| Dr. Daniel Herron is a bariatric surgeon and has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Bariatric Surgery.
Q. What are the routine tests before bariatric surgery?
A. The first step is to call our office and arrange a meeting with myself or one of the other bariatric surgeons at Mount Sinai. After a full discussion of the various surgical options, we come to a joint decision regarding the best approach to move forward. Generally, the preoperative workup includes visits with a gastroenterologist, a psychologist, our nutritionist and the patient’s primary care doctor. Of course, if there are any heart issues, lung issues, etc., it may be necessary to see additional specialists prior to surgery.
Q. What is Gastric Bypass surgery?
A. Gastric bypass surgery is the most common bariatric operation performed in the United States. It involves using a surgical stapler to divide the stomach into 2 portions. The upper portion, or pouch, is the part that holds food. As it is fairly small, roughly the size of an egg, it allows you to feel full after eating a very small meal. By reducing caloric intake, it allows you to lose anywhere from 50-75% of your excess body weight.
Q. Who is a good candidate for these types of surgeries?
A. The first thing we do is to calculate your body mass index, or BMI. This is equal to your weight in kilograms divided by the square of your height in meters. Generally, it is easiest to use an online calculator to figure out what this number is. You can find one on our website at http://www.surgicallyslim.com/bmi_calculator.htm. if your body mass index is over 40 you will generally be a candidate for bariatric surgery. If your body mass index is between 35 and 40 and you have a health problem, or comorbidity, associated with your weight, you may also be a candidate. Common comorbidities would include problems like type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension and high cholesterol.
Q. What is the cost involved in the different types of procedures?
A. Luckily, insurance covers these procedures in the vast majority of cases, and your only out of pocket expense would be your deductible and insurance co-pays.
Q. What is the Bariatric Surgery recovery process?
A. Generally, patient spent one or 2 nights in the hospital after surgery, then 1-3 weeks recovering at home before going back to work. Of course, everyone is different so it is impossible to predict exactly what your recovery period will be like.
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