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Bariatric Surgery : Top Ten Reasons

Highly experienced physicians

Our physicians have performed thousands of bariatric procedures. And because of the close relationship between this Center and our St. Francis Heart Center, patients receive the most careful and sophisticated monitoring.

Complete, personalized care

Our specialists provide far more than surgery alone. We carefully examine and monitor every medical, nutritional, and psychological aspect of your obesity. From blood pressure, blood sugar, sleep disorders, and cardiovascular conditions, to what triggers your cravings, to depression-we personalize our process to your success before, during, and after surgery.

Support you need to succeed

We offer the only struggling post-op support group facilitated by a surgeon, our medical director Dr. Gail Wynn. In addition St. Francis has the only adjustable gastric band support group sanctioned by the CHRIAS surgeons. Our support groups let you hear firsthand from others who have faced your same situation. After surgery, these helpful group meetings discuss practical lifestyle and behavior changes that can be important keys to your best outcome, now and long-term.

Flexibility

Because we realize how busy life can be so we have designed our program so that you may begin at any time. We also have Saturdays and evening classes available.

Convenience

The St. Francis Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence (COE) is conveniently located adjacent to the office of COE surgeons Dr. Wynn, Dr. Irgau. and Dr. Peters. This arrangement allows for the coordination of multiple appointments and services for your convenience.

Unlimited access

Studies show that the most successful patients are those that continue with follow up after surgery. Our patients have unlimited access to nutritional counseling and follow-up after surgery.

Behavior modification

We offer behavior modification classes twice a week by a licensed psychologist for a nominal fee.

Private rooms at semi-private rates

For those who prefer a private room environment we offer private rooms at no additional charge. Our rooms are comfortable and spacious.

Family overnight stay

Our rooms are designed so that a friend or family member may stay overnight during your hospital stay

Surgical options

Adjustable gastric band surgery is when an adjustable band is placed around the upper stomach to make a small pouch that limits the amount of food you can eat and helps you to feel full with less food (portion control). Once the adjustable gastric band is in place, sterile salt water is injected into the band to tighten the band as needed. The band is adjustable and reversible and can be modified to the individual patient's symptoms and weight loss needs. Adjustable gastric band surgery is performed by laparoscopic surgery, which is minimally invasive. This involves using specialized instruments to perform the procedure through a set of small incisions rather than a large one. The surgeon also inserts a tiny camera attached to a laparoscope (a type of telescope) through the small incision to view the area. This approach results in less skin and muscle tissue trauma.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery is a procedure where a small stomach (gastric) pouch of 0.5- to 1-ounce (about the size of an egg) is made and connected to the rest of the gastrointestinal tract, rerouting the path of the small intestine. For all practical purposes RNY Gastric Bypass is permanent and cannot be reversed. The gastric bypass procedure produces greater weight loss and is more successful at helping a person maintain the new weight over time compared to other procedures. RYN is restrictive (portion control) and malabsorptive (not all calories or vitamins are absorbed). Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y is preferred by our surgeons.

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy is much like the biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch procedure. Patients are left with a smaller stomach that still is connected in the normal anatomical way. The stomach that remains is larger than a gastric bypass pouch, but much smaller than the normal human adult stomach. This causes restriction and a possible decrease in appetite due to gut hormones released by the removed fundus. The pylorus is preserved, so most patients should not experience "dumping syndrome." The procedure has no malabsorption and in theory, less nutritional deficiencies, as there is no bypassed intestine.

For more information on these surgical procedures, please go to www.bariatricedge.com