Bariatric Weight Loss
Is Weight Loss Surgery for Me?
Weight loss is a journey, and at DeKalb Regional Medical Center, we are here to help you every step of the way. Our Bariatric-trained and board-certified general surgeons Steven Isbell, MD, and Eleanor I. Mathews, MD, perform a variety of minimally invasive weight loss procedures which may provide the life-changing results you’re seeking. Our surgeons have provided bariatric surgery services in Fort Payne for over 20 years, giving more than 500 men and women the chance for a new lease on life.
Why Bariatric Surgery?
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than one in 10 Americans over the age of 20 are morbidly obese. The relief of numerous medical conditions by weight loss operations is well known and scientifically proven. Bariatric surgery can help you reduce the risk of developing potentially life-threatening weight-related health problems that could include:
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease and stroke
- Sleep apnea
- Type 2 diabetes
- Hypertension
Studies also show that more than 90% of bariatric patients are able to maintain a long-term weight loss of 50% excess body weight or more when combined with dietary and lifestyle changes. A happier and healthier you is more than just physical transformation. Studies have shown that self-confidence and well-being are improved. Many people have improvement in physical mobility allowing them to enjoy their lives in a way that they had lost. Weight loss truly gives people a new lease on life.
Who is a Candidate for Bariatric Surgery?
You may be a candidate for weight loss surgery if you are:
- Between the ages of 18 and 65
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Obese with a body mass index of 35 or above (Calculate Your BMI Here)
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Struggling with an obesity-related conditions like hypertension, heart disease or sleep apnea
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Currently trying to or have tried in the past to lose weight through other means such as diet and exercise
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Psychologically ready for weight loss surgery and willing to commit to a whole new lifestyle
- Not drug or alcohol dependent
Our Services & Options
Our board-certified surgeons specialize in laparoscopic techniques, which typically require just a few small incisions, offering a host of benefits as compared to more invasive, open surgery, including less pain, less scarring, less risk for infection, fewer complications, shorter hospital stay and a faster recovery time.
Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery is considered by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the National Institutes for Health as leading surgical tool for significant lasting weight loss. It works by making the stomach small, allowing for smaller meals. It also causes food to bypass part of the stomach and small intestine, causing less absorption of calories and important changes in hormones that help to promote fullness.
Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: Also call gastric sleeve, this procedure removes approximately 80% of the stomach, leaving a smaller tubular pouch. People are full with much smaller meals. It also changes the hormones in the stomach, helping to reduce hunger.
All operations carry some risk. Pneumonia, blood clots, infection, bleeding, leaking at staple lines, as well as ulcers, hernia and gallstones may occur, but are infrequent. Generally, the risks associated with weight loss surgery are significantly less than the risk of remaining morbidly obese.
What Happens Next?
If you meet any of the requirements above or would like additional information, contact us. You will meet with our skilled weight-loss surgeons, who will walk you through your history and goals, answer any questions and see if you are a good candidate for a weight-loss procedure. Our weight-loss surgery team features a dedicated dietician and nurse specialists who will work closely with you and your primary care physician to create an individualized plan that promotes positive change, inside and out.
Are you considering bariatric surgery? Let us help get you started down the right path today. Call 256-845-4131 to request an appointment.