Weight Loss Surgery
in Denver, Colorado
Overview | Goals & Risks | Candidates | How It Works |
Procedure | Preoperative Testing | Complications of Surgery | Postoperative Care | Long-term Care | Expected Outcome | Case Studies | Questions and Answers
Possible Candidates for Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery is an elective procedure for clinically morbidly obese people for whom substantive long-term weight loss is desired, but other weight loss approaches have failed.
Those who are potential candidates for surgery include people who:
- are 100 lbs overweight have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 are less than 100 lbs overweight (and have a BMI of 35-40), but have a co-morbid condition such as:
- high blood pressure (or some other cardiovascular risk factor) asthma obesity hypoventilation diabetes sleep apnea digestive disease (ie, GERD) urinary stress incontinence depression
- disabling pain in weight-bearing joints
have not had success with other nutritionally and medically sound nonsurgical approaches to weight loss
- and, do not have any metabolic disease that may be responsible for their obesity.
Our approach to treatment
People who are likely candidates for laparoscopic bariatric surgery will undergo a thorough team evaluation prior to any treatment. To encourage a successful outcome, patients will undergo a multidisciplinary medical evaluation prior to being accepted and scheduled for surgery.
- Surgical evaluation--the surgeon will discuss with a patient whether or not they meet the requirements for undergoing the surgical procedure and whether they are a satisfactory operative risk. Medical evaluation--it is important for the patient to have a thorough medical evaluation, complete with specialty consultations when indicated. Nutritional evaluation--our nutritionist will help motivate the patient towards making the necessary lifelong changes in eating habits and exercise that must complement the surgery. Each patient will meet with the nutritionist one-on-one at postop visits to address individual dietary needs. Close nutritional monitoring during rapid weight loss is critical as certain vitamins and minerals are poorly absorbed and need to be supplemented.
- Psychological evaluation--there are two reasons for preoperative evaluation --one to weed out those in whom surgery would be contraindicated and others preselected in whom surgery is likely to be a success. The psychologist will discuss with the patient issues that are not unique, but certainly common, among many obese adults such as frustration, food cravings and obsessions, self-esteem or confidence issues, anxiety, and depression, and how surgery may realistically impact their life.
Bariatric surgery requires a long-term commitment to positive change on the part of the patient; eating habits, physical activity habits, and overall lifestyle habits will undergo significant modification. Clearly, the patient must be prepared and ready for such a challenge. Utilizing such a team approach to bariatric surgery increases the likelihood of success in achieving desirable and realistic weight loss, as well as improvement and satisfaction in daily life for the patient long-term. We also provide and encourage involvement in a support group to assist patients in continuing to maintain their modified lifestyle they have chosen.
