| Dr. Christopher Joyce 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 new daily habits?
A. In addition to several hours of pre-operative education, patients receive educational seminars at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-operatively. These are given by our bariatric nurses, dieticians, and exercise physiologists. They also have monthly support groups, run by our certified support group leader, for life. Patients are seen by me every 6-12 weeks depending on the type of bariatric procedure performed. We have an exercise facility, staffed by our personal trainer and exercise physiologist, which is open in the evenings. I recently revamped our exercise program by utilizing heart rate monitors(HRM). Each patient is given a HRM at the pre-operative educational seminar. They are taught how to use it and encouraged to use it when exercising.
Q. How long is the recovery period?
A. Recovery period is 1-2 weeks depending on the type of surgery performed.
Q. What is Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery?
A. The stomach is divided to create a new smaller stomach pouch about the size of an egg. The upper gastrointestinal tract is bypassed. That prevents overeating and allows some calories to pass through the gastrointestinal tract without being absorbed into the bloodstream.
Q. What types of bariatric surgeries are there?
A. Gastric bypass, Adjustable gastric banding, Sleeve gastrectomy, and Biliopancreatic diversion with or without a duodenal switch.
Q. Does Bariatric Surgery Typically Lead to Major Weight Loss and what is the average level of weight loss of each type of surgery?
A. Yes. My gastric bypass patients lose 82% of their excess weight one year after surgery. My gastric band patients lose 56% of their excess weight 3 years after surgery. My sleeve gastrectomy patients lose 63% of their excess weight 2 years after their surgery. |
