Do I qualify? Am I a Candidate for Surgery?
- Do you have a Body Mass Index of 40 or higher? Do you have a Body Mass Index 35 or higher and other obesity related health problems such as type 2 diabetes?
- This means that surgery is usually for men who are at least 100 lbs overweight and women who are at least 80 lbs overweight. If you are somewhat less overweight, surgery may still be an option if you have health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or sleep apnea.
- Have you tried other doctor recommended weight loss programs?
- Are you willing to make potentially lifelong changes to your lifestyle that the procedure requires?
- Do you have any social, economic, physical, and or psychological problems that could be improved by weight loss?
If you answer “Yes” to questions 1–4, Please contact us Here or Here for an appointment and consultation.
Benefits
The NIH recommends Bariatric surgery for individuals who are morbidly obese. Weight loss allows patients to lead a healthier, happier and longer life. Many of the health problems associated with obesity either improve or go away. These include:
- Diabetes
- Heart Disease
- High Blood Pressure
- Respiratory Problems such as sleep apnea, asthma
- Orthopedic Problems such as arthritis, back pain, joint pain,
- Infertility
- High cholesterol
- Acid reflux
- Depression
- Improved quality of life
In short, BARIATRIC SURGERY ADDS YEARS TO YOUR LIFE.
Risks
Surgery doesn't come without risks. Bariatric surgery requires general anesthesia. Early complications may include bleeding, infection, and internal leaks. Late complications include nausea, vomiting, strictures, ulcers, malnutrition, and vitamin deficiencies. Obesity puts you at a higher risk for blood clots, Respiratory and heart complications. We see to it that every patient gets the appropriate preoperative evaluation and clearance prior to surgery.
Nutrition, Exercise, Financing & Insurance
Under the guidance of our registered dietician, all of our Las Vegas weight loss surgery patients are required to follow a healthy diet plan before and after surgery.
Nutrition classes are taught before surgery so that you are comfortable in following a healthy diet that's easy to maintain after surgery.
Patients are required to take vitamin supplements for the rest of their life.
Some simple dietary guidelines include:
- 3–5 small meals a day
- Chew your food thoroughly and slowly
- Drink 6–8 glasses of water a day, drink water between meals to avoid bloating during or immediately after eating
- Absolutely avoid soda and high calorie drinks.
- Protein is priority.
- Your doctor will recommend daily vitamin and mineral supplements.
- Alcohol is absorbed rapidly after weight loss surgery and also has calories. Limit alcohol intake to a minimum on rare occasions.
Since Bariatric surgery does not work alone we do encourage our patients to exercise. This is important for your success in the program.
It is recommended that you do 30 minutes of walking or other light cardiovascular exercise each day. In addition, at least 30 minutes of resistance training with light weights. This burns calories and builds muscle, which in turn increases your metabolic rate.
Most insurances cover weight loss surgery once the criteria are met.
See a list of insurances that we accept:
We also offer financing for those who have no insurance coverage.
Click Here for more information.
F.A.Q.’s
Your surgeon will make a recommendation during your evaluation based on your medical conditions and your weight. He will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each procedure. The final decision is yours to make.
This varies by different health plans. You may check with your insurance provider regarding this.
Each insurance has it's own criteria. In addition to meeting these criteria, each patient requires a nutrition and psychiatric evaluation. We help you get these evaluations.
For our program, at least 18 years old up to 65 years old. However based on your overall health, older patients may also be good candidates.
Depending on your weight, your doctor may require you to be on a low-calorie diet for a few weeks before surgery
It is beneficial for all patients to lose some weight prior to surgery because this allows for a safer, easier operation.
Depending on the procedure, on average gastric bypass patients lose 70-80% of their excess weight, gastric sleeve patients lose 60-70% of their excess weight, and gastric band patients lose 50-60% of their excess weight. This also depends on the effort that you put into your program.
There is no guarantee, but the majorities of health problems caused by obesity either improve or resolve. For example, up to 80% of type 2 diabetes resolves after weight loss surgery and patients come off their diabetic medications.
It is preferable that all medications be in a crushable or liquid form after surgery. Your pharmacy and your doctor will help you with this.
Yes, this is always a possibility. Hence it is very important to follow the program as instructed by your surgeon and maintain good dietary habits, exercise and follow-up with your bariatric team.
We instruct patients to quit smoking at least 30 days before surgery, since smoking increases risk of complications during and after surgery.
Depending on the procedure, you may go home the same day or the following day after an overnight stay. All of the surgeries are minimally invasive.
Most of our Las Vegas Lap Band and Las Vegas gastric sleeve patients may return to work in 1–2 weeks. Most of our gastric bypass patients may return to work in 2–4 weeks. For patients who pursue revision bariatric surgery, recovery times vary. Dr. Hanna will explain your expected recovery time during your presurgical consultations.
It is advisable not to drink carbonated beverages due to the new stomach being the size of an egg, this can cause a lot of discomfort and pain.
The first 12–16 months, with rapid weight loss, it is unhealthy to carry a baby due to potential nutritional deficiencies.. It is advisable to wait at least 18 months after surgery to attempt pregnancy.
In a comprehensive center of excellence program, we incorporate diet and exercise as an integral part of the success of the surgery. Exercise burns calories and builds muscle tissue. This allows you to burn energy more efficiently and replace fat with muscle.
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