Bariatric surgery myths can often cloud the judgment of those considering this life-changing procedure. As a weight loss surgeon with expertise in this field, it’s crucial to debunk these misconceptions and provide accurate information to potential patients. Let’s dive into some common bariatric surgery myths and separate fact from fiction. Debunking Common Bariatric Surgery Myths […]

With the rise in the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana across the country, the popularity and medical usage of this drug has increased significantly. And there is almost some degree of denial that marijuana is still a drug and has adverse outcomes. In this blog, we will discuss the implications of marijuana use after bariatric […]

In the realm of weight loss, there is an assumption that bariatric surgery is the easy way out, causing frustration among those who have chosen bariatric surgery as a path to better health. Today, we’re here to answer the question if bariatric surgery is the easy way out and ultimately dispel this misconception on why […]

Laparoscopic and robotic bariatric surgery are two advanced surgical methods that have revolutionized the treatment of obesity. Both are minimally invasive techniques, offering significant benefits over traditional open surgery. However, they differ in their approach, technology, and certain aspects of the surgical process. Understanding the difference between laparoscopic vs. robotic bariatric surgery is crucial for […]

Embarking on the journey of bariatric surgery is a significant decision that can transform your life. It can be overwhelming when determining how to choose your bariatric procedure based on your individual needs, lifestyle, and health goals. There are currently six approved operations available in the United States, including the adjustable gastric band (lap band), […]

Bariatric surgery, widely recognized for its role in weight loss, has shown lasting improvements in pain management and physical function among obese patients. This blog explores the enduring benefits of bariatric surgery, particularly in alleviating pain, enhancing physical function, and improving the overall quality of life of individuals suffering from severe obesity. Evidence of Improvement […]

Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) is an emerging procedure that has captured the attention of both clinicians and patients. This innovative technique offers a non-surgical alternative for weight loss by reshaping the stomach to limit its capacity. Let’s examine the procedure’s mechanics, patient benefits, and the outcomes patients can anticipate. What is Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty? The […]

Embarking on a journey towards better health and a transformed lifestyle through bariatric surgery is an important decision. Before undergoing this life-changing procedure, it is essential to be well-prepared for what to expect before bariatric surgery. Preoperative preparation plays a crucial role in ensuring the success of bariatric surgery and optimizing the overall outcome.  What […]

With any surgical operation comes risks, such as a leak, bleeding, blood clots, and, in the case of post-bariatric patients, anastomotic strictures after weight loss surgery. An anastomotic stricture occurs in post-op bariatric patients when the connection between the stomach and esophagus narrows.  Symptoms of strictures after weight loss surgery include nausea, vomiting, trouble swallowing, […]

Bariatric surgery has emerged as a promising solution for individuals struggling with severe obesity and weight-related health issues. However, despite its proven efficacy, there are still numerous myths about bariatric surgery as a surgical intervention. As a doctor specializing in bariatric surgery, I feel it is essential to address these misconceptions and provide you with […]

In recent years, we have heard more about a new bariatric procedure called the SADI-S (single anastomosis duodeno–ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy), replacing the traditional duodenal switch (biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch). Both bariatric procedures are excellent options to help patients lose an extreme amount of weight. In this blog, we will specifically talk about […]

Hair loss after weight loss surgery is, unfortunately, quite common, occurring in nearly 80% of bariatric surgery patients. Losing hair is particularly common in the first few months when a patient loses weight rapidly. Hair loss after weight loss surgery is primarily due to the bodily stress associated with losing weight and nutritional deficiencies.  Most patients will […]

Acid reflux after weight loss surgery is a relatively common side effect, particularly after the sleeve gastrectomy. Acid reflux is characterized as the backflow of stomach contents into the esophagus. In many cases, patients will feel like they are choking or have a liquid coming up into their throat or mouth.  Although we often hear […]

In performing bariatric surgery, we will remove a portion of the stomach and, in the case of a gastric bypass or duodenal switch, attach the small intestines to the new stomach. Surgical staples are used to seal the connection of the surgery site.  I often get questions from patients about the risks associated with these […]

Many patients are concerned about how to care for their incisions after bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery, as you are probably aware, is all done laparoscopically. Laparoscopic surgery is a surgical technique in which the surgeon will make several small incisions, about 0.5 inches long, and use long, narrow instruments to perform the surgery.  Typically we […]

Loose skin after weight loss surgery is inevitable, especially if you have lost a significant amount of weight. Despite all the benefits bariatric surgery has, including improved health, longer life expectancy, more mobility, fewer health complications, and extreme weight loss, there is the risk of having loose skin after weight loss surgery.  Loose skin can […]

The gastric bypass vs. gastric sleeve is a standard comparison of procedures. Both weight loss surgery procedures will effectively reduce weight and help patients live healthier. Aside from the obvious weight loss benefits, the bypass and the sleeve also create a metabolic and hormonal impact that improves and cures many weight-related medical problems, including diabetes, […]

Studies have investigated the metabolic effect of bariatric surgery and the impact it can have on a patient’s long term weight loss success. Bariatric surgery is most commonly classified as restrictive, meaning the procedure restricts how much food you can eat, and malabsorptive, the procedure alters how your body absorbs nutrients. Through these two effects, […]

Dumping syndrome is a condition in which food moves rapidly from the stomach into the small intestines. This is almost always caused by eating high-fat, high-sugar foods, particularly after the gastric bypass procedure. However, dumping syndrome can occur in anyone that has had stomach or esophageal surgery.  The Facts of Dumping Syndrome Roughly 20 to 50% of […]

The vertical sleeve gastrectomy, or gastric sleeve for short, is a popular bariatric procedure due to its weight loss results and perceived simplicity. The gastric sleeve surgery is the most straightforward of the invasive bariatric procedures, leaving many overweight patients wondering if they would be a good candidate for gastric sleeve surgery.  Who Is a Candidate for […]

An ulcer is a sore in the stomach lining that, if left untreated, can cause pain, bleeding, or even result in perforation (a hole). Ulcers after gastric bypass surgery are most common, although they may also occur after a gastric sleeve, a duodenal switch, or a gastric band. The incidence of ulcers after a gastric […]

Is your goal this year to be healthier in 2023? For some, the New Year is a chronological opportunity to push the reset button, to get themselves back on track, or to press a little harder for those goals that were unachievable in the prior year. As Daniel H. Pink wrote in his book When: […]

The gastric bypass, or Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, is the oldest and most commonly performed bariatric surgery procedure. It consists of cutting and stapling the stomach to create a smaller pouch while also re-routing the intestines.  Gastric bypass surgery helps patients lose weight by restricting the amount of food a patient can consume and creating a malabsorptive […]

Weight loss surgery is considered an elective procedure, defined as a surgery that “may be delayed for months without threat to life or organ damage.” Yet, surgeons and medical professionals recognize the dangers of obesity, pushing insurance plans to believe the same. Due to the decreased quality of life and the higher cost of care […]

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is the back-flow of acidic or non-acidic stomach contents into the esophagus. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is characterized by symptoms, with or without tissue damage, that result from repeated or prolonged exposure of the lining of the esophagus to acidic or non-acidic contents from the stomach. GERD is very common, affecting up […]

Medications after bariatric surgery will vary significantly depending on the type of bariatric procedure you had as well as how rapidly your health improves. Obesity is associated with many health conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, cancers, and arthritis. Studies have found that around 80% of bariatric patients had comorbidities in the pre-operative state, and most of those individuals were/are […]

The topic of chronic headaches after bariatric surgery has come up pretty frequently, and we want to give you a frame of why people get headaches after bariatric surgery and some remedies you can use, and how we typically treat these. One of the critical things about headaches is whether or not you have them […]

One of the most common questions we get in the field of bariatrics is asking, “can your stomach stretch after weight loss surgery?” Patients want to understand what they can expect regarding stomach size long-term after a gastric bypass or a gastric sleeve.  Almost all adults have the same stomach size, despite height and weight. […]

Donating blood is a great way to help sick people who need a blood transfusion. If you donated blood before having bariatric surgery, you might be wondering if you can continue to donate blood after weight loss surgery.  What to Know if You Donate Blood after Weight Loss Surgery Nearly 70% of the body’s iron […]

An EGD after gastric bypass surgery is required in some cases when the patient is experiencing discomfort or unwanted side effects. Typically, 80% of our patients will have surgery and have no issues at all. Yet, about 20% of patients will have varying degrees of problems.  What is an EGD? Almost all bariatric surgeons will […]

As bariatric surgeons, our goal is to improve the long-term outcomes for our post-bariatric surgery patients, including decreasing the necessity for a revision after weight loss surgery. Bariatric surgery results in a physiologic reset within the body that helps patients lose weight and maintain that weight loss long term.  However, in some circumstances, a patient […]

Portion control after bariatric surgery is a word that is frequently heard in the weight loss industry. Like any doctor or nutritionist will tell you, you cannot successfully lose weight without limiting the amount of food you consume during each meal. Although the right portion size is different for every individual depending on your height, […]

Before weight loss surgery, most bariatric surgeons will require their patients to have an upper endoscopy with a gastroenterologist to review the anatomy of their stomach and esophagus. A gastroenterology appointment before weight loss surgery is really about risk management. By sending you to a gastroenterology consultation to evaluate your esophagus and your stomach, we […]

Weight loss surgery is an invasive procedure that requires a recovery period. However, it may not be as extensive as you think. In this blog, we will discuss what to expect from the recovery process after weight loss surgery. The recommendations we make in this article apply to all of the weight loss surgery procedures and […]

Hormones play a significant role in how your body responds to stress on the body, causing many hormonal side effects of bariatric surgery. Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate processes in our body. The hormones leptin, ghrelin, insulin, sex hormones, and growth hormones influence our appetite, metabolism, and body fat distribution and are impacted after […]

The internet is a web of knowledge about bariatric surgery topics, yet there are still some side effects of weight loss surgery that no one really talks about. After any form of extreme weight loss, whether through bariatric surgery or diet and exercise, your body will begin to react in various ways.  Bizarre Side Effects […]

Before or after your weight loss surgery, you may be looking for details of what a gastric sleeve post-op diet would look like for a patient. There is a lot of lead-up to the bariatric surgery process, so if you’re here before getting the surgery and curious about what life will look like long-term after […]

Today we’re going to talk about drinking after weight loss surgery and some of the negative impacts alcohol can have on weight loss surgery and your post-op care. Alcoholism has its own set of issues and complications, and we won’t be going into that specifically. But we will be talking about how to handle drinking after […]

I have many patients come to me, and they say they feel as though the gastric sleeve is right for them based on their weight loss goals. When I ask the patient what they think the gastric sleeve is, I sometimes get crazy explanations. Most commonly, I hear from them that they believe it is […]

Like any major surgical procedure, there is a risk of blood clots after bariatric surgery that could lead to serious health concerns if not addressed early on. A blood clot is a clump of blood that forms in the arteries (which carry blood away from the heart) or the veins (which carry blood back to […]

Some bariatric patients experience weight regain, but we want to equip you with how to avoid regaining lost weight after bariatric surgery. A common misconception surrounding weight loss surgery is that it is a permanent fix. Although surgery can help patients lose weight at an otherwise faster rate than they would with simple diet and exercise, […]

You will have to quit smoking before bariatric surgery to decrease the risk of post-surgical complications. Not only does smoking lead to serious health concerns, but tobacco use before and after weight loss surgery can increase overall surgical risk and prolong the healing process.

Prior to having weight loss surgery, you will need to quit tobacco use if you are a smoker. Maybe you have tried to quit before or maybe these tips to quit smoking aren’t new to you. However, if are seriously considering weight loss surgery, it is crucial to stop smoking. Before and after bariatric surgery, […]

When you do not get enough sleep each night, your risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, arthritis, an overactive thyroid, and obesity increases significantly. Many studies have found that sleep deprivation increases a patient’s risk of developing heart disease by nearly 50 percent and triples the risk of having type 2 […]

A common misconception surrounding weight loss surgery is that it is a permanent fix. Although surgery can help patients lose weight at an otherwise faster rate than they would with diet and exercise, it will not keep the weight off forever—patients must maintain a healthy lifestyle. As a bariatric surgeon, I have seen many patients […]

Constipation after weight loss surgery is quite common among patients. Aside from discomfort, constipation can become worrisome, especially if you were previously used to having regular bowel movements. Constipation is defined as having fewer than three bowel movements in a week, feeling the need to strain during bowel movements, or having hard stools. This can […]

In this blog, we will go into everything you need to know about how to get started and how to stick to a routine so you can experience the long-term benefits of exercise.

If you are having weight loss surgery, you may be interested in how you can enhance your recovery after weight loss surgery so you can get back to normal activities and ensure optimal safety and success. This blog will address some of the things we tell our patients – the dos and don’ts after weight […]

Many patients have bariatric surgery with the intent to lose weight and feel full faster. Due to the restrictive nature of the gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, and duodenal switch resulting from the surgeon making the stomach smaller, most patients will achieve weight loss by limiting their caloric intake. There is also a decrease in the […]

Weight loss surgery is a popular treatment option for obesity and has shown to have many positive outcomes for a patient’s health, life expectancy, and overall quality of life. However, there are still some weight loss surgery myths and misconceptions that keep some patients from taking the step to begin their bariatric journey. If you’re […]

After doing some research online, you may have found that weight loss surgery is the next step you want to take in your weight loss journey. But now, you might be worried about how to pay for bariatric surgery without insurance coverage. You are not alone. Medical bills are the third largest cause of debt […]

Over the last several years, a growing trend has been medical tourism, with many patients seeking bariatric surgery in Mexico. Yet, aside from the appropriate aftercare that we discussed in last week’s blog, traveling internationally for weight loss surgery carries a considerable risk for your health and your wallet.  All surgeries carry a risk, and […]

At a cost of $15,000 to $20,000 for bariatric surgery, it’s no wonder that many Americans whose insurance does not cover weight loss surgery are seeking other options. Over the last several years, a growing trend has been medical tourism for bariatric surgery, with many patients seeking weight loss surgery in Mexico. The chance to […]

In the field of weight loss surgery, four standard bariatric procedures help patients lose weight and keep the weight off—the Gastric Band, Gastric Bypass, Gastric Sleeve, and Duodenal Switch. In last week’s blog, we pointed out the critical differences between these procedures and highlighted some risks and benefits of each operation. In this week’s blog, […]

If you have been considering bariatric surgery, you may have realized you have many different procedure options. You might be wondering, “Which weight loss surgery is best for me?” There are three main weight loss surgery procedures in the field of bariatrics that help patients lose weight and maintain their weight loss long term. These […]

In the field of weight loss surgery, there are three standard bariatric procedures that help patients lose weight and keep the weight off. The oldest procedure is the gastric bypass, although the gastric sleeve has gained popularity in recent years due to its perceived simplicity. Yet aside from the bypass and the sleeve, a third […]

The gastric bypass vs sleeve is a common comparison that patients look into. These are both weight loss surgery procedures that effectively reduce weight. Aside from the obvious weight loss benefits, the bypass and the sleeve also effectively create a metabolic and hormonal effect that results in the improvement and cure of many weight-related medical […]

Contrary to popular belief, having weight loss surgery IS NOT the easy way out. If you talk to any successful bariatric surgery patient, they will tell you about the amount of determination AND effort it took to have a better quality of life and healthier lifestyle. The decision to have weight loss surgery is a […]

Weight loss surgery seems like a potentially radical or even a scary option for losing weight. However, when you take a closer look at the risks and benefits of bariatric surgery, most experts and patients usually conclude that the reward is much greater than the risks when the procedure is performed by an expert bariatric […]

Deciding to have bariatric surgery is something that should be researched. Read more on how to get started with bariatric surgery. Weight loss surgery is becoming a popular choice for many overweight and obese individuals. Within our own practice, we have seen a growth of over 30% in surgery volume when comparing 2019 to 2020. […]

Is this feeling really hunger? It may sound a bit odd, but many people genuinely cannot tell if they’re physically hungry or if what they’re experiencing is a misleading hunger signal. A what? Misleading… Hunger… Signal. Sometimes you think you’re hungry, and you may even experience physiological signs that feel like genuine physical hunger. Still, you ate an adequate meal […]

Weight loss surgery is an excellent choice for individuals to lose a significant amount of weight and keep it off over time. Yet, some patients are concerned about regaining after Bariatric Surgery. The journey to weight loss surgery is long and requires a lot of effort, possibly even a lot of money, so regaining weight […]

One of the common concerns for patients months after weight loss surgery is “will I be able to keep weight off after weight loss surgery?” and “what if I gain all my weight back?”. If you are considering having bariatric surgery or have previously had the surgery, these question themes may have crossed your mind, […]

There are many benefits to bariatric surgery, including improved health and extreme weight loss, of course. However, with extreme weight loss does come excess skin, or loose skin that has lost its elasticity. Let’s discuss the pros and cons of excess skin removal surgery. Loose skin can make everyday life harder and more painful. The […]

What weight loss procedure is right for me? This is one of the most common questions I hear in my office when meeting new patients. It may sound simple but after hearing about the advantages of each operation from multiple sources (the bariatric surgeon, internet, television, friends and family, etc.), this decision can seem overwhelming. […]

Answering the question “is weight loss surgery right for me?” is multifaceted and has many conditions to consider including your health and lifestyle goals. Weight loss surgery is becoming a popular choice for many overweight and obese individuals. With the rising number of bariatric cases performed each year, weight loss surgery may seem like a […]