Bariatric Surgery & Medical Weight Loss

Discover Your Bariatric Options

Candidates for bariatric surgery usually meet the following criteria:

• 18-65 years old (with some exceptions)
• Failed attempts with diet plans, behavioral, and medical therapy
• Commitment to prolonged life-style changes and long-term follow-up care
• A Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 and over, with at least one high-risk medical condition (comorbidity), such as high blood pressure, Type II diabetes, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, and others.
• A Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater. Use our BMI calculator.

Bariatric Surgery and Your Health

Bariatric Surgery is a life-changing event that helps you live a longer, healthier life. Research has shown that dramatic improvements (>90%) in additional chronic diseases or conditions are achieved through weight-loss surgery. Your results may differ from others, but most patients see a change in associated conditions, including lowering their risk or completely eliminating the following:

• Blood Pressure, Hypertension, and Cardiovascular Disease
• Reduce strain on the joints and Osteoarthritis
• Depression
• Type II Diabetes
• Sleep Apnea
• Acid Reflux (heartburn)
• Cholesterol levels
• Improve fertility

During Your Hospital Stay

Your stay at West Suburban Medical Center will depend on which procedure you and your surgeon chose as a tool to help you lose weight. With Gastric Bypass, there is a 2-3 day hospital stay. The Gastric Sleeve, LAP-BAND, and SILS LAP-BAND procedures are less-invasive, and patients can either go home the same day of surgery or stay overnight.

All patients will have surgery in our state-of-the-art surgical suites and be carefully monitored during the postoperative phase while they wake up from anesthesia. Advantages of the laparoscopic approach include reduced postoperative pain, shorter hospital stay and a faster return to work (2-3 weeks). You will be given detailed instructions on what and how much to eat. Pain is usually mild and controlled easily by pain medication. Nurses, dietitians, radiologists, and staff surgeons will all be monitoring you closely. Your physical activity will be conservative, but we will ask you to take short walks while in our care.

We are committed to you and your weight-loss journey and therefore our team does everything possible to ensure that you have a comfortable stay. Sign up for a seminar or call (708) 763-6398 for more information.

After Your Surgery

In our experience, consistent follow-up care is essential to losing excess weight and keeping it off for the rest of your life. That is why we request that you meet regularly with our bariatric team. These support services are extremely valuable in helping you achieve and maintain your goals. Based on our experience, it is not uncommon for patients to lose between 40 and 60 pounds in the first two to three months after surgery. In fact, most patients begin to lose weight within the first few weeks of surgery.

Patients will follow up with the surgeon regularly during the first year, and annually after that. How well you maintain your diet and exercise regime will determine your success in maintaining a healthy weight. Our staff will monitor your weight frequently and provide important dietary and exercise counseling. We welcome your questions and are ready to support you throughout this lifelong journey.

In addition to weight loss, bariatric surgery also will help you improve your overall health. We often see the elimination of many weight-related illnesses such as sleep apnea, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol in our bariatric surgery patients. Nearly all patients report a significant improvement in their quality of life after surgery.

We encourage all of our patients (and others!) to attend our support groups for dietary, exercise, and psychological support. Request more information, schedule an appointment, or call (708) 763-6398 to find out when the next session will be held.