Bariatric Surgery Specialist Website for

GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY

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Bariatric Surgery Specialists is the leading surgical center for gastric bypass surgery, lap band surgery and weight loss support throughout the country. To find out if you qualify for gastric bypass surgery please review our web site and contact us if you have any questions.

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Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in America. If effects one third of the adult population in this country according to the American Obesity Association. This site contains information and support for permanent weight loss through gastric bypass surgery. Our highly trained staff and specialized facility understand your needs and will assist you in finding the right weight loss method, surgeon and even help with the insurance process. This website was designed to provide detailed information regarding the advantages, disadvantages and risks involved with the gastric bypass surgery permanent weight loss  procedure.

The links below and to the left will provide you with helpful and accurate information about morbid obesity, weight loss surgery and the gastric bypass procedure. We have also included a BMI calculator that will help you determine if you are a candidate for the surgery as well as providing information regarding insurance coverage for the gastric bypass procedure.

Gastric Bypass Surgery via "Roux-en-Y" 

Gastric Bypass Surgery via the Roux-en-Y is considered to be the best surgical procedure for the treatment of morbid obesity. Weight loss is achieved by reducing the functional portion of the stomach to a pouch one ounce or less in size, and by creating a small opening between the stomach and the intestine. The small size of the stomach pouch causes the patient to have a sensation of fullness after eating only a small portion of food. This small stoma delays stomach emptying, making the sensation of fullness last longer. These are called the Restrictive components of the procedure. The limb of intestine coming down from the small pouch is called the Roux limb.

What To Expect After Gastric Bypass Surgery

The average patient hospital stay is only 24 hours.  When you are able to move about without too much discomfort, to take in food by mouth, and can do without injected pain medication, you are ready to leave the hospital. At the time of discharge, you will be given specific instructions indicating what you may and may not do and when to come back to the office for follow-up. You will need to remain on a liquid diet after discharge and you will receive additional instructions regarding your diet from the surgeon. Several weeks after you have left the hospital, you will be able to eat regular food in small quantities.

Benefits of the gastric bypass procedure

The benefits of the gastric bypass procedure very much outweigh the risks. 75% of patients are expected to lose 75 to 80% of their excess body weight. Well over 70 to 80% of patients with hypertension will be off medications and well over 90% of patients with type II non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus are expected to be off medication. Drastically improved, if not completely resolved includes sleep apnea, asthma, joint pain, arthritis, reflux, fatigue, shortness of breath and an overall increased sense of well-being.

Obesity and Children

Today's youth are considered the most inactive generation in history caused in part by reductions in school physical education programs and unavailable or unsafe community recreational facilities. In the U.S., only the state of Illinois requires daily physical education for students in grades K to 12. Obesity in children and adolescents is a serious issue with many health and social consequences that often continue into adulthood. Implementing prevention programs and getting a better understanding of treatment for youngsters is important to controlling the obesity epidemic.

Candidates For Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is recommended for those persons who are 90 pounds or more overweight and have or are likely to have medical complications that will be helped, and in many instances, cured by substantial weight loss. While weight loss surgery is not for everyone, there are a large number of patients for whom losing a lot of weight is imperative, including those suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, heart trouble, shortness of breath, arthritis and orthopedic (bone) problems with their legs, hips or back. Weight loss surgery actually fails in those persons who drink large quantities of regular soft drinks, consume sweets, ice cream, chips and fatty fried foods. If you are one of these people and feel you cannot switch to diet drinks and cut out sweets and fried foods then gastric bypass surgery is not for you.

Gastric Bypass Surgery Risks

Statistics show that 1 in 300 die from gastric bypass surgery. People who suffer from morbid obesity can have other serious medical conditions which are related to or caused by being overweight. The higher your BMI is, the more likely it is that other medical problems will exist. Other medical problems can increase the risk of complications from gastric bypass surgery and the recovery period after gastric bypass surgery. Another risk factor is age, although this increases the need for surgery there is generally a higher risk. Any medical procedure that involves humans and reactions to stress, trauma, drugs, and other causes, unpredictable negative results can and will occur. This surgery should be considered only after many attempts with other diet control and exercise have failed. Diet and exercise will be required before and after this surgery.

Insurance Coverage for Gastric Bypass Surgery

Most insurance companies will pay for gastric bypass surgery procedures that are medically necessary. Morbid obesity is a life threatening disease and it is normally covered. Aetna Insurance is now asking for the patients entire medical work-up along with the pre-authorization request as well as documented weight loss attempts supervised by a physician for the last 2 years. They also want documented weight history for the last 5 years.

Many insurance plans do not provide reimbursement for weight loss treatment. According to many practitioners, few private insurance indemnity plans or managed care organizations appear to cover the costs of obesity treatment regardless of whether the service is a medically supervised program of weight reduction or maintenance, nutrition counseling, surgery or a pharmaceutical product. The countless number of available insurance plans and ever changing policies have made it difficult to assess the extent to which obesity treatment and prevention services are covered by third party insurers. More data and better tracking is necessary to determine the health needs of persons with obesity.