Gastric Bypass Surgery

Lap Band Surgery in Griffin, GA

2009-06-19T17:19:00.000-07:00

Bariatric surgery is like lap band surgery in many other cities in America today. This procedure is being performed on an outpatient basis in outpatient surgery centers and has almost become commonplace. This county has a problem with obesity and the lap band has added years to the lives of many people that are severely overweight.

If you have a Body Mass index of 40 or more and are 100 pounds over weight, gastric bypass surgery may be a weight loss solution. Weight loss surgery is sometimes performed on people that three fourths of these figures that have conditions related to being overweight. This surgery can be life saving for someone that suffers from high blood pressure, type II diabetes and sleep apnea, to name a few. Lap band surgery in Griffin, GA can help you regain your health.

The lap band is a silicon band that is adjustable and it is placed around the top of the stomach forming a small pouch. The gastric band is attached to a port that is implanted under the skin of the stomach. Adding or removing saline from the port adjusts the tightness of the band around the stomach. With the stomach pouch holding about 1 ounce, it is easy to see the patient can feel full on very little food.

Like any surgery, the lap band is not without its risks. But if the truth be told, the health risks associated with obesity are far greater than those associated with having the gastric banding procedure. There is extensive counseling and pre-op education required before obesity surgery. In order to be successful and maintain your weight loss, it is recommended that you participate in some type of after care or support group.

Lap band surgery in Griffin, GA can be life changing, but lap band surgery is only a tool and you are going to get out of it what you put into it. Success will come as long as you are willing to make lifestyle changes.

What Will Lap Band Surgery Cost?

2009-06-18T18:36:00.000-07:00

If you are considering lap band surgery, it will not be long before you start thinking about the cost of lap band surgery. There may still be an out-of-pocket expense, even if you have insurance. Depending on your insurance plan, you may not have much of an out-of-pocket expense.

I had a RNY(the stomach stapling type of gastric bypass surgery) and did not even bother to find out how much of the cost of the surgery was covered by my insurance company. To me, it did not matter the cost, I was going to have the surgery anyway. There was a lady that was in one of my support groups whose insurance policy cover 50% of the cost and she had the same providet as I. I had the surgery.

I got a $31,000 bill a month later. All I could think of was how long I was going to be paying for this surgery. Thirty days later the bill came again and you can imagine my surprise when the bill had $250 in the amount due field. I wrote that check very quickly. Only your insurance company can tell you what your out of pocket expense will be.

Lap band surgery is a lot less expensive than the RNY, because there is no reconstruction involved. Gastric banding was not covered by my insurance company, at the time I had my surgery. The cost of gastric banding is covered by many insurance companies.

However, the cost of lap band surgery is relatively inexpensive as far as surgeries go. And it is definitely less than the cost of obesity related medical issues. The cost of this type of weight loss surgery is generally between $10,000 and $20,000. There are numerous bariatric surgery facilities that offer financing and both the Lap Band and Realize Band manufacturers offer financing for their products. The cost of lap band surgery is less than the price of a new car.

The Cost of Lap Band Surgery Decreasing

2008-01-01T09:04:00.001-08:00

As the lap band surgery procedure is performed more often, the cost of lap band surgery is decreasing. This surgery can be found at almost any gastric banding clinic or hospital between the price of $10K-$15K. Although, I am starting see indications that this price is decreasing.

I have seen a few places that are now advertising this surgery for less than $10K and I expect there will be more of this to come. If you do not carry insurance that covers this surgery, Medicare has begun paying for this health sustaining surgery.

Many gastric bypass surgery clinics offer payment plans to cover the cost of lap band surgery. If you have tried other weight loss plans with limited or no success, you may want to consider lap band surgery. But you must also realize that this surgery is only a tool and it will require lifestyle changes on your part to maintain a healthy weight after lap band surgery.

Tags: lap band surgery, cost of lap band surgery, adjustable lap band surgery, bariatric surgery, lap band surgery cost

The Risks of Gastric Bypass Surgery

2007-02-03T15:19:00.000-08:00

Gastric bypass surgery is quickly growing as a viable weight loss option for people who suffer from obesity. There are many benefits to weight loss surgery and the surgery has given may people back their health and their life. As with everything else in life, there is also a downside. Gastric bypass surgery is considered major surgery and is not without its risks.

According to the International Size Acceptance Association (ISAA), about 45,000 people have undergone weight loss surgery since 2001 and this figure is increasing to the tune of about 150,000 people per year. Weight loss surgery is becoming more affordable as more insurance companies and Medicare are opting to pay for the life lengthening surgery. It is important to understand certain facts about weight loss surgery before going forward with the procedure.

Most surgeons require that you be 100 pounds overweight and have a body mass index of at least 40. They will perform the surgery for lower requirements if the patient has certain other obesity related medical conditions that are detrimental to your health. You must realize bariatric surgery is usually performed after many other weight loss options have failed. In other words, gastric bypass surgery is a “last resort” option.

Weight loss surgery is only a tool. It will get you started and the rest is up to you. It is reported that about 1 in 1,000 patients die within a month of surgery and 3 in 1,000 die within 3 months of weight loss surgery. Nutritional deficiency is a big concern because of the food bypassing the duodenum. The food can not efficiently be absorbed by the body.

Some of the other risks associated with gastric bypass surgery are infection, blood clots, bleeding, complications due to anesthesia and medications, heart problems, spleen injury, spleen removal, leaking from the staples, ulcers and narrowing of blood vessels. Most gastric bypass surgeries are performed lapriscopically, but in some cases it is necessary to perform an open surgery.

Some patients will experience an iron deficiency due to the body not absorbing iron and calcium as efficiently as it did prior to the surgery. Chronic anemia can also be a possibility, but this can usually be managed by pills. Osteoporosis can also occur due to the lack of calcium. There is a chance you may experience some of the following minor side effects: dumping syndrome, gall stones, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, bloating, excessive sweating, dizziness and increased gas.

Gastric bypass surgery is not without its risks, but neither is obesity. So it basically a matter of whether you consider the benefits to outweigh the risks. The chances that you will die of an obesity related condition are greater than the chances you will die as a result of the surgery, but in the end this is only a decision that can be made by you if this is your life.

gastric bypass surgery, gastric bypass surgery risks, lap band surgery, weight loss surgery

Pre-op Gastric Bypass Checklist

2007-01-30T15:28:00.000-08:00

You have been preparing for your weight loss surgery for the past six months and you are filled with anticipation at thought of regaining your health and losing weight. Your surgery date is fast approaching, but are you really ready for what is to come? Here are some things you will want to make sure that you understand and take in to consideration as you prepare for your new, thinner life.

There is one thing you must understand. Regardless of the type of gastric bypass surgery that you have, at first you will lose weight quickly, but ultimately how much weight you lose and keep off will depend on how effectively you make lifestyle changes. In order to reach your goals, you should avoid sugar as much as possible, choose low-fat foods, eat 3 small meals with 2-3 snacks and exercise 3-5 times per week. These basic steps will be a big part of achieving your goals.

Make sure you have completed the following checklist and you understand each item:

Keep food records and share them with your counselor or dietician.
Avoid all sweets, sugars, desserts and sweetened beverages.
Take mineral supplements and multiple vitamins on a daily basis.
Eat 6 small meals each day.
Gradually discontinue drinking caffeine, carbonated beverages and alcohol and begin increasing sugar-free beverages and water.
Learn about protein and protein sources as they pertain to your post-op diet plan.
Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet.
Reduce your fried food, added fats and fast foods that are high in fat.
Sip liquids. Practice eating your meals without beverages.
Eat meals very slowly and chew thoroughly.
Read and understand a blended diet and taste blended foods, baby foods and protein drinks.
Make a grocery list of proper foods for a blended diet and make a 3 day menu.
Understand what will happen while you are in the hospital.

Gastric bypass surgery can be the beginning of a new life. Your life is going to change dramatically. If you had high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea these conditions will likely be reduced and may even disappear completely. Your health is just the start of the changes you will experience. You will be able tie your shoes and cross your legs, probably something you have not thought about for a long while.

Remember, gastric bypass surgery is only a tool. It will get you started and the rest will depend on the changes that you make in your lifestyle.

weight loss surgery, gastric bypass surgery, bariatric surgery, lap band surgery

Senior Citizens and Gastric Bypass Surgery

2006-08-21T18:36:00.000-07:00

The latest research is showing that senior citizens and teenagers are benefiting from gastric bypass surgery as much as middle aged adults. The study showed that adults over 60 did not have any more complications than anybody else.

Senior citizens also saw a decrease in blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. They experienced positive affects on their sleep apnea, acid reflux disease and the surgery has been know to extend the life of their knees and hips.

Weight loss surgery is performed on over 150,000 people a year in the United States and only about 1 to 2 percent of these people are senior citizens, but that number is expected to increase in the future.

Deciding to have gastric bypass surgery is a difficult decision to make, but it is a decision I am glad I made.

Gastric Bypass Surgery Risks

2006-08-19T20:56:00.000-07:00

Gastric Bypass Surgery Risks

Gastric bypass surgery is considered major surgery and like all other major surgeries, it is not without its risks.

An infection of the incision or a leak from the stomach into the abdominal cavity at the location where the intestine is connected are two of the biggest complication with gastric bypass surgery. With all surgeries you are at risk for pulmonary embolisms (a blood clot in the lung). Gastric bypass patients are also at risk gallstones, anemia and osteoporosis.

About 1% of all people that have gastric bypass surgery will die from it.

The following conditions may occur after having a Roux-en-Y procedure:

Your stomach staples may pull loose
You may have hiccups and bloating due to the bypassed stomach enlarging.
You may develop ulcers or hernia.
Problems with nausea and vomiting may exist due to a narrowing between the stomach and the intestine.
Iron deficiency and even anemia may become a problem.

You will have to decide if these risks are worth taking for the benefit of being able to return to a healthy weight. Fortunately, I did not experience any of these side effects as a result of having this surgery.

The Benefits of Lap Band Surgery

2006-08-18T17:10:00.000-07:00

Lap band surgery is a type of gastric bypass surgery that is relatively new to this country. It is relatively simple compared to the other types of gastric bypass surgery that have typically been performed in the past.

Simply put, this procedure is performed by placing a band around the upper part of the stomach through a small incision in the abdomen. This procedure is much less invasive than the more commonly performed Roux-en-Y procedure.

Some of the benefits of having lap bad surgery are:

• Shorter hospital stay (no more than 48 hours)
• Shorter recovery period (3-7 days)
• No stomach incision is required
• No staples are needed in the stomach
• The stomach size can be changed without surgery
• The procedure can be completely reversed, if necessary

At the time I had my surgery, my insurance company would not cover lap band surgery. I believe you will see that changing due to the growing problem of obesity in this country. I also believe the cost of lap band surgery will be less than the cost of ongoing medical care for a person that has all the normal medical problems associated with being overweight. I think that the number of lap band surgeries performed in this country will rise as people seek a solution to their weight problem.

Eating Enough Calories after Gastric Bypass Surgery

2006-08-17T19:01:00.000-07:00

One thing most people do not consider after having gastric bypass surgery is how severely their calorie intake will be restricted. It takes at least 800 calories to function properly and 1000-1200 is better.

For the first two months following surgery, you will be doing good to be able to eat 400-500 calories daily. With this being the case, you are probably going to find that you are very tired. It is very important that you make every calorie count and that they all be calories with nutritional value.

At that early stage, your protein intake is going to be your biggest concern. At that point in time, after my surgery, everything I ate was protein. The shakes are very convenient and most of them have at least 20 grams of protein per shake. You just have to watch the sugar content, because a lot of protein shakes are also high in sugar (they are trying to cover up that taste).

I also ate a lot of tuna and salmon. My dietician wanted me to have at least 60 grams of protein daily. Cottage cheese, salmon and tuna are all very high in protein. I ate all of these things pretty much right from the beginning. I remember pureeing salmon two days after I was home from the hospital. It wasn’t like I thought it would be (I am not sure how I thought it would be), but it worked for me at the time.

The first few months are rough, but if you do what you are told and what you know you should, there is going to be a thinner and healthier you on the other side.

Recovery After Gastric Bypass Surgery

2006-08-16T20:24:00.000-07:00

The first two months after my surgery was the most difficult, but this is true of most any surgery. My surgery was done lapriscopically and I had five, one inch incisions that had pieces of tape over them that fell off after a week.

I was granted six weeks of disability, something my employer was not thrilled about and they actually tried to get me to change the date to suit them. They did eventually see it my way. I did return to work after two weeks and worked half days for a week and then returned to work full time on the third week. If your job is physical, you may need the whole six weeks. I sit behind a desk.

These are your food options for the first two weeks; protein shakes, baby food or pureed and strained food. Sounds delicious, doesn't it. This sounds boring and it is, but trust me, solid food can be very painful. About a week after surgery, I began eating soft foods and chewing the heck out of them. This not what is recommended, but when I told the dietician she seemed almost pleased. I guess this meant I was progressing normally.

You gradually add different foods as time goes on and you should be able to eat almost everything at the end of two months, except the dreaded sugar. Although at this point, sugar does not cause me lot of problems. So once again, it is up to me to control my sugar intake.

I tend to stay away from foods that are really firm, such as; steaks, hamburgers and some chicken breasts. Learning to eat again is a process and I feel am very lucky. I am able to enjoy most everything I did before, just a whole lot less of it.

Gastric Bypass Surgery at a Glance

2006-08-15T18:30:00.000-07:00

Have you been considering having gastric bypass surgery and you want a general idea about what might be involved? Gastric bypass surgery has become very popular today and has restored the health of many of its recipients.

Gastric bypass surgery reduces the size of the stomach and allows food to bypass some of the small intestine. Gastric bypass surgery causes you to become full more quickly and as a result you will consume less food. Fewer calories are absorbed as a result of part of the small intestine being bypassed. This process will lead to rapid weight loss, especially during the first 6 months following the surgery.

The Roux-en-Y is the most common type of gastric bypass surgery today with the lap band quickly growing in popularity. The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery is performed by reducing the stomach to a small pouch by stapling the stomach. This small pouch is connected to the middle part of the intestine. This will cause the rest of the stomach and the upper part of the small intestine to bypassed.

Both types of gastric bypass surgery can be performed either lapriscopically (through small incisions with a scope) or through and incision in the stomach.

Gastric Bypass Surgery and Losing Weight

2006-08-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

When I first started researching gastric bypass surgery, I was under the impression that losing weight would be a piece of cake. Not true. I had about 130 pounds to lose and I figured all I had to do was have the surgery and the pounds would just drop off.

In my case, the first 60 pounds was pretty easy. After all, my stomach was the size of an egg. How much food could it really hold. But as time goes on, things change. The stomach, being a muscle, will stretch and you will soon find you will be able to eat more. At least this was true in my case.

After that first six months, I felt I was no different than anyone else as far as losing weight goes. Now I had to work at it and heaven forbid, I even have to get off the couch and move around once in a while.

In the pre-op classes I took, they told a lot of horror stories about how sick sugar was going to make me. I wish that were true and don't get me wrong it does cause some people to suffer from dumping syndrome, but not me. I sometimes wish it did bother me to eat sugar that way I would be less tempted by it, but I have very little ill effects from eating sugar.

I have come to the realization that losing the rest of my weight is going to be all about making peace with my relationship with food and having a good plan to deal with life on life's terms.

Gastric Bypass Surgery and My New Life

2006-08-12T18:45:00.000-07:00

I have decide to take this journal in a little bit of a different direction and talk about things that are little bit more personal to me. I had gastric bypass surgery September 7, 2005 and I consider that the first day of the rest of my life. Things have changed tremendously for me since that day.

The first 2-3 months are not easy, but it kind of reminds me of child birth in the respect that as time passes you tend to forget the pain you went through to get where you are today. As time goes by, you begin seeing the rewards of the pain and suffering you endured early on. Today, I almost go as far as calling my gastric bypass surgery a gift from God, because my life has changed so much for the better.

I know longer have high blood pressure and I do not take any medication for weight related issues. I no longer have sleep apnea and my sugar levels are more normal. These are the medical things that have changed.

I have more energy and I can cross my legs again. This is something that people that are not obese take for granted, but not having been able to do this for so long, it is a small thing that I take great pleasure in being able to do again. There are many small things that everybody else takes for granted that have become part of my life.

Gastric bypass surgery has been a life saver for me and hopefully it will increase my life for many years, but there are also many misconceptions the general public has about this surgery. More about those tomorrow.

The Gastric Bypass Surgery Pre-op Process

2006-06-13T09:59:00.000-07:00

Have you been on a diet for the past ten years and you weigh more now than you did when you started your diet? Does this sound familiar? Have you lost 250 pounds, except it was the same 25 pounds 10 times over? Thousands of people are having gastric bypass surgery every year. Its popularity is growing everyday.

Are you considering gastric bypass surgery, but you don't know where to start? When I embarked on this journey, my first step was doing research on the internet. This will familiarize you with different procedures available and what kind of post-op side effects you can expect from each type of gastric bypass surgery. You will also want to read about post-op eating and exercise.

Being 100 pounds overweight and having a BMI (body mass index) of 40 is required for surgery. Doctors may make exceptions on the weight, if the patient has serious medical conditions (high blood pressure, diabetes or sleep happen).
If you meet this criterion, you will then begin the lengthy process of being pre-qualified for the procedure. Briefly things you will need to do are:

Find a surgeon that is in your insurance network
Get a referral to that surgeon from your PCP
Get letters and fill out forms that prove the surgery is medically necessary

These are the events that I went through before my surgery:

Found a surgeon with an excellent reputation that was covered by my insurance
Filled out a packet of information including a detailed medical history and very detailed history of weight loss programs I had participated in, in the past 5 years
Participated in a 6 month medically monitored weight loss program (they want to make sure you know how to eat healthy and exercise regularly)
Got a referral letter from my PCP to my surgeon
Had pre-op blood work and a physical exam done by PCP
Had a consultation with a dietician
Had a consultation with a psychiatrist
Was prequalified by my insurance company
Had a consultation with my surgeon
Attended a class explaining eating after surgery

For me, this process took about a year, but I did not know exactly what I wanted to do when I originally started the process. It can probably be done in as little as 3 months. The biggest determining factor, in how long your pre-op qualifying takes, is what your insurance company requires from you. Be patient, this process is time consuming and at times frustrating., but I considered the results worth the time and frustration.

Lap Band Surgery

2006-06-12T06:35:00.000-07:00

Lap band surgery is a type of gastric bypass surgery. Gastric bypass surgery is sometimes referred to as weight loss surgery or bariatric surgery. The major benefit that lap band surgery offers over the Roux-en-Y, the other type of gastric bypass surgery commonly performed, is that it is a much less invasive type of surgery. Your hospital stay and recovery period will be much shorter than the time required for a Roux-en-Y.

Before any type of gastric bypass surgery is performed you will be required to go through many pre-operative tests and screenings. In most cases you will be required to meet with a psychiatrist and may be required to attend pre-operative and post-operative nutrition classes.

The purpose of this surgery is to restrict the size of the stomach, creating a small pouch, allowing limited food intake. This is done by placing a band around the stomach and adjusting it to control the size of the stomach.

A tiny incision is made on the outside of the stomach and the band is placed around the upper part of the stomach through that incision. This procedure considerably reduces the size of the stomach, allowing you to feel full with less food intake.

General anesthesia is required for this operation and should take less than an hour to complete. The band can be inflated anytime after the procedure, allowing the the recipient to continue to lose weight until their goal weight is reached. Saline is injected into a port under the skin in the stomach wall. This procedure take about 15 minutes and is painless.

Some of the benefits of lap band surgery are no cutting being done on your stomach, the stomach size can be adjusted, the lap band can be removed and completely reversed and a short hospital stay and recovery period is all that is involved.

Gastric Bypass Surgery--Some Things to Consider

2006-06-11T15:59:00.000-07:00

With more than one third of this country's population being considered obese, more people are turning to gastric bypass surgery for a way out. If you happen to be one of these people and think that lap band surgery or a roux-en-y might be an easy way out, think again. It can be your answer to living a longer and healthier life, but don't think it comes without certain risks and hard work.

The following are some things to consider when you are evaluating what your weight loss options are:

This surgery will force you to change your eating habits. You will have problems, if you overeat, especially sugar.
Gastric bypass surgery is a last resort, something that is used after many other options have failed.
Bariatric Surgery is considered major surgery and is not quick and easy fix.
This surgery costs in excess of $20,000, but most insurance companies are starting to pay for it, especially since Medicare has made the decision to pay for it.
Most people will lose 100 pounds or more, but not everbody reaches their goal weight, although they will usually lose enough to be healthy.
You must be 100 pounds overweight to be considered for surgery, unless you have serious medical issues, such as; high blood pressure, diabetes or sleep apnea.
Some surgeons will operate on teenagers and some on people over 60.

Studies show that an obese person that has had gastric bypass surgery will have maintained 60% of their weight loss 10 years later. Without the surgery most of these people would have probably not lost more that 10% of their total body weight. Success depends on the person's ability to make lifestyle changes.