| Dr. Matthew Lublin is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Here the Doctor has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Bariatric Surgery.
Q. What are the routine tests before bariatric surgery?
A. Generally, everyone needs to see a psychologist, a nutritionist, and undergo an upper GI. An Upper GI or Upper Gastro-Intestinal Study, is a radiology exam. During the exam, a patient is required to drink a small amount of contrast material called gastrograffin. Once swallowed, X-rays will be taken in order to watch the gatrograffin pass down the esophagus into your stomach to see if any abnormalities are present and a Band can be placed.
Q. What is Gastric Banding surgery?
A. Using laparoscopic techniques (using small incisions), a surgeon places an inflatable silicone band around the top of your stomach. Like a wristwatch, the band is fastened around the upper stomach to create a new, tiny stomach pouch that limits and controls the amount of food you eat. It also creates a small outlet that slows the emptying process into the stomach and the intestines. As a result, patients experience an earlier sensation of fullness and are satisfied with smaller amounts of food. In turn, this results in weight loss.
Gastric Banding is the only adjustable weight-loss surgery. The diameter of the band is adjustable for a customized weight-loss rate. Your individual needs can change as you lose weight. For example, pregnant patients can expand their band to accommodate a growing fetus, while patients who aren’t experiencing significant weight loss can have their bands tightened.
To modify the size of the band, its inner surface can be inflated or deflated with a saline solution. The band is connected by tubing to an access port, which is placed well below the skin during surgery. After the operation, the surgeon can control the amount of saline in the band by entering the port with a fine needle through the skin.
Q. Who is a good candidate for these types of surgeries?
A. Generally, patients who are 75-100 pounds overweight qualify for this operation. Actual qualification depends upon your BMI (Body Mass Index), a calculated number based on a combination of your height and weight. If your BMI is 40 or higher, you automatically qualify. If your BMI is at least 35 and you are suffering from serious health problems related to obesity, you qualify as well.
Q. What is the cost involved in the different types of procedures?
A. The procedure is covered by insurance for the majority of patients if your BMI is over 35. If you do not have insurance or if your insurance does not cover weight loss surgery, the surgery generally costs around $13,000. This includes the anesthesiologist’s fee, the hospital costs, the surgeon’s fee, and free Band adjustments for life.
Q. What is the Bariatric Surgery recovery process?
A. Gastric Banding is almost always performed as an outpatient procedure and takes about an hour- the patient goes home on the same day as the surgery. No hospital overnight stay is required. It takes most patients about a week to return to work and 2-3 weeks to resume exercising.
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