What is Obesity Surgery?

Obesity surgery refers to the surgical treatment for patients who are severely overweight to help them lose weight. By surgically rearranging the anatomy of the gut, patients can then be helped in modifying their living habits to successfully reduce their weight closer to normal. The surgery is indicated for patients who are more than one hundred pounds overweight, and have not been successful in permanently reducing their weight through other methods such as controlled diets or medications. Our program utilizes two types of procedures which in most cases can be done laparoscopically. The laparoscopic approach is a "minimal access" technique whereby patients recover more quickly following the procedure and return to normal functioning earlier. It must be emphasized that these procedures are not to be considered as cosmetic surgery, and further, that bad habits can overcome the benefits of this surgery. Good programs around the country utilizing these methods and this surgical technique have seen success where 80% of the patients have lost 80% of their excess body weight on average. This usually occurs within the first 12 to 18 months after surgery. Some patients will lose more, and some will lose less, depending upon the compliance with the program on the part of the individual patient. Up to 15% of patients lose less than 50% of their excess body weight, and that is considered a failure. In the 80% of patients who are successful at losing weight, the weight loss can be maintained for life.

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