What Is Bariatric Surgery?
To understand the need for bariatric surgery, you must first learn how excess weight and obesity affect a person's overall health. Being overweight means having extra body weight from muscle, bone, fat, water or a combination of these, while obesity is
having a high amount of excess body fat.
If you suffer from being overweight or obese, you are at higher risk of developing severe health conditions, such as:
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Type 2 diabetes
- Gallstones
- Breathing problems
- Certain cancers
- Infertility
- Joint disease
- Sleep apnea
People with extreme obesity may benefit from weight loss surgery when subscribing to a healthy diet and regular exercise no longer works. Weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric or metabolic surgery, is an umbrella term used for procedures that limit
the amount of food a person takes in or affects how a person digests food and absorbs nutrients.
Although most people who have bariatric surgery lose weight right after the procedure, following the recommended diet and exercise is essential
to keep most of the weight off in the long term. People who undergo bariatric surgery also need regular medical follow-ups for the rest of their lives.
Bariatric surgery is considered safe, but like many types of surgery, it does have risks.
Consult with your physician about the risks and benefits of weight loss surgery.
Ready to start your weight loss journey? Let's help determine if bariatric surgery is right for you. Fill out our request referral form, and we'll provide you with helpful information about our bariatric surgeons and assist you in making an appointment.
Types of Bariatric Surgery Offered at the Doctors Hospital of Manteca
Bariatric surgery not only treats obesity. These weight loss surgeries are effective in preventing future health problems and treating health complications, including:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Sleep apnea
- High cholesterol
The surgery that would help you lose weight more effectively depends on various factors. Your bariatric surgeon will review your medical history and work with you to determine the kind of surgery best for you.
- Gastric sleeve surgery (also known as vertical sleeve gastrectomy) – Gastric sleeve is an irreversible bariatric surgery that permanently removes most of the stomach, leaving only a banana-shaped section closed with staples. This procedure
reduces a person's food intake, giving a person the feeling of a full stomach sooner, even with a small amount of food.
- Gastric bypass surgery (also known as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass) - In gastric bypass surgery, the bariatric surgeon staples a person's stomach to create a small pouch in the upper section, then divides the small intestine into two parts and
attaches the lower part directly to the small stomach pouch. The surgeon then reconnects the upper part of the small intestine to a new location farther down on the lower part of the small intestine. This procedure is difficult to reverse but
can be done if medically necessary. Gastric bypass surgery allows a person to feel full sooner, absorb fewer calories and digest food fully.
- Adjustable gastric band surgery - This type of surgery involves placing a ring with an inner inflatable band with a circular balloon inside that is filled with saline solution. The ring is then wrapped around the top of a person's stomach to
create a small pouch. The surgeon can inject or remove the saline solution through a port under your skin. An adjustable gastric band requires several follow-up visits to adjust the size of the band opening. The surgeon may remove the band if
it causes problems or is not helping you lose enough weight. Like gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgery, an adjustable gastric band makes a person feel fuller after eating a small amount of food.
- Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch surgery (also known as mixed surgery) - This type of surgery starts with a procedure like gastric sleeve surgery and then proceeds to a second surgical procedure that divides the small intestine
into two tracts. It reduces the number of calories and amount of nutrients absorbed and allows a person to lose more weight compared with the other three operations described above. It is also most likely to cause surgery-related problems and
a shortage of vitamins, minerals and proteins in the body.
Here are 9 questions to ask your doctor about weight loss surgery if you're considering surgery to lose weight.
How Much Do You Have to Weigh to Get Bariatric Surgery?
People with a body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 40 or equal to or greater than 35 with severe comorbidities may benefit from weight loss surgery. You can calculate your BMI by dividing your body weight in kilograms by your height in meters
squared. Calculate your BMI here.
The BMI is an inexpensive and helpful
method for categorizing a person's weight— underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obesity. Although your BMI does not measure your body fat directly, it can indicate various metabolic disorders.
If you're BMI is 18.5 to
24.9, it falls within the normal or healthy range.
If your BMI is 25.0 to 29.9, it falls within the overweight range.
If your BMI is 30.0 or higher, it falls within the obese range.
Read about the five important things to do for weight loss to help you reach your fitness goals. While at it, check out these 6 myths about weight loss surgery.
What Can Disqualify You From Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric surgery is not for everyone. According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, you may qualify for bariatric surgery if you have:
- BMI ≥ 40, or more than 100 pounds overweight
- BMI ≥ 35 and at least one or more obesity-related comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes (T2DM), hypertension, sleep apnea and other respiratory disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, lipid abnormalities, gastrointestinal
disorders or heart disease
- Inability to achieve a healthy weight loss sustained for a while with prior weight loss efforts
When is it time to have weight loss surgery? Click here to learn if you qualify for bariatric surgery.
If you are eligible, how do you keep from gaining weight? Read about maintaining weight loss after surgery and know the importance
of support after weight loss surgery.
Insurances Accepted and Payment Plan Options
Your health can't wait. At the Doctors Hospital of Manteca, we provide all the information you need upfront, including financial obligations, to help you make important healthcare decisions.
If you've been putting off the idea of bariatric
surgery because you're worried about the cost, we work with various insurance providers and
offer flexible payment plans for most treatments and procedures. For questions about your
coverage, please contact your insurance provider directly. To learn more about our extended payment plans and how we make health care more affordable, please call 833-850-5053 or watch this short video.
Want to learn how we make bariatric surgery affordable at Doctors Hospital of Manteca? Follow these steps for affordable weight loss surgery options with and without insurance. For questions about billing, payment plans, pricing information and estimates, please go to our patient financial resources page for more details.
Find a Bariatric Surgeon in Manteca
Why weight? If your BMI is 30.0 or higher, bariatric surgery may be an option. Let's help you understand your weight loss surgery options. Please speak with one of our bariatric surgeons to know if it's time to
commit to weight loss surgery. We offer a full range of bariatric surgery care, including surgical, postoperative, outpatient follow-up, and patient education. Please call
209-823-3111 or
find a bariatric surgeon here.
