Bariatric surgery can speed weight loss, improve health

For many, weight loss isn’t as easy as following the “eat less, exercise more” philosophy. Genetics, environment, hormonal disorders and other contributing factors can all be impediments to shedding the pounds.

However, advancements and options in bariatric surgeries have made it possible to lose weight while improving overall health for countless patients.

Bariatric surgery prerequisites

Bariatric surgery may be a highly effective method of losing weight, but not everyone is eligible, according to Kelli Hanzo, director at The Center for Advanced Bariatric Surgery at HackensackUMC Mountainside in Montclair. Insurance companies and the hospital have certain criteria that need to be met. 
“Typically, patients need to have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or greater, which is a calculation based on height and weight that doctors and insurance companies use. Patients with a BMI of at least 35 are also required to have a co-morbidity associated with excess weight such as diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea. Patients who have a BMI of 40 or greater can qualify without having any co-morbidities,” says Hanzo.

In addition, she says all candidates are given nutritional counseling sessions with the center’s bariatric dietitian prior to undergoing any procedure.
“We make sure they know all the right things to do before surgery occurs,” says Hanzo.

Advancements in surgical procedures

Advancements in the way bariatric procedures are performed, their effectiveness and their degree of invasiveness, according to Hanzo, have enabled hospitals like HackensackUMC Mountainside to essentially scrap older methods such as gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y) for gastric banding (LAP BAND™) and sleeve gastrectomy. 
“Bypass was really the first generation of surgeries. We’ve now trended from the band to the sleeve. The popularity with the sleeve is because the weight loss is a little faster,” says Hanzo. “With the sleeve, there are not as many required follow-ups to the surgeon’s office. The band needs to be adjusted. With the sleeve, there is no guess work; no adjustments.” 
Sleeve gastrectomy is an operation in which the left side of the stomach is surgically removed, leaving it roughly the size and shape of a banana. The functions of the stomach are preserved while drastically reducing its volume. Gastric banding involves the placement of a hollow silicone band around the top of the stomach, which limits the amount of food you can consume.
“Patients who choose the band do so because they like that it is fully reversible,” says Hanzo.

Post-surgery help

Hanzo says all patients who undergo a bariatric procedure at HackensackUMC Mountainside stay for one or two nights, depending on the procedure they have to ensure they get proper hydration and have initial medical and psychological support before going home. Recovery differs.
Adhering to a healthy diet, exercise and support plan are keys to any patient’s success. The Center for Advanced Bariatric Surgery hosts an interactive and informative support group two times a month, which can include field trips to the grocery store to learn how to shop with a healthy diet in mind. 
“I often say to patients ‘what a wonderful thing you are doing; you are getting your health back and the side effect is you are going to lose weight,’” says Hanzo.

For more information, call 973-429-6500 or visithttp://www.mountainsidehosp.com/weightloss