| Dr. Craig L. Floch is a Member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Here the doctor has answered some of the common questions bizymoms visitors have about Bariatric Surgery.
Q. After the surgery, what support will a patient receive in adjusting to daily habits?
A. After surgery patients continue to be monitored on an outpatient basis by our friendly, courteous professional staff. Follow up care includes careful nutritional and psychosocial monitoring. We offer several support groups monthly at various locations throughout Fairfield County as well as through our two affiliated hospitals: St Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport and Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, CT.
Q. How long is the recovery period?
A. Recovery from the Adjustable gastric banding procedure includes one night in the hospital and one week of light activity. Patients generally can return to work and full activities in one week. The Roux and Y bypass or Sleeve gastrectomy includes two nights in the hospital and approximately two weeks off from work, but light activity is admissible after one week.
Q. What is Roux en Y gastric bypass surgery?
A. The Roux en Y involves the creation of a small gastric pouch from the large "football size" stomach and then re-routing the intestines so that not all the food that is consumed is absorbed from ones intestines. In other words, you will not absorb all the calories you eat.
Q. What types of bariatric surgeries are there?
A. Multiple bariatric or weight loss procedures exist but the most common are the Roux en Y bypass, gastric banding (LAP-BAND, Realize band) and sleeve gastrectomy.
Q. Does bariatric surgery typically lead to major weight loss?
A. The procedures usually result in 50 to 80 percent loss of one’s excess weight and the ability to keep the weight off long term, which is unlike many commercial weight loss programs. The real beauty is the ability to improve or resolve medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertensio, and heavy snoring or sleep apnea.
Q. What is the average level of weight loss of each type of surgery?
A. Bypass: 60-80%; Sleeve: 50-70%; Band: 40-60%.
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