Bariatric Surgery (Weight Loss Program)
The bariatric surgery and weight loss program at UM Charles Regional Medical Center can help you determine which options, including weight loss surgery, are best for you.
Losing weight can be hard. The more you weigh, the harder it can be to shed excess pounds. Yes, obesity—severe cases, especially—makes starting and maintaining a healthier lifestyle challenging, but the repercussions of not achieving a healthy weight can lead to various health problems and greater challenges.
Our dedicated team of medical professionals In La Plata will work with you to develop a personalized care plan that can help you achieve your weight loss goals and determine if surgery is your best option. Our team will be with you every step of the way, helping you make the lifestyle changes that are the key to reaching and maintaining a healthy weight.
How Does Bariatric Surgery Work?
Obesity is a chronic condition in which several factors play a role in the gaining of excess weight. The most common contributing factors are excess food calorie intake, lack of physical activity and genetics. Bariatric surgery can help with these issues by altering the stomach and intestines to restrict how much food is ingested and decrease the hormones that cause hunger and slow metabolism. The most common procedures are gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy.
The available surgeries work by causing restriction, malabsorption or both. The restrictive approach makes the stomach physically smaller by creating a smaller pouch which limits the amount of food it can hold. Malabsorptive procedures reroute parts of the intestine in order to limit the number of calories that are absorbed. These surgeries also reduce the hunger hormones, making it easier for you to make healthier food choices.
Risks and Benefits of Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery can have many advantages. Studies show that patients who have the procedure can live longer and have significantly decreased risk for health conditions associated with obesity, such as coronary artery disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke. Weight loss can also help with sleep apnea and joint problems as well as significantly improve your overall quality of life.
With any medical procedure, there are a number of factors you should consider. It is impossible to predict exactly how your body will react to bariatric surgery, but there are some known and established risks.
While bariatric surgery is generally safe, all surgeries present risks for bleeding, infections and anesthesia related complications. Pre-existing medical conditions also need to be stable prior to bariatric surgery and should be discussed with your doctor.
There are additional concerns associated with extreme weight loss. There may be changes in your appearance, such as sagging skin and hair loss. Changes in your social life stemming from your procedure could lead to mental health issues such as depression.
Contact Us
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 301-609-5006.
