The Bariatric Center at Southwest Healthcare has a dedicated bariatric unit for patients who undergo surgical weight-loss procedures. Specialized nursing care and monitoring are provided in the bariatric unit. Patient rooms have been furnished with the larger patient in mind, so beds and chairs will comfortably accommodate most individuals. Nurses work closely with physicians at the center, and are trained to care for patients recovering from weight-loss surgery. Additionally, several members of our nursing team are nationally certified as bariatric nurses.

Weight-loss surgery has given many individuals a new lease on life. Most patients report an increase in self-esteem and self-confidence and an improvement in their overall quality of life. The amount of weight lost will depend on the type of surgical procedure you have and how committed you are to necessary lifestyle changes, including long-term exercise and eating habits. Your age, sex and initial weight at the time of surgery also may affect surgical outcomes.

Even if the ideal weight is not reached, co-morbid medical problems are improved in most cases. Many patients find that they no longer need medications for conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, arthritis, back pain and more.

You will be closely monitored throughout your hospital stay. To help manage your pain, special analgesia machines will allow you to self-administer pain medication until you are able to take oral medications. Postoperative leg exercises may be recommended and a compression device will be
attached to your legs to help prevent the formation of blood clots and to improve circulation. Your doctor will likely encourage you to be up and walking as soon as possible to help your circulation.

After surgery, you will start on a liquid diet and then transition to a soft and regular diet, as instructed by your doctor. Your individual progress will determine the length of time needed for each eating phase.Your surgeon will discuss a postoperative plan with you, which is essential to the long-term maintenance of your weight loss. This may include referrals to nutritionists, exercise programs, psychotherapists and/or support groups. Patients generally stay in the hospital for two nights after bypass surgery and one night after a banding procedure.

Following any weight-loss surgery, the amount you will be able to eat before feeling full will be significantly reduced. Your doctor may recommend that you eat several (six to eight) small meals throughout the day to ensure proper nutrition. During the first three to seven months of reduced food intake, some patients experience nausea, vomiting, food intolerance, changes in bowel movements, constipation, transient hair loss and loss of muscle mass. Most patients experience some difficulty tolerating red meat after surgery. Nearly all patients usually see a significant improvement in how they feel when dietary intake is improved (six to 12 months). After many months of losing weight, you may have excess skin that did not contract during your weight loss. Once your body has stabilized after 12 to 18 months, you may wish to talk with your surgeon about undergoing plastic or cosmetic surgery to correct the condition.

As with any abdominal surgery, there are potential risks. However, with bariatric surgery, these risks are further complicated because of the patient's extra weight. Please discuss these risks with your surgeon. The risk of death is greatly dependent on an individual's personal health and existing risk factors. Nationally, the risk of death is approximately from .5 to 2 percent.

The Bariatric Center at Southwest Healthcare participates in most health and insurance plans. Many insurance plans have coverage for obesity surgery with durational limits, dollar limits, deductibles, co-payments and co-insurance factors that are no less favorable than for physical illness. Because the surgery is done for medical and not cosmetic reasons your doctor will need to substantiate the medical necessity for the gastric bypass procedure. Your physician's office can help you better understand how to work with your insurance carrier.