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.

Research has long linked obesity to such negative health conditions as high blood pressure, sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes. One commonly overlooked, yet very serious, risk of obesity is cancer. A pivotal study released in 2003 followed more than 900,000 adults for sixteen years¹. When these men and women were enrolled in the study they were cancer free, but over the duration of the study, more than 50,000 cancer deaths occurred. The study concluded that those with a body mass index of 40 or more, those considered morbidly obese, had death rates from all cancers that were 52% higher for men and 62% higher for women compared to people of normal weight. Based on this data, the researchers estimated that 14 percent of all deaths from cancer in men and 20 percent of those in women could be directly linked to obesity. Obesity related cancers include esophagus, colon, rectum, liver, pancreas and kidney cancers. For women, there is also an increased rate of breast, uterus and other gynecologic cancers.

Seven years have passed since the publication of that study and much headway has been made in the treatment and prevention of obesity in the United States. Although the obese population continues to climb, options such as weight loss surgery and medically supervised diets are widely available. This June, the Journal of the American College of Surgeons published a report that bariatric surgery appears to decrease the risk of cancer in obese women.

The study followed 1,482 severely obese (BMI over 30) women who had undergone bariatric surgery and compared them to a group of severely obese women who had not undergone surgery. Although the results of the study were not conclusive, the obese women who did not have surgery had a significantly higher cancer diagnosis². These findings may be the first step toward bariatric surgery being a preventative treatment for obesity related cancers.

Certainly more research needs to be done to evaluate the numerous factors contributing to weight loss. Still, for the morbidly obese, weight loss surgery, such gastric bypass or laparoscopic gastric banding, has proven to be a more effective means of weight loss than diet and exercise alone.

1. EE Callee, C Rodriguez, K Walker-Thurmond, M Thun Overweight, Obesity and Mortality from Canter in a Prospectively Studied Cohort of U.S. Adults, NEJM 348: 1625-1638, April 24, 2003, No. 17
2. Cancer in Obese Women: Potential Protective Impact of Bariatric Surgery, 17 April 2009

The Surgical Specialists of Louisiana are committed to helping our patients achieve a healthy lifestyle and a healthy weight. Whether you are interested in weight loss surgery or medically supervised weight loss counseling, we can help you take control of your eating and your weight. Join us for a free seminar or take a weight loss quiz to help you get started.

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

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

Most weight loss surgeries, such as gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding (LAP-BAND® and REALIZE Band), or gastric sleeve are all aimed at hunger control. They limit the amount of food one can eat giving patients the tool they need to lose weight.

But once surgery turns the physical hunger off, other psychological issues may surface. Many patients find that they have a complicated relationship with food and that their new approach to eating causes anxiety. Others have used food as a coping mechanism for negative emotions and must learn other ways to deal with these feelings. Surgery alone cannot repair these issues.

We at Surgical Specialists of Louisiana understand and are here to help. Since 2000, we have been helping our patients address the psychological side of bariatric surgery before and after their procedure.  Our team of weight loss specialists sees patients frequently for the first year after surgery to ensure they have the necessary skills to deal with physical and emotional changes. We continue to guide them through their weight loss journey as they are our patients for life.

Our patients also have unlimited access to bariatric support groups in Metairie, Slidell, Lafayette, and Covington, Louisiana, and can call the clinic staff as needed. We encourage all our patients to attend support groups as an excellent peer-to-peer forum, support network, and educational opportunity.

Ultimately, we believe that a comprehensive approach is necessary to ensure weight loss success. This is why we have a team of highly skilled surgeons, experienced patient advocates, nutritionists and psychologists available for our patients. We understand that nobody is perfect, but with ongoing commitment and communication we can help you succeed!

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!