista Road
Pasadena, TX 77504
713-378-3000

T. Jayakumar, MD, PA
7737 Southwest Freeway #830
HOUSTON , TX 77074
713-995-1202

Dr. Thirumalairaj Jayakumar

Plano, TX

Presbyterian Hospital of Plano 6200 W. Parker Road 7C Tower Plano, TX 75093 972-981-3861	Stephen V. Hamn, M.D.P.A. 6020 W. Parker Rd Plano, TX 75093 972-981-8440	Dr. Stephen Victor Hamn
		Dr. Allan Joseph Cribbins III

Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano
4700 Alliance Blvd.
Plano, TX 75093
469-814-2547

NICHOLSON CLINIC
5425 W. Spring Creek
Suite #140
Plano, TX 75024
972-494-3100

Dr. Nick Nicholson IV

San Antonio, TX

Methodist Healthcare System 8026 Floyd Curl Drive San Antonio, TX 78229 210-575-8111	New Dimensions Weight Loss Surgery 9150 Huebner Rd Suite #250 San Antonio, TX 78240 210-614-9210	Dr. Michael V Seger
		Dr. Lloyd Stegemann
		Dr. John Pilcher
		Dr. Frank Dauterive Duperier Jr.
		Dr. Dana Lynne Reiss
	Bridges Center for Surgical Weight Loss 7500 Barlite Blvd. Ste 311 San Antonio, TX 78224 888-870-9474	Dr. Paresh Kanu Rajajoshiwala

Southwest General Hospital
7400 Barlite Blvd
San Antonio, TX 78224
(210) 921-2000

Bridges Center for Surgical Weight Loss
7500 Barlite Blvd.
Ste 311
San Antonio, TX 78224
888-870-9474

Dr. Paresh Kanu Rajajoshiwala

Nix Hospital 414 Navarro Street San Antonio, TX 78205 210-846-2935	South Texas Surgeons, P.A. 414 Navarro Suite 810 San Antonio, TX 78205 210-220-1726	Dr. JOSEPH KEITH WRIGHT
		Dr. Gerardo Enrique Carcamo

Northeast Baptist Hospital 8811 Village Drive San Antonio, TX 78217 210-297-2034	Bridges Center for Surgical Weight Loss 7500 Barlite Blvd. Ste 311 San Antonio, TX 78224 888-870-9474	Dr. Paresh Kanu Rajajoshiwala
	Texas Center for Medical and Surgical Weight Loss 8811 Village Drive Suite 300 San Antonio, TX 78217 210-651-0303	Dr. Ramiro David Cavazos
	Texas Bariatric Specialists P.O. Box 691996 San Antonio, TX 78253 210-695-2757	Dr. Nilesh A Patel

Texarkana, TX

Wadley Regional Medical Center Lori Epperson, RN - Bariatric Coordinator 1000 Pine Street Texarkana, TX 75501 903-798-8872	Ark-La-Tex Gastric Banding 2717 Summerhill Road Texarkana, TX 75503 903-794-2263	Dr. Rachael Audrey Keilin
		Dr. Ron Hekier

Tyler, TX

East Texas Medical Center
1000 South Beckham
Tyler, TX 75701
866-886-3835

Tyler Bariatrics
1100 E. Lake
suite 230
Tyler, TX 75701
903-593-0230

Dr. Hugh Paul Babineau

Mother Frances Regional Healthcare Center
800 East Dawson
Tyler, TX 75701
903-593-8441

Trinity Clinic General Surgery
910 E Houston, Suite 550
Tyler, TX 75702
903-510-8718

Dr. Charles V Beall

Victoria, TX

Citizens Bariatric Center 2701 Hospital Drive Victoria, TX 77901 361-574-1738	Citizens Bariatric Center 2701 Hospital Drive 6th South Victoria, TX 77901 361-574-1738	Dr. Brian Dean McDaniel
		Dr. Craig G. Chang

Wichita Falls, TX

United Regional Health Care Systems
1600 11th St
Wichita Falls, TX 76301
940 764-7000

Bariatrics Of Texas
# 6 Eureka Circle
Wichita Falls, TX 76308

Dr. Kenneth M.R. Warnock

Houston Bariatric Surgeon Directory Updated

2009-10-25T18:06:00.000-07:00

Following up on the Houston Bariartic Surgery Directory, a more thorough search using the American Society of Bariatric Surgery site has produced a more comprehensive list, including the types of surgeries performed by each specialist.

Here are the surgery type codes:
LGBP - Laparoscopic Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass
LVBG - Laparoscopic Vertical Banded Gastroplasty
LB - Laparoscopic Adjustable Banding
LBPD - Laparoscopic Biliopancreatic Diversion
LBPD/DS - Laparoscopic BPD & Duodenal Switch
GBP - Standard Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass
DGBP - Distal Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass
OGBP - Other Gastric Bypass Procedures
VBG - Vertical Banded Gastroplasty
SRG - Silastic Ring Gastroplasty
GB - Gastric Banding
BGB - Banded Gastric Bypass
OGR - Other Gastric Restriction
BPD/DS - BPD & Duodenal Switch
BPD - Biliopancreatic Diversion
PED - Patients under 18
FOLL - Willing to Follow Other Surgeons Patients
REV - Revision/Conversion of Prior Procedure
SG - Sleeve Gastrectomy

And here are the types of members:
Regular Member: A general surgeon who has completed a minimum of 25 surgeries and is Board Certified and/or a Fellow of the ACS
Affiliate Surgeon Member: A general surgeon who has completed less than 25 surgeries or is not Board Certified or a Fellow of the ACS
Affiliate Physician Members: A physician or surgeon who is not a bariatric surgeon
Senior Members: A Regular or Affiliate Surgeon member who has been a member for 20 or more years or is over 65 years of age
Distinguished Member: A member of the ASMBS who has made outstanding contributions to the field of bariatric surgery
Honorary Members: A nonmember of the ASMBS who has made outstanding contributions to the field of bariatric surgery
Associate Members: An allied health care professional (i.e. nurses, dieticians, psychologists, Physician Assistants)
Affiliate Associate Members: A person actively employed in a bariatric surgical practice or hospital based bariatric program who is an Allied Health Professional.

The list below contains 30 bariatric surgeons in the greater Houston area:
Patrick R. Reardon MD
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPREV
Houston TX USA
(713) 790-3140

Vadim Sherman MD
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLBGBPOGBPGBOGRREVFOLLPED
Houston TX USA
(713) 798-8070

Brad E. Snyder MD
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLBLBPDLBPD/DSDGBPOGRBPDPEDFOLLREV
Houston TX USA
(713) 500-7250

Kulvinder S. Bajwa MD
Affiliate Surgeon Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLBGBPDGBPGBOGRFOLL
Houston TX USA
(713) 500-7250

Hadar Spivak MD (Centers of Excellence)
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLB
Houston TX USA
(713) 520-8900
About: 2 miles

Terry K. Scarborough MD (Centers of Excellence)
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLBREVGBP
Houston TX USA
(713) 493-7700
About: 2 miles

Robert G. Marvin MD (Centers of Excellence)
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLB
Houston TX USA
(713) 993-7124
About: 2 miles

Sherman C. Yu MD (Centers of Excellence)
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLBFOLLDGBPGBPREVOGRGBPED
Houston TX USA
(713) 493-7700
About: 2 miles

Audencio Alanis MD
Affiliate Surgeon Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLBREV
Houston TX USA
(713) 455-5531
About: 3 miles

Fernando E. Miranda MD (Centers of Excellence)
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLBSG
Houston TX USA
(713) 960-0590
About: 3 miles

Thomas V. Taylor MD
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLBGBPOGRBPD/DS
Houston TX USA
(713) 652-3161
About: 4 miles

Beryl L. Harberg MD (Centers of Excellence)
Senior Member
Surgeries Performed:
VBGSRGREV
Houston TX USA
(713) 963-9229
About: 5 miles

Felix Spiegel MD (Centers of Excellence)
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLBGBPOGBPBGBPEDFOLLREVSG
Houston TX USA
(713) 960-0003
About: 5 miles

Brian Mirza MD
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPDGBPBPDLVBGOGBPBPD/DSLBOGRLBPDGBPEDLBPD/DSREVFOLLVBGGBP
Houston TX USA
(713) 339-1353
About: 6 miles

Jorge Ignacio Leiva MD FACS
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLBLBPD/DSOGRPEDREV
Houston TX USA
(713) 426-2400
About: 6 miles

Thirumalairaj Jayakumar MD (Centers of Excellence)
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLBGBPREV
Houston TX USA
(713) 995-1202
About: 7 miles

Suryam Kodali MD
Affiliate Surgeon Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLB
Houston TX USA
(713) 777-1141
About: 7 miles

Horacio E. Oria MD
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
GB
Houston TX USA
(713) 468-2525
About: 8 miles

Carlos A. Ferrari MD (Centers of Excellence)
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPBPD/DSLBLBPDLBPD/DS
Houston TX USA
(713) 864-5487
About: 8 miles

Adam Naaman MD (Centers of Excellence)
Senior Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPDGBPBPD/DSLBPEDREVGBP
Houston TX USA
(713) 468-2449
About: 8 miles

Robert Davis MD (Centers of Excellence)
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLBGBPGBREVSG
Houston TX USA
(713) 464-6000
About: 8 miles

Garth P. Davis MD (Centers of Excellence)
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLBGBPGBREVSG
Houston TX USA
(713) 464-6000
About: 8 miles

Younan Nowzaradan MD
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLBLBPDLBPD/DSGBPOGRBPDBPD/DSREVFOLLPED
Houston TX USA
(713) 661-6262
About: 8 miles

Ricardo M. Bonnor MD
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLBGBPDGBPGBFOLLREVSG
Katy TX USA
(281) 579-5638
About: 11 miles

Michael A. Storey MD
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LBFOLLREV
Houston TX USA
(713) 944-5550
About: 14 miles

Said Bina MD (Centers of Excellence)
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLBSG
Houston TX USA
(281) 469-0596
About: 19 miles

Ataurrabb Ahmad MD
Affiliate Surgeon Member
Surgeries Performed:
LBSG
Houston TX USA
(281) 970-8484
About: 19 miles

Voravit Wongsa MD (Centers of Excellence)
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPGBPREV
Houston TX USA
(662) 286-2419
About: 20 miles

Kenneth W. Hollis MD
Regular Member
Webster TX USA
(281) 482-5300
About: 20 miles

Philip L. Leggett MD (Centers of Excellence)
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLBGBPREV
Houston TX USA
(281) 580-6797
About: 21 miles

Dexter G. Turnquest MD (Centers of Excellence)
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLBREVSG
Houston TX USA
(281) 444-8090
About: 21 miles

Matthew J. St. Laurent MD
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLBPEDREVSG
Houston TX USA
(281) 921-1890
About: 21 miles

Bradley S. Waggoner MD
Affiliate Surgeon Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLBGBP
Cypress TX USA
(281) 640-8373
About: 26 miles

Harvinderpal Singh MD
Affiliate Surgeon Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLBREV
Tomball TX USA
(281) 290-6300
About: 29 miles

Jason M. Balette MD
Regular Member
Surgeries Performed:
LGBPLBOGRFOLL
The Woodlands TX USA
(281) 419-8400
About: 30 miles

Houston Bariatric Surgery Directory

2009-09-27T12:17:00.000-07:00

The following is a list of bariatric surgeons practicing in Houston, Texas. The list is organized alphabetically.

Audencio Alanis, MD
4140 South West Freeway Suite 425
Houston, Texas 77027

Steven Fath, MD
Weight Loss, Cosmetic & Surgical Centers of America
2626 S Loop W Ste 600
Houston, Texas (TX) 77054

Carlos A. Ferrari, MD
915 Gessner
Suite # 375
Houston, TX 77024
Phone: (713) 864-5487

Ken Hollis, MD
Felix Spiegel, MD, FACS
Hadar Spivak, MD, FACS
Richard Wilkenfeld, MD
Duc C. Vuong, MD
Robert Thompson, MD
True Results Surgery Center of Houston
7515 South Main Street, 8th Floor
Green Park One Building
Houston, Texas 77030
(800) 948-5106

Dr. Philip Leggett
800 Peakwood Dr
Houston, TX‎
(281) 580-6797‎

Dr. Fernando Miranda
4141 Southwest Fwy
Houston, TX‎
(713) 960-0590‎

Dr. Adam Naaman
Suite 241, 909 Frostwood Drive
Houston, TX‎
(713) 468-2449‎

Dr. Horacio E Oria, MD
8830 Long Point Road Suite 506
Houston, Texas 77055

Dr. Terry Scarborough
1200 Binz Street 950
Houston, TX‎
(713) 493-7700‎

Dr. Vadim Sherman
Baylor Clinic
6620 Main, Suite 1475
Houston, Texas 77030
General Information: (713) 798-5662

Dr. Hadar Spivak
1200 Binz St
Houston, TX‎
(713) 520-8900

Dr. Lloyd Stegemann
Weight Loss, Cosmetic & Surgical Centers of America
2626 S Loop W Ste 600
Houston , Texas (TX) 77054

Dr. Thomas V Taylor, MD
1315 Street Joseph Parkway
Houston, Texas 77002

Dr. Robert Thompson
1200 Binz 1200
Houston, TX‎
(713) 533-1922‎

Dr. Dexter G. Turnquest
Weight Loss, Cosmetic & Surgical Centers of America
2626 S Loop W Ste 600
Houston , Texas (TX) 77054

Dr. Voravit Wongsa
Suite 305, 11302 Fallbrook Drive
Houston, TX‎
(281) 894-9200‎

Dr. Sherman Yu
1200 Binz Street 950
Houston, TX‎
(713) 493-7700‎

Being on this list does not constitute an endorsement of these practices; the information is provided as is merely as a service to those interested in bariatric surgery.

Laparoscopic Banding Bariatric Surgery

2009-09-09T23:36:00.000-07:00

A common alternative to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (and sometimes a precursor) is adjustable laparoscopic banding (aka Lap-Band). Like a gastric bypass, the procedure is a full surgical procedure requiring anesthesia. However, it is not invasive as a gastric bypass and requires less recovery time, but often has less dramatic results as well.

What is a adjustable laparoscopic banding (Lap-Band)?

Adjustable laparoscopic banding, or lap-banding, involves the placement of an adjustable inflatable device around the stomach via laparoscopic surgery. This form of surgery does not require a full stomach incision, but rather uses three to five small incisions for "ports" which allow for a camera and instruments to be inserted into the abdominal cavity. Laparoscopic surgery is also known as minimally invasive surgery.

The procedure is as follows. First, the patient is brought into the operating room and placed under general anesthesia by an anesthesiologist. Then, the ports are placed into the abdomen, starting with the camera. After visualizing the stomach, the lap band is introduced and placed around the stomach, creating two pouches. The band itself is connected via a tube to a small port with a membranous covering. This port is sutured into the muscle near the skin. After the procedure, saline can be injected or removed via this port to adjust the size of the band. When saline is injected in the port, its pressure is transmitted via the tube to the lap-band, causing the band to constrict around the stomach and reduce the size of the pouch, the size of the passage from the proximal pouch to the distal pouch, or both. After the placement of the band and port, the laparoscopic ports are removed.

How does laparoscopic banding lead to weight loss?

As mentioned previously, all bariatric surgery works either by reducing the volume available for digestion, the amount of digestive tissue, or both. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass works by doing both; in contrast, lap banding only reduces the volume available for digestion but does not affect the amount of digestive tissue available. It promotes weight loss because when the patient eats after the procedure, the smaller proximal pouch fills quickly, giving the sensation of satiation. Additionally, the band reduces the speed that food passes through the stomach and into the digestive tract.

What are the benefits of laparoscopic banding over gastric bypass?

There are several benefits to laparoscopic banding, besides the obvious fact that it is a less invasive procedure. Wikipedia lists the following few:

Lower mortality rate: only 1 in 2000 versus 1 in 250 for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery
Fully reversible: stomach returns to normal if the band is removed
No cutting or stapling of the stomach
Short hospital stay
Quick recovery
Adjustable without additional surgery
No malabsorption issues (because no intestines are bypassed)
Fewer life threatening complications

Additionally, the procedure will often be more affordable for the patient. Initially, weight loss is not as drastic as with bypass; however, over time, with proper behavior modification, lap banding approaches the weight loss achieved by gastric bypass.

Tips For A Successful Laparoscopic Banding Procedure

Research the procedure beforehand. Find out who will be performing the procedure and how much experience they have. Don't forget that you still need to follow healthy habits, such as eating right and exercising. Simply having the procedure alone will not change your life permanently. If you continue to eat high calorie foods, you will eventually gain back all the weight you lose in the first few months after the procedure. Remember, the procedure is an extreme effort to help you lose your weight, but at the end of the day, you are in control and in charge of your weight loss, not the surgeon's knife. Help the procedure help you.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Bariatric Surgery

2009-08-19T20:45:00.000-07:00

When individuals start to consider weight loss surgery, they typically think of something commonly called "stomach stapling." However, the technical name for the most common bariatric surgical procedure is a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure. The procedure is a significant operation requiring full anesthesia and a fellowship trained surgeon who is comfortable doing such bariatric procedures.

What is a Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass?

The most common bariatric surgical procedure is a Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. The procedure can be performed as either an open abdominal procedure via a midline abdominal incision or as a laparoscopic procedure, in which several small incisions are made in the abdomen. Through one incision, a small fiberoptic camera is passed. Through the other incisions, ports are placed through which instruments are passed and the procedure performed. Bariatric surgery is increasingly being performed laparoscopically due to the decreased hospital time required for recovery, although the procedures do require more technical skill. Overall, laparoscopic surgery is equally effective as open surgery.

The procedure's aims are as follows. First, the stomach is divided into two parts: a small pouch through which food will pass, and a second pouch, which will not be used in digestion. Dividing the stomach in this manner creates the volume restriction that will allow patients to feel "full" or "satiated" early in a meal. Then, the small intestine is divided about 45 centimeters past the gastric outlet. There will now be one end connected to the second non-functional stomach pouch, and one free end. The free end will be connected (anastomosed) to the small stomach pouch, while the end connected to the nonfunctional pouch will be reconnected to the small intestine further down along the GI tract. The end connected to the new, smaller stomach is called the "Roux" limb since it is the route food will take. If you were to draw this out, you would now see that the small intestine now takes the shape of a Y as the two limbs join together, hence the name "Roux-en-Y".

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery Diagram
(Source: Wikipedia)

The term "stomach stapling" comes from the fact that in older versions of the operation, the stomach was not split into two pouches, but rather partitioned simply using staples, hence "stomach stapling." However, this is no longer recommended as the stomach occasionally would heal over the staples, defeating the purpose of the surgery.

Who should get a Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass?

In general, patients who are morbidly obese who have failed other weight loss programs are candidates for weight loss surgery. The concept of 'morbid obesity' can be measured using a statistic called the "Body Mass Index" or BMI. Basically, this statistic normalizes one's weight based on one's height. Without it, one could not tell the difference between a 150lb man who was 5 feet tall versus one who was 150 lbs and 7 feet tall. Most BMIs fall between 18 and 50. A normal BMI is between 18 and 25, overweight 25 to 30, obese 30 and above, morbidly obese 40 and above. Anyone with a BMI over 40, or a BMI over 35 with other medical issues, is potentially a candidate for bariatric surgery.

Tips For A Successful Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Procedure

Research the procedure beforehand. Find out who will be performing the procedure and how much experience they have. Don't forget that you still need to follow healthy habits, such as eating right and exercising. Simply having the procedure alone will not change your life permanently. If you continue to eat high calorie foods, you will eventually gain back all the weight you lose in the first few months after the procedure. Remember, the procedure is an extreme effort to help you lose your weight, but at the end of the day, you are in control and in charge of your weight loss, not the surgeon's knife. Help the procedure help you.

What Is Bariatric Surgery?

2009-08-15T15:50:00.000-07:00

If you are reading this blog, odds are you are interested in weight loss. You want to take charge of your life and be in control of your body. You want to eat to live, not live to eat. Many of us have struggled with the demons of weight loss and gain. There are fad diets, new exercises, all kinds of plans. Eventually, after you had considered all these options non-medical options, you may have considered what professional medicine had to offer for you. Perhaps you have heard of medications like Alli (Orlistat), a weight loss aid that helps control appetite. Still, you heard of even more radical options being offered: weight loss surgery. Specifically, bariatric surgery. And you wanted to know more.

What is bariatric surgery?

Weight loss surgery is often called bariatric surgery. These surgeries are performed on the gastrointestinal tract of patients who are morbidly obese, typically those with Body Mass Index > 40 who have failed other weight loss regimens. The most common procedures are the gastric bypass (also known as a Roux-en-Y procedure) and gastric banding (sometimes referred to as "lap banding" because it is done laparoscopically). According to the Mayo Clinic:

Weight-loss (bariatric) surgery changes the anatomy of your digestive system to limit the amount of food you can eat and digest. The surgery aids in weight loss and lowers your risk of medical problems associated with obesity.

Gastric bypass is the favored bariatric surgery in the United States. Surgeons prefer this surgery because it's safer and has fewer complications than other available weight-loss surgeries. It can provide long-term, consistent weight loss if accompanied with ongoing behavior changes.

Gastric bypass isn't for everyone with obesity, however. It's a major procedure that poses significant risks and side effects and requires permanent changes in your lifestyle. Before deciding to go forward with the surgery, it's important to understand what's involved and what lifestyle changes you must make. In large part, the success of the surgery is up to you.

The key sentence from the Mayo clinic is: In large part, the success of the surgery is up to you.

What this means is that as a patient, it is your responsibility to educate yourself about how bariatric surgery works and what you can do before and after the procedure to ensure that it is a success. Remember, bariatric surgery is not a magical cure for obesity. In some ways, it is an extreme measure taken for people who are unable to lose weight by any other means. People can, and have, gained back all the weight they lost after bariatric surgery by not being full committed. The key is commitment.

How does bariatric surgery lead to weight loss?

In general, the procedures work by limiting either the amount of volume/space available for digestion within the GI tract, the amount of digestive/absorptive capacity of the GI tract, or both. Future posts will go into greater detail about particular procedures, but this is the basic principle underlying bariatric procedures. A simplified view of the gastrointestinal tract makes it clear why bariatric surgery is effective weight loss surgery.

After food enters the mouth, it begins the process of digestion. It travels down the esophagus to the stomach, where it undergoes further breakdown. The food then passes from the stomach into the small intestine, where it begins to be absorbed. A majority of nutrient absorption occurs here, prior to the food being expelled into the large intestine. The large bowel is primarily involved in absorbing water from food and then excreting the by-product.

By reducing the size of the stomach, bariatric surgery mechanically reduces how much one can take in as nutrition. By removing part of the small intestine, bariatric surgery can also decrease how much is absorbed into the body. After the procedure, food that used to be fully absorbed is now partially absorbed, with the leftover being excreted via the colon.

Stay tuned for future posts that go into detail about these procedures, the pros/cons, and the key information you need to make your surgery a success.

Disclaimer And Privacy Policy

2009-08-11T20:58:00.000-07:00

DISCLAIMER: The information contained within Houston Weight Loss Surgery is provided as is. The information is provided for general interest. Opinions contained within are solely those of the author and do not represent any other body or institution. The information contained within does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your physician with any specific medical concerns and before engaging in any weight loss activity.

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Contact Us

2009-08-10T20:57:00.000-07:00

For more information on Houston Weight Loss Surgery, contact minavablogs(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Why Start A Blog About Weight Loss?

2009-08-09T20:49:00.001-07:00

The post title is a question I have pondered for a while: Should I start a blog about weight loss? Specifically weight loss surgery?

On the one hand, I am not morbidly obese nor have I undergone weight loss surgery myself. However, on the other, I have struggled with weight issues for a long time. The most unique contribution I have though is, given my role in the medical field, I have actually been on the other end of the scalpel and seen weight loss surgeries from the operating room perspective. While I do not have the most experience and do not claim to have performed any surgeries myself, I have seen how the procedures are performed, what some of the various options are, and some of the potential complications. The most important thing for anyone serious about weight loss, and weight loss surgery in particular, is to go into the procedure knowing the benefits and risks very, very well. This site aims to help in that endeavor.

About Houston Weight Loss Surgery

The reason for Houston in the title is that this is where the majority of my experiences occurred. Houston is not only the 4th largest city in the U.S., but also its fattest. I do not have concrete data to back this up, but I believe that more bariatric surgeries occur per capita in Houston than any other city in the U.S., and perhaps the world. Given this, it is important to have an information source targeted specifically at the issues facing Houstonians interested in weight loss surgery. This blog will discuss how procedures are performed, the limited benefits, the possible risks and complications, as well as future options for persons interested in gastric surgeries for weight loss. This information is available in many disparate locations on the web, but the blog aims to collect them in one location in an easy to digest format for the casual reader. Suggestions for topics are more than welcome, as are questions. Welcome!