The Changing Landscape of Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery has evolved significantly since the first procedure was performed several decades ago. As the obesity epidemic has spread in the United States, bariatric surgery has been an option for an ever greater number of people. To this point, the primary qualification criterion for bariatric surgery, According to the NIH (National Institutes of Health) guidelines has been the Body Mass Index or BMI. Those with a BMI of over 35 who also present obesity related diseases are considered candidates for any bariatric procedure. In short, bariatric surgery is for obese people.
Enjoying a Night out After Bariatric Surgery
For many patients, going out after bariatric surgery can end up being a delicate balance between enjoyment out and concern for over eating too much. The fact is that eating healthy at a restaurant or at a friend’s house is much harder than doing so at home where you have complete control over the ingredients.
Oftentimes, what seems like a healthy option can actually be loaded with extra calories fats and carbohydrates. The perfect examples are some salad or soup dishes that, while on the surface, seem like a healthy option can be rather unhealthy as a result of fatty salad dressings or high sodium broths. Even lean proteins such as grilled chicken or beef may not be as healthy as they seem if they are cooked in lots of butter or served with thick sauces.
Stress – The Anti-Weight Loss
Stress is a fact of life, but how we manage it can be the difference between OK and spectacular weight loss results. Stress is a useful tool when managing a dangerous situation. However, chronic stress can wear you down. The results of uncontrolled or excessive stress can cause serious psychological and physical damage. If you are a post-bariatric surgery patient, stress can quickly derail the great progress you may have made to this point.
The drawbacks of a stressed out life are many and include:
The Importance of Friend and Family Buy-In
Friends and family members may not understand the responsibilities of a post-bariatric surgery patient and it is often up to you to get them to participate positively in your lifestyle changes. In fact, friends and family can be some of the most important assets in achieving your weight loss goals. Unfortunately, patients do not understand the value of having a solid support system around them and may isolate themselves when they get push-back.
The Importance of Follow-Up Visits after Bariatric Surgery
Every bariatric surgery procedure will require some degree of follow-up. The amount of aftercare necessary will largely depend on the procedure – for example a gastric banding patient will need to follow up more frequently than gastric bypass or gastric sleeve patients, especially in the first year or so after surgery. This is because the band will be adjusted several times before ideal restriction is found.
Managing Holidays after Bariatric Surgery
With Labor Day just around the corner, many Americans and especially those who have had bariatric surgery will be struggling with the question of how to eat and drink in moderation during their time off. The temptation is to allow our diet and exercise regimens to fall by the wayside for one day and pick back up tomorrow. However, it doesn’t take much for one day of indulgence to turn into a week or a month. Having to fight back the extra pounds is far more difficult than prevention in the first place.
The Gastric Sleeve Procedure
The gastric sleeve procedure also known as the sleeve gastrectomy is one of the fastest growing major bariatric surgery procedure available today. The gastric sleeve has become very popular with patients and surgeons alike because of its straightforwardness and simplicity. While it is still major surgery, it only requires the removal of about 70-80% of the stomach. The restriction that this procedure provides means that patients will feel fuller sooner and will not be able to eat as much as they once could. Once the food has been processed by the new, smaller stomach pouch, it is digested in much the same way as it was beforehand, as there is no rerouting of the small intestine. Also, no medical device is implanted in the abdomen.
Welcome to Our Brand New Blog!
Dr. Craig Chang and the entire team here at our office are very proud to welcome you to our brand-new blog. This blog will be updated on a regular basis and is intended to inform you about the latest news in bariatric surgery as well as to offer you some tricks and tools to make your weight loss regimen more effective.
We’re an Office of Giving Back
The members of the office of Craig G. Chang, MD have contributed $69,300 in 2012 to the following charities!
- 1. Parkway Church…Victoria, Tx
- 2. Compassion International
- 3. State Highway Patrol
- Our office has a mission bigger than doing surgery…we are about improving people’s lives.
- We have a responsibility to use the resources that we’ve been entrusted with for the betterment of people around us
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