| Dr. Bernadine Hanna is a Diplomat of the American Board of Surgeons. 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. Patients follow up with me for the rest of their life. This is a lifelong change and I along with my staff are there for the patients from beginning till end. Patients are also required to take vitamins for the remainder of their life and we partner with a company that specializes in the exact vitamins to meet the Bariatric patient’s needs. I also check patient’s labs on a routine basis. They are followed by a nutritionist and a medical doctor to assure that every patient is getting the appropriate care to remain healthy. Patients can attend any of our support group meetings which we hold every other month for free. Our goal at Las Vegas Bariatrics is a healthy happy patient.
Q. How long is the recovery period?
A. It depends on the procedure. For Lap Band and gastric sleeve there is an overnight stay in the hospital and patients need about 2 weeks to recover at home, whereas the Gastric Bypass is a 2 day hospital stay and may need up to 4 weeks for recovery.
Q. What is the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery?
A. The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is a procedure where a small stomach pouch is constructed by separating it from the rest of the stomach. The now egg shaped stomach is then attached to the small intestine which allows food to bypass the larger portion of the stomach and the proximal small intestine, therefore restricting caloric intake and nutritional absorption. This produces more weight loss than restrictive operations, such as the Lap Band.
Q. What types of bariatric surgeries are there?
A. I perform three different bariatric surgeries. They are the Lap Band, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and the gastric sleeve. The laparoscopic band procedure, or Lap Band, is a minimally invasive procedure in which a silicone band is placed around the upper portion of the stomach. Connected to the band is an access port, which is placed under the outer layers of skin that allows the band to be inflated or deflated using saline. This creates a smaller pouch, above the stomach, that will reduce the amount of food that can be taken in at one time.
In the gastric bypass procedure, a small stomach pouch is constructed. The remainder of the stomach is separated from the new stomach pouch and stapled closed. This part of the stomach is not removed, as it still serves a function in your digestive system. The new stomach pouch is then connected to the small intestine, which is divided into a Y-shaped section. This Y-shaped section of the small intestine allows food to bypass the upper part of the small intestine, therefore reducing caloric intake and nutritional absorption. This produces more weight loss than restrictive operations, such as the Lap Band.
The Gastric Sleeve works by restricting food intake without any bypass of the intestines or malabsorption. The stomach is restricted by dividing it vertically, creating a small vertical stomach pouch shaped like a banana. The remaining part of the stomach is removed. The portion of the stomach that is removed is thought to be responsible for secreting Ghrelin which is the hormone that is responsible for appetite and hunger. By removing this portion of the stomach, the appetite hormone is reduced, usually causing a loss of appetite. The nerves to the stomach remain intact, preserving the functions of the stomach while reducing the volume it can hold.
Q. Does Bariatric surgery typically lead to major weight loss?
A. Yes, typically bariatric surgery leads to major weight loss. Some patients have lost 65-80% of their excess body weight, with the majority of it being lost in the first 18 to 24 months. Some patients have also had medical conditions related to their obesity resolved after surgery. For example, diabetes has improved or resolved in 82% of patients that have undergone bariatric surgery.
Q. What is the average level of weight loss of each type of surgery?
A. Every patient is different so the weight loss varies depending on the patient. However typically for The Gastric Bypass patients can lose up to 80% of their excess weight whereas The Gastric Sleeve from 70% to 80% and The lap Band 60% to 70% of the excess weight.
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