FAQ's
General Questions
General Questions
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It is unlikely than someone would lose too much weight. Obstruction of the pouch outlet can occur which may lead to rapid weight loss: this would be corrected with an out-patient procedure called an endoscopy of EGD, although surgery can sometimes be successful.
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Weight loss is rapid for the first 6 months and the skin will not be able to keep up initially. Eventually the skin may compensate to a certain degree. The compensation process is greater in younger patients, however exercise improves this process in all patients.
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The largest amount of weight loss occurs in the first 6 months. Most people continue to lose weight slowly for the following twelve to eighteen months. The weight loss typically plateaus at two years and some people will regain a small portion.
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Every person is different. It can be anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks off from work. If you have a physically demanding job it may be even longer. The length of time will be influenced by the particular job, the particular procedure that is performed and the response of the patient.
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Most doctors recommend about 4 weeks or more after surgery. A liquid diet with semi-solid foods may be recommended until healing has adequately occurred. Surgeons Group of Baton Rouge will provide a very specific listing of appropriate foods to eat for the first several months after the surgery.
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Drinking lots of water helps to get rid of wastes from the body. This helps in the weight loss process. However, the most important reason for the intake of water is to prevent dehydration. Because the newly created pouch can only hold 20cc (four tablespoons) at any one time, it can be difficult to ingest enough water to avoid some degree of dehydration. Therefore, it is recommended to drink small amounts throughout the day.
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The National Institutes of Health recommendations are that these procedures are for those who are 18 or older. It’s important that young (and older) weight loss patients understand the lifelong eating and lifestyle change.
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The risks of any surgical procedure is increased in the older age groups. There are no absolute limits but more commonly this is limited to patients who are younger than 62-65 years of age.
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Generally, the bypass operation cannot be reversed, except in very unusual situations. This is a very risky undertaking. The Lap-Band, however, can be reversed.
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About 1 in every 200 patients nationally. This will vary according to the operative procedure performed.
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Yes. It was approved in June 2001.
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Approximately 1-2 ounces of food per meal. Three meals a day and no snacks between the meals.
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The price of the surgery depends on the hospital and the part of the country that you are in. Please contact Surgeons Group of Baton Rouge to learn more and to find out if your insurance will cover your weight-loss surgery.
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Usually not. To help prevent complications weight-loss surgery patients are asked to take vitamins, supplements, and undergo certain blood tests to check their health status.
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You must quit smoking at least 6 weeks before you have your surgery. Smoking can cause many problems and risks with the surgery and healing process. It can also cause a change in the effect of anesthetics during surgery.
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It is recommended that your surgeon be experienced in gastric bypass surgery and also a surgeon that does the procedure on a routine basis. A strong compliment of support personnel and support groups is preferred.
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The surgery is only for people who are severely overweight. This would include patients who are twice their ideal body weight or are more than 100 pounds overweight. The actual decisions will be based upon your height relative to your weight and any medical conditions that you may have.
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In the United States, obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death. People with obesity have a shorter lifespan than those without obesity. About 300,000 people die each year from obesity and obesity-related problems. Medicare has recently declared that obesity is a chronic illness.
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Most people lose weight after bariatric surgery. But, it is possible in years after the surgery to gain some weight back. How you diet and exercise will have a large effect on how much weight you will lose and for how long. Remember, these procedures are ‘tools’ and not ‘cures’. You must follow your body’s needs.
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Yes. Surgeons Group of Baton Rouge has a support group especially for their bariatric patients. This support group is called “New U”. Even if you have not had the surgery and are just considering it, everyone is welcome to the “New U” meetings. To find out more about the “New U” support group, contact Surgeons Group of Baton Rouge at (877) 464-7452 or go to www.sgbr.com.