Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery can help you lose a significant amount of weight and reverse chronic health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. Abel Bello, MD, and the doctors at MIB Surgery have extensive experience performing minimally invasive weight-loss surgery and they work with you to create customized dietary and lifestyle plans that support your long-term weight-loss goals. To learn if you’re a good candidate for bariatric surgery, call the office in Plantation, Florida to schedule an appointment.
Bariatric Surgery Q & A
How does bariatric surgery lead to weight loss?
Bariatric surgery helps you lose weight by reducing the size of your stomach, which limits the amount of food you can consume at one time. One bariatric procedure also bypasses the upper part of the small intestine so you absorb less food.
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Two bariatric procedures, sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass, support weight loss by reducing hormones that make you feel hungry and boosting hormones that help you feel full. Bariatric surgery also reverses type 2 diabetes through its impact on hormones.
Am I a candidate for bariatric surgery?
To qualify for bariatric surgery, you must meet specific criteria:
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Body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher or more than 100 pounds overweight
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BMI of 35-39 and diagnosed with one or more obesity-related health conditions
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History of unsuccessful weight-loss attempts or inability to maintain weight loss
Obesity-related health problems include:
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Type 2 diabetes
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High blood pressure
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Osteoarthritis
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Heart disease
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Obstructive sleep apnea
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Chronic respiratory disorders
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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
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High cholesterol
Some gastrointestinal problems are also related to obesity, such as acid reflux or GERD, Barrett’s esophagus, and colon polyps.
What are the different types of bariatric surgery?
Your doctor at MIB Surgery recommends the type of surgery that’s best for your health and weight-loss needs:
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Sleeve Gastrectomy: During a sleeve gastrectomy, about 80% of your stomach is removed, leaving a tubular pouch that’s about the size and shape of a banana. At MIB Surgery, sleeve gastrectomy may be done as a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure or as an endoscopic procedure from inside your stomach.
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Gastric Bypass: During gastric bypass surgery, the size of your stomach is reduced and part of the small intestine is bypassed. Your doctor at MIB Surgery reroutes the small intestine so that less food is absorbed in the upper part, yet digestive enzymes mix with your food further down in the small intestine.
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Lap-Band®: The Lap-Band system, also known as an adjustable gastric band, divides the stomach into two parts, using a silicone band that’s placed around the upper part of your stomach. Food that enters the upper part of the stomach must go through the small opening created by the band before passing into the lower stomach. The band reduces the amount of food you can eat at one time and slows down digestion. The band is also adjustable, so the size of the opening can be increased or decreased to meet your diet needs.
What is revisional bariatric surgery?
The team at MIB Surgery has special expertise in revisional bariatric surgery, a procedure that’s performed to change or repair an earlier operation. You may need revisional surgery because you have side effects from an older bariatric procedure that’s no longer practiced.
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Though complication rates are low with today’s bariatric procedures, some patients develop problems or don’t lose enough weight following bariatric surgery. When that happens, your MIB Surgery physician may recommend revisional bariatric surgery.
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To schedule a bariatric surgery consultation, call MIB Surgery.