Surgical Weight-Loss Program
For those who are severely obese - at least 100 pounds above ideal body weight - it can be difficult to lose weight through conventional means such as diet and exercise. Methodist Hospital now offers weight-loss surgery for people suffering from morbid obesity through our Surgical Weight-Loss Program. From surgery, to diet and fitness education and group support meetings, we offer a complete program designed to help you live a healthy life.
Our mission
We are committed to helping patients suffering from morbid or severe obesity achieve lasting weight-loss through surgical treatment, improving the length and quality of their life.
"We select patients who have proven that they are highly motivated and are ready, willing and able to make the behavioral and life-style changes necessary to live longer, healthier lives." - Aaryan Koura, MD, Medical Director, Surgical Weight-Loss Program and founder of Slim Life Center.
About our Surgical Weight-Loss Program
The weight-loss surgery is accomplished using the "open" technique where the procedure is performed through a small incision (usually less than 6 inches) in the upper abdomen. The procedure takes approximately one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half hours. Time spent in the hospital is usually two to three days. Within a couple of weeks most patients are able to start on a low intensity exercise program. The surgery of choice performed by our surgeon at Methodist Hospital is the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB). This surgery is recognized by the National Institute of Health as an effective treatment for patients who have clinically severe obesity. The RYGB is considered the "gold standard" for weight reduction surgery and is the operation to which other weight-loss surgeries are compared. Currently, this type of surgery has the best and most consistent results with regards to long-term weight loss and reduction in co-morbid risk factors.
Is weight-loss surgery right for you?
The intent of weight-loss surgery is not to enhance your appearance, but to enhance your quality of life. In other words, it should not be considered "Cosmetic Surgery," but rather an essential step when all other weight-loss attempts have been unsuccessful.
How our program helps you
The goal for patients who participate in our program is to achieve a loss of 50-60% of excess body weight, which in turn should result in significant reductions in any co-morbid conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, shortness of breath and/or sleep apnea.
How the surgery works
Gastric Bypass is a combined restrictive and malabsorptive operation. Staples are used which create a small stomach pouch approximately 2-3 ounces in size. By creating the pouch, food is blocked from entering the main stomach and is forced to take a detour, called the bypass. The actual bypass occurs because the pouch is connected directly to the middle portion of the intestine, which results in fewer calories and nutrients being absorbed.
Even though after surgery there is little change in the patient's digestion, all patients must take oral multivitamins, iron and calcium supplements daily. Although uncommon, a few patients may later be required to take injectable vitamins. In addition, protein supplements will be recommended postoperatively to those patients whose oral intake progresses more slowly than expected. Within one to two months after surgery, most patients are on a regular diet but ingesting only 600-800 kilocalorie (kcal) per day.
What to expect after your weight-loss surgery
An active follow-up program after surgery is as crucial as the surgery itself. Physicians closely monitor each patient's weight-loss progress, ensuring early detection in the event a problem arises.
Since smoking increases surgical complications and shortens a person's life expectancy, we require patients to stop smoking at least two weeks prior to surgery. After surgery, we continue to encourage all of our patients who smoke to quit completely.
Support groups are another vital part of our program. It has been found that patients are more successful reaching their goal weight when they share their accomplishments, as well as their struggles, with others. We feel so strongly about this that attendance at support group sessions is considered mandatory both before and after surgery.
Meet our team
We want you to have the best outcome possible. To ensure this, we've assembled a support team of Pharmacists, Respiratory Therapists, Psychologists, Case Managers and a Pulmonologist.
Our primary team includes Aaryan Koura, MD, Medical Director, Surgical Weight-Loss Program; Rondi Crowley, RN, Manager, Surgical Services; Randee Reidy, Registered Dietician; and a Surgical Weight-Loss Coordinator.
