4 Things You Must Know About Weight-Loss Surgery

Bariatric surgery offers a new, healthier life for patients.

Here are four things you must know if you are considering long-term weight loss to reclaim your health:

1. Weight-loss surgery can relieve symptoms of many diseases

Remarkably, many of the diseases and health conditions associated with obesity simply disappear or are no longer a major problem after weight-loss surgery. Roughly four out of every five patients experience remission of Type 2 diabetes within a few weeks to a year following a bariatric surgery. Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that weight-loss surgery also dramatically improved many other serious health problems affecting severely overweight people, including heart disease, high cholesterol, infertility, high blood pressure and sleeping problems.

2. You have many options when it comes to treatments

There are multiple bariatric surgery procedures, minimally invasive surgical weight-loss procedures and non-surgical weight loss programs to choose from, depending on your situation. Gastric bypass and gastric banding can be performed either using traditional open-incision laparotomy or laparoscopically, using several small incisions that result in less scarring and quicker recovery. A trusted, experienced physician is your best guide to the procedure that’s best for you.

Counseling and follow-up care is essential to a successful outcome. Pre- and post-surgical classes, support groups, exercise or physical therapy, on-site nutritional resources and psychological and nutritional counseling offered at Texas Bariatric Specialists help patients get on track with a healthy recovery. Dieticians help manage new dietary regimens for patients to reinforce a lifetime of better eating habits.

3. Only those who fail at weight loss are candidates for gastric bypass

Only patients who have tried and failed to lose weight through traditional forms of treatment qualify for gastric bypass surgery. Typically, candidates are between 18 and 65, have an extremely high body mass index (BMI), have been obese for five or more years or have a disabling condition from obesity. Calculate your BMIto see where you stand.

4. Qualifying for insurance to cover bariatric surgery is an option

Insurance coverage for weight-loss surgery varies by state and by insurance provider. Contact your insurance company to find out what procedures are covered and what conditions may apply. Many private and public insurance plans now pay 80 percent of what is considered “customary and usual” for bariatric surgery, as determined by the insurance company. Be aware that insurance programs can require a physician-supervised weight-loss program of three to six months prior to weight-loss surgery.

A nationally recognized and fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon, Dr. Nilesh A. Patel founded Texas Bariatric Specialists as a holistic weight-loss practice focused on delivering long-term weight loss solutions. With eight offices in Texas, including Corpus Christi, Texas Bariatric Solutions is a long-term partner for good health and is committed to its patients for life.

Learn more about weight-loss approaches that can transform your life.Register for a free seminarto get a deeper understanding of medical weight loss and Dr. Patel’s proven techniques, and to meet our staff.

Visit our blog for the latest news and read success stories from patients who talk about their experience with Texas Bariatric Specialists and their lives before and after surgery.