The presentation outlined the methods used to treat obesity from the 17th century through today, starting with the earliest recorded treatments for obesity, which included bleedings and recommendations such as drinking vinegar to dissolve fat and engaging in ‘violent exercise’. Hundreds of years later, during the time of World War II and beyond, quite a few weight loss drugs were developed. These drugs, however, were found to cause too many negative side effects, so their usage was intermittent or stopped completely. The next significant milestone in obesity treatment was in the 1990’s, with the drug Fen-Phen.  It had record-breaking sales, but was recalled in the late 1990’s when it was linked with heart valve problems. Since the recall of Fen-Phen, there have been numerous efforts to create safe and effective obesity drugs; however, currently there are only two drugs that are approved for obesity treatment. The challenge in developing and getting obesity drugs to the market, explains Dr. Mark Fusco, a bariatric surgeon in Florida, is that “they need to demonstrate a significant safety profile to win approval from governmental agencies that are increasingly risk averse.”

Because of the challenges in finding pharmaceutical treatments, surgery and procedures, like POSE, continue to be the most effective in treating obesity. POSE is a new minimally invasive weight loss procedure designed for patients that want to lose 20-70 pounds. The Surgical Specialists of Louisiana are at the forefront of this new technology and are amongst the most experienced at the procedure in the world. Dr. Michael Thomas explained that no matter what procedure you choose, POSE or surgery, “the most important thing patients can do is go to an experienced bariatric surgeon to get the best results. After that, it’s very important that they follow-up with their doctor to make sure they stay on track and have life-long healthy weight loss.”

Surgical Specialists of Louisiana offers a comprehensive weight loss program that involves life-long care for the whole continuum of patients whether they want to lose 20 pounds or 400 pounds.

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Improve Your Nutrition
Vitamins and protein are key to the healing process following surgery. Protein will help you maintain muscle mass while losing weight and make you feel full longer after your meals. Your doctor will instruct you as to which vitamins and supplements you will need. Plan to incorporate a multi-vitamin, B12, calcium into your daily intake. Start doing this as soon as you can, not only because it will help your health, but it will also to help you get in the habit of taking important vitamin supplements on a continual basis.

Get a Sleep Study
Many over weight individuals suffer from Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS) and don’t even know it. SAS is a sleep disorder characterized by abnormal pauses in breathing. In a recent study of patients who had completed a preoperative evaluation for bariatric surgery, 73% of tested patients had SAS that required treatment. As a result of the study, researchers recommended that patients who undergo bariatric surgery should be screened, tested and treated for sleep apnea.

Start Exercising—everyday
Exercise is crucial to weight loss success; it shortens the recovery period and reduces the risk of postsurgical complications. Our doctors have found that patients who start an exercise program before weight loss surgery are twice as likely to have an easier time exercising after surgery. Because exercise tends to be difficult for people who are overweight, the key is to start slowly. Walk in place for 10 minutes, twice a day. Resume exercising two to three weeks after surgery. Cardio and strength training should be part of your exercise routine, three to five days a week.

Cut Down on Alcohol and Quit Smoking
Smoking can make lungs more sensitive during surgery and can slow the healing process by narrowing the blood vessels and restricting the flow of blood to the healing sites. Smoking contradicts the purpose for having surgery: Improving your health! Alcohol is full of empty calories that provide no nutritional value. Weight loss surgery makes you more sensitive to alcohol, so a little goes a long way.

You have committed to changing your lifestyle. You are ready to achieve and maintain a healthy weight with a regimen of healthy choices. The comprehensive weight loss program, including MyWeight Nutition & Wellness Counseling designed by the Surgical Specialists of LA addresses all of these issues, and we will help you achieve your weight loss goals. Visit www.whyweight.com or call 1-877-691-3001 and ask to speak to a patient advocate to answer questions you may have regarding weight loss and bariatric surgery, including questions about our new incisionless procedure—POSE, a one hour endoscopic procedure that is transforming the lives of our patients.

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Weight regain after weight loss surgery is more common than you think. The Seminar to be held this Saturday, March 6, 2010, will equip you with the necessary skills to make a “comeback”. At this seminar we will explore why the weight returned after surgery and offer realistic solutions to help you make your comeback.

Even the most successful surgical weight loss patients occasionally regain weight. There are many complex factors contributing to this as the body will do everything in its power to avoid starvation and weight loss.

The tool we provided you with during surgery may not be as effective as it was early in your post operative period. Changes in the anatomy take place in the form of a pouch that has stretched or an opening to the small intestine that has enlarged.

The team of speakers who will meet with you include, Dr. Scott Eckholdt, Dr. Stan Owens, Dr. Carson Cunningham and Jill Hurley, OTR/L. Dr. Eckholdt will discuss relapse prevention while occupational therapist, Jill Hurley will help you develop healthy habits for living. Dr. Owens created the PresciptFit Medical Nutritional Therapy program designed to focus on both behavior and physiological elements of maintaining a health weight. Dr. Cunningham will introduce the exciting new incisionless revisional procedure called ROSE.

The symposium will be held at the Fitzsimons Auditorium at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette, Louisiana on Saturday, March 6, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more information please call 225-289-4677 or toll free at 866-935-8040.

Cindy Babylon of Carriere, Mississippi, could not lose weight on her own and got very close to 200 pounds. “I’d go on pills, lose a little weight, do the shots, everything – but it still wouldn’t stay off,” said Babylon, 5 feet 1 inches tall.

Another patient, Clyde Harper of Loranger, Louisiana, became a diabetic at 256 pounds on his almost 6 foot tall frame. “That’s my pride and joy, my family. I wanted to make a change. My kids are always out there doing something and I really hadn’t, I’d go out there but I’m not out there as long as I need to be or should be,” said Harper.

Babylon, 54, and Harper, 32, became two of the first 27 people in the world who qualified for a new weight loss procedure, which is unlike anything you’ve seen before. It’s called POSE, short for “Primary Obesity Surgery, Endoscopic.” It is bariatric surgery, but unlike gastric bypass or the gastric sleeve surgery, the stomach isn’t cut down to a smaller size. And unlike the LAP-BAND®, no ring is implanted around your stomach.

“You can now do an incisionless weight loss procedure that is painless, with essentially no complications, and you go back to work in a day and a half and you get the same results,” said Bariatric Surgeon Dr. Michael Thomas of the Surgical Specialists of Louisiana, who is the site investigator for the POSE surgery.

A new, special long, thin tube is used during the POSE procedure, which eliminates the cutting. While the patient is under anesthesia, doctors insert it into the mouth and down the esophagus into the stomach. Through the four openings at the end, a camera and series of special tools are threaded down the big tube. The tools grab and fold stomach tissue, and about a dozen places in the stomach are pinched together with mesh plugs, just like folds in the fabric. As in all restrictive bariatric procedures like the LAP-BAND®, the result is a smaller stomach that holds less food.

This procedure also seems to have a different mechanism at work. The part of the stomach that gets altered is very spongy and stretches easily, which seems to interrupt very powerful hormones that send hunger signals to the brain.

“The reason diets fail long term is hunger is a very strong force. These hunger hormones really affect you, nothing emotional about it, pure hormones,” said Bariatric Surgeon Dr. Tom Lavin of the Surgical Specialists of Louisiana.

Surgical Specialists of Louisiana in Covington was one of only a few sites in the country to test the POSE procedure. Of the first 27 patients in the world, doctors Thomas and Lavin performed 9 POSE procedures, more than any other site. And while there are no long-term studies or results, so far they find it very safe and effective. “We are hoping that we will find that the perioperative complications or whatever aspect, either short-term or-long term, are as safe as diet and exercise, maybe even safer,” Thomas said.

“Our patients had dramatically decreased hunger and capacity immediately after surgery and it is sustained at 9 months,” Lavin added. “So for us, that was what we wanted to hear.”

The results speak for themselves. In eight months, Cindy Babylon is down 36 pounds. In seven months, Clyde Harper is down 60 pounds and his diabetes is gone.

“I lost 15 pounds right away, and that was pretty normal. Then it just kept coming off because your stomach is smaller. You’re eating a third of what you are normally eating. You get full quicker. You eat less and you have that fullness and you really don’t have to eat as much as I used to eat like a pig,” Babylon said with a laugh. “It’s easier just to get up, go around motivated, easier to get motivated just to do anything,” said Harper.

During the trial, patients see a nutritionist for food counseling and know they must exercise. Babylon said her weight loss will lower the risk of her breast cancer returning and getting heart disease, which runs in her family. Harper never wants to be on diabetes medication again.

It has not been determined how much the POSE procedure will cost, but other bariatric surgeries run between $14,000 and $19,000. Patients need to be on vitamin supplements to make sure all the nutrients are absorbed into the system.

Source: WWL-TV.com. Doctors say weight loss procedure is painless, doesn’t leave marks. Available at: http://www.wwltv.com/home/Doctors-say-weight-loss-procedure-is-painless-doesnt-leave-marks-74118187.html. Accessed Dec 2, 2009

Walkers participated in raising money to help fight the obesity epidemic. An estimated 90 million people in the US are obese and 15 million are morbidly obese, putting them at an increased risk for other life threatening diseases including type II diabetes and heart disease.

With the help of business sponsorships, such as the Surgical Specialists of Louisiana who were “Benefactor Level” sponsors, the Slidell area walk raised $16,500, making it one of the Top National Fundraising Sites in the Country. Thanks to these fundraising efforts, the ASMBS (American Society For Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery) Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant to Slidell Memorial Hospital’s “Fit as a Firefighter” Camp. This is the second year in a row the award has been given to SMH which has brought the money raised back into our local community.

About The Surgical Specialists of LA
The Surgical Specialists of LA is a group of nine board certified laparoscopic bariatric surgeons who have performed over 4,000 minimally invasive weight loss surgeries. With locations in New Orleans, Covington, Lafayette and Slidell, they are able to offer the Gulf South Region the most comprehensive weight loss program in the area. Whether you need to lose 15, 50 or 150 pounds, SSL has a program to meet your needs. MyWeight^TM is the most recent addition to SSl’s offerings. MyWeight^TM is a medically supervised, individualized, multi-level weight loss program that offers a variety of options focusing on the Medical, Nutritional, and Physical components for a healthy lifestyle.

About Southern Surgical Hospital
Southern Surgical Hospital (SSH) is a multi-specialty, 63,538 square-foot short-stay hospital located in Slidell, Louisiana. The hospital houses six operating suites, one pain treatment room, a procedure room; two sleep lab beds, 32 inpatient beds, and five ICU beds. SSH is owned and operated by physicians in partnership with Cirrus Health.

Many patients undergoing bariatric surgery often wonder if they will need plastic surgery to remove excess skin after they’ve lost weight. This is not always the case. Depending on your age and the elasticity of your skin you may see your body return to a somewhat normal state. Others, however, will see an excess of saggy skin around their midsection, thighs, arms or breasts. This can present both physical and emotional concerns. Hanging skin can be uncomfortable and can cause hygiene problems. And patients who worked hard to reach their weight loss goals may find themselves, once again, embarrassed by their physical appearance. Plastic surgery could be the solution.

Body contouring after massive weight loss is on the rise. In fact, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) nearly 67,000 body contouring procedures after massive weight loss were performed in 2007. This accounts for roughly one-fourth of all bariatric surgery patients.

The most commonly performed procedures for bariatric surgery patients are panniculectomy, abdominoplasty, breast lift, brachioplasty, and vertical thigh lift.

• Panniculectomy: a procedure that reduces the size of the pannus, or the excess skin that hangs in the abdominal region. This procedure is often covered by insurance companies to improve physical function.

• Abdominoplasty: this procedure, like the panniculectomy, also removes excess abdominal skin but also tightens the muscle.

• Breast lift: also known as a mastopexy, this is the most common plastic surgery procedure for weight loss surgery patients. Because the breast volume may have decreased with weight loss, implants are often used to lift and shape the breast.

• Brachioplasty: this technique, to remove excess hanging skin from the arm, cannot be performed without creating a large scar. Many patients however, find this trade off well worth it.

• Vertical thigh lift: a procedure that removes the excess tissue extending from the groin to the knee. Like the arm lift, it generally leaves a large scar.

If you are considering body contouring after your weight loss procedure, it is best to wait at least one full year after your bariatric surgery or until you have reached a stable weight. Having plastic surgery prematurely may not give you the results you are looking for and may mean revisional surgery later on. It is also advisable to reach a healthy weight. Surgery, cosmetic or otherwise, carries risks. These risks can be minimized as your Body Mass Index (BMI) decreases and any weight-related health conditions begin to resolve themselves.

Many plastic surgeons are now specializing in procedures for weight loss surgery patents. The Surgical Specialists of Louisiana can provide you with a list of recommended plastic surgeons and connect you with patients who have undergone body contouring. Additionally, the ASPS is a great resource for detailed information about these and other procedures. You can reach their site at www.plasticsurgery.org.

Could where you live actually determine how long you live? According to the United Health Foundation, it can! In their annual report, “America’s Health Rankings,” the UHF provides an analysis of the nation’s health on a state-by-state basis¹.

In the 2008 report, Louisiana moved to the bottom position making it the least healthy state in the nation. Joining Louisiana at the bottom were Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina and Mississippi. Some of the top-ranked states were Vermont, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Minnesota and Utah. Researchers based their findings on several factors, including the personal behaviors of those living in the state, such as smoking, and factors like the rate of uninsured residents, the percentage of children in poverty, or the rate of preventable hospitalizations and cancer deaths.

But another important indicator is the obesity rate, because obesity, can often lead to other serious health conditions such as type II diabetes and heart disease. Since 1990, the prevalence of obesity in Louisiana has increased by 150% percent. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 28.1% of the Louisiana population is now classified as obese².

Regardless of rank, each state has the opportunity to improve the health of its residents. Fighting the obesity epidemic is an excellent way to start – even modest weight loss can significantly improve one’s health. Medically supervised weight loss programs have been proven successful and, for the morbidly obese, bariatric surgery is known to be the most effective and long-lasting treatment. The Surgical Specialists of Louisiana offers all minimally invasive options, as well as the revolutionary incisionless weight loss surgery options and personalized non-surgical weight loss plans.

Join the 2009 Walk From Obesity

In the end, the health of our State depends on the actions of the individuals who reside here. As weight loss specialists and Louisiana citizens, the Surgical Specialists of Louisiana joins the fight every year by sponsoring the annual American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery’s Walk From Obesity. This year, the SSL- and Southern Surgical Hospital-sponsored Walk will be held on November 14 in conjunction with Camellia City Market and Olde Towne Merchants in Slidell’s Historic Olde Towne District:

2009 Walk From Obesity
Saturday November 14, 2009
8:30am in Slidell, LA

Interested in joining the annual Walk from Obesity to help raise funds for the research, prevention and advanced treatments and make Louisiana a healthier place to live? Visit WhyWeight.com to register online or call Kim Mulkey at (985) 661-2172.

1. United Health Foundations: “America’s Health Rankings.”
Available at http://www.americashealthrankings.org/2008/index.html
2. CDC: “U.S. Obesity Trends 1985 – 2008.” Available at http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html

Overweight and obesity are terms used to identify ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy. Obesity is classified as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater. Obesity increases the likelihood of certain diseases and health problems such as diabetes, hypertension and sleep apnea. These associated health conditions are often referred to as comorbidities. Obesity is also associated with a shocking 400,000 deaths each year.

You may have seen the CDC’s colorful maps that visually depict how obesity is sweeping the nation – the maps redden and darken with each passing year. In 2008, only Colorado had an obese population of less than 20%. Here in Louisiana, nearly 30% of the adult population is now classified as obese¹.

But adult obesity isn’t the only cause for concern. According to The New England Journal of Medicine, for the first time in two centuries, the current generation of children may have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. This is due mainly in part to the obesity epidemic and subsequential increase in comorbid conditions, such as Type II diabetes, among children and adolescents. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) shows that the incidence of obesity has increased to 12.4% for children aged 2 to 5 years and to roughly 17% for those aged 6 to 19 years³.

The CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) has also found a correlation between obesity and racial/ethnic groups. African Americans have the highest rates of obesity – a 51% higher prevalence compared to Caucasians, while Hispanics have a 21% higher prevalence1. More information about obesity and its impact on health can be found in our Weight Loss Learning Center.

These statistics may seem daunting but rest assured – there is good news! Surgical Specialists of Louisiana offers many options to help you lose weight, keep it off and improve your health. We offer laparoscopic weight loss surgery, such as gastric bypass, incisionless weight loss procedures and even a personalized non-surgical medically supervised weight loss program. You can attend one of our free seminars to learn more, or contact us to request a confidential phone call.

1 CDC: “U.S. Obesity Trends 1985 – 2008.” Available at http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/
data/trends.html. Accessed Sept 15, 2009.

2. Weight-Control Information Network (WIN); an information service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Statistics related to overweight and obesity. June 2007. Available at http://win.niddk.nih.gov/statistics/index.htm. Accessed Sept 15, 2009.

3. CDC: “Childhood Overweight and Obesity”. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/
childhood/index. Accessed Sept 15, 2009.

For many, health insurance will cover weight loss surgery.  But, despite the medical evidence correlating bariatric surgery and improved health, some health insurance programs still do not cover laparoscopic bariatric surgery, claiming that it is elective or cosmetic or both.  In these situations, patients often feel they have exhausted their options.  This is not the case!  You have many other choices.

For example, there are several national lenders who offer a broad range of financing options to patients who want to pay for their weight loss surgery procedure when insurance coverage is not available.  Some even choose to finance their co-pay.  The weight loss surgery financing section of our website lists our preferred providers.  These companies offer convenient payment options and low interest loans to those who qualify. You can also contact our Patient Advocates for more information.

In addition, you can check with your local bank about a personal loan.  Your bank will determine how much you may borrow and at what rate, as well as the terms of repayment.

Whether you are having gastric bypass, LAP-BAND, or one of our new incisionless procedures, we want to make your bariatric surgery as affordable as possible.  Surgical Specialists of Louisiana is committed to reasonable cash pay prices for those patients who do not have insurance coverage.

Weight loss surgery may be the best investment you every make.  We’re happy to guide you through the insurance maze or financing process and see you come out healthier and happier! Contact one of our Patient Advocates today to learn more.

Since 2000, The Surgical Specialists of Louisiana have been offering weight loss programs that suit the needs of every person interested in losing weight, improving their health, and enhancing the quality of their life.

Our experienced surgeons have performed over 3,000 advanced laparoscopic weight loss surgeries such as gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding (LAP-BAND® and REALIZE™ Band), gastric sleeve and duodenal switch. We are also now offering groundbreaking incisionless bariatric procedures such as ROSE (Restorative Obesity Surgery, Endoscopic) and POSE (Primary Obesity Surgery, Endoscopy), which are performed entirely through the mouth without making any external incisions in to the body.

But we’re not only experts in Bariatric Surgery. MyWeight, our new non-surgical weight loss and wellness program, can help you succeed whether you have 5, 50 or 150 pounds to lose. This medically supervised weight loss program is tailored to your individual needs and provides one-on-one coaching from clinical specialists.

With offices in Covington, Metairie, Slidell, and Lafayette, Louisiana, we’re just around the corner—no matter where you are! Our seven full time patient advocates are eager to help you learn about your weight loss options or help you navigate the weight loss surgery insurance hurdle.

We encourage you and your loved ones to follow this blog and explore everything our new site has to offer. And check out the new inspirational videos from five of our successful bariatric patients – Nina, Katie, Claire, Melissa, and Stacy.

We’re looking forward to helping you achieve your weight loss and wellness goals!