Bariatric surgery

Bariatric surgery can help to improve or reverse dangerous health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea. It can also reduce your chances of getting cancer.

After surgery and recovery, you’ll be able to move better. You’ll feel better and have more energy to do the things you want to do with the people you care about. You’ll be able to live a more fulfilled life.

Weight loss is a journey. You don’t wake up from surgery skinny and ready to live your new life. It takes a lifelong commitment.

Weight loss surgery doesn’t work for everyone. But if you partner with a doctor, weight loss surgery can be an effective way to lose weight and keep weight off long term.

If you are 100 pounds or more overweight with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher, you may be a candidate for weight loss surgery.

Weight loss surgery may be a good choice for you if you have a medical condition that is made worse by your weight, such as:

• Diabetes
• Heart failure
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Sleep apnea

It’s always best to work with a doctor who specializes in weight loss surgery to find out if surgery is a good option for you.

There are several signs that show you may be mentally and emotionally ready for surgery, including:

• You’re tired of not feeling well.
• Your weight affects your quality of life. 
• You’re not able to do the things you want to do because of your weight.
• You understand weight loss surgery is a tool, not a quick fix.
• You’re ready to make a lifelong commitment to eating and living differently.

There are several types of weight loss surgery. Deciding which procedure (surgery) to go with can be overwhelming. We’ll work with you to help you decide which one is right for you.

The types of surgery include: 

• Sleeve gastrectomy: removes most of the stomach and changes it into a small sleeve shape
• Gastric bypass: creates a smaller stomach and bypasses (goes around) part of the small intestines
• Gastric band: places a silicone band around the upper part of the stomach to make it smaller
• Conversion: creates a transition from a gastric band to a sleeve or bypass 

You and your surgeon will talk about all these options and determine which type of weight loss surgery may be right for you.

Some people want to have surgery as soon as possible. And a lot of bariatric surgery teams want to get you in and out as quickly as possible. This can leave you feeling alone and unsure.

We’re different. At USMD, we partner with you through every step of your weight loss journey — from your first appointment to your last appointment. And as you transition into support groups.

We take a very careful approach to make sure you’re ready. The road to surgery often takes six to eight months.

When you arrive at your first appointment, you’ll meet your surgeon. Your surgeon leads your surgery team. You’ll meet with your surgeon regularly for six to eight months.

During this time, you’ll talk about your lifestyle, your goals and the type of weight loss surgery that may be best for you. You’ll talk about how you’re feeling, exercise, eating habits and strategies to help you succeed with your weight loss journey.

You’ll also work with other health experts to help you get ready for your new life, such as a nutritionist or a psychologist. Once the team agrees you’re ready, we’ll move ahead with surgery as a team.

Before your surgery, we make sure you have:

• A full medical workup, to confirm you’re healthy and able to have surgery. 
• A visit with a psychologist, to make sure you’re in the right frame of mind. This can make a big difference between success and failure. Visits with a psychologist help to make sure you’re mentally and emotionally ready to cope with changes to your body and life.
• A visit with a nutritionist, to talk about the way you eat. The way you eat after surgery will be very different from how you eat now. A nutritionist helps you to get ready for that big change. 
• Support, to help you with every step of your weight loss journey. We’ll connect you with support groups as needed.

Your weight loss will depend on your weight before surgery. It will also depend on your commitment to your diet (eating plan) and exercise after surgery. On average, most people lose 40% to 75% of their excess body weight.

You’ll see your surgeon regularly for up to five years after surgery. You and your surgeon will stay in contact as you get used to your new body and life.

During the first few months, you’ll notice your brain shift as you adapt to a new way to think and feel about food.

You often won’t feel hungry or thirsty. You’ll focus on drinking enough water, planning meals and eating enough protein. It’s not hard when you get used to it. But it’s a different way to think and feel about food.

We’ll also connect you with support groups and seminars for patients who have completed weight loss surgery.

Your health care team will work with you to figure out your diet after surgery. Generally, for the first two to four weeks, you will drink liquid protein and water. After around two months, you’ll be able to eat seafood, eggs, cheese and other regular foods.

Your daily diet will be: 

• High in protein
• Low in fat
• Low in calories
• Low in carbohydrates

During the first year, you’ll slowly add to the amount of food you can eat each day. Around one year after surgery, most patients:

• Reach their goal weight
• Eat between 900 and 1,500 calories per day, depending on age, sex and activity level

Your doctor will work with you to help you figure out and keep up with your diet after surgery.

For all patients who have weight loss surgery, there’s a chance of gaining weight back after surgery. No surgery can prevent this.

We find patients with the most success keeping weight off are those who:

• Stay partners with their health care team
• Stick to their diet and exercise routine after surgery

We know this is a hard decision. We’re here to answer all your questions, support you and give you peace of mind.

Call 1-817-275-3309 if you have questions or want to join a support group for people who are thinking about or who have already had weight loss surgery.