Weight-Loss Surgery
Weight-Loss Surgery at Alvarado Hospital
Are you struggling with severe obesity or know someone who is? Having a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or more often leads to health conditions that make many daily tasks difficult. Alvarado's Surgical Weight-Loss Program may be able to help! To determine your BMI, click here.
Choosing a Surgical Weight-Loss Program
Alvarado Hospital has one of the most respected weight-loss programs in Southern California. When choosing a surgical weight-loss program, consider the following services we offer:
- Dedicated, specially trained surgeons and nurses
- Comprehensive follow-up care program
- Access to your surgeons' statistics (complication rate, etc.)
- Support groups and counseling
For more information on when to choose bariatric surgery, click here.
Do I qualify for weight-loss surgery?
You may be eligible for weight-loss surgery if:
- Your BMI is at least 30
- You are 50 pounds or more overweight
- And, you have one or more life-threatening health conditions (co-morbidities)
For additional information about qualifying for bariatric surgery, click here.
What procedures does your hospital offer?
Alvarado Hospital offers three major types of weight-loss procedures for qualifying patients:
The Gastric Banding Procedure
Lap-Band (gastric banding) surgery is a minimally invasive treatment option
for those living with obesity. It is the least invasive and only adjustable
surgical treatment for obesity. The Lap-Band works by reducing the stomach's
capacity, restricting the amount of food that an individual can consume
before feeling discomfort. Surgeons use laparoscopic techniques, which
include small incisions and long-shafted instruments, to implant an inflatable
silicone band into the patient's abdomen.
The band is fastened around the upper part of the stomach, which essentially creates a new, smaller stomach, which limits and controls the amount of food the patient can eat. This procedure also includes the creation of a small outlet that slows the stomach's emptying process into the residual stomach and intestines. Patients who undergo the Lap-Band procedure tend to feel full faster, making weight loss easier.
Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Roux-en-Y
Another minimally invasive weight-loss option is gastric bypass. A majority
of weight-loss surgery patients in the U.S. undergo this type of procedure
because it helps patients lose more weight and may treat diabetes more
effectively than other techniques. Similar to gastric banding, surgeons
create a small stomach pouch. The rest of the stomach remains where it
is, but is separated from the new, smaller stomach pouch. The small stomach
is then connected to the jejunum, which is the first part of the small
intestine. This is where the body digests food.
To watch a video that discusses the difference between gastric bypass and banding, click here.
Gastric Sleeve
Another option is gastric sleeve surgery, which makes up over
60% of all weight-loss surgery procedures performed in the U.S. More than half of the stomach (close
to 80%) is removed, leaving a thin vertical sleeve. The procedures makes
your stomach smaller so you require less food to feel full faster. Patients
are left with a small capacity for food storage, thus limiting their intake.
Recent research has found that the hunger-producing hormone ghrelin was
significantly lowered in gastric sleeve patients. Following surgery, patients can slowly add all foods types back into
their diet, but in much smaller amounts Another benefit of the sleeve
is that, unlike the Lap-Band, no adjustments are necessary.
Alvarado Hospital offers free seminars on all three types of weight-loss procedures. Click here to learn more.
What questions should I ask when choosing a bariatric surgeon?
When looking for the right bariatric surgeon for you, it may be helpful to ask questions like:
- How many years have you been in bariatric practice?
- How many bariatric cases have you performed?
- Are you fully trained and dedicated to bariatric surgery?
- What is your complication rate?
- What is your mortality rate?
- What is the average weight loss of your patients?
- Do you patients maintain weight loss?
- What are the hospital's qualifications?
- What are the risks?
Physician Referrals
Alvarado's Physician Referral Service can help you find an experienced bariatric surgeon who meets your needs. To find a bariatric surgeon, simply click on the Physician Finder or call (800) ALVARADO (800-258-2723) and allow one of our friendly customer service representatives to assist you. You may also call our bariatric program coordinator at 619-229-3340 or e-mail her.
Alvarado Advantage Club
You are invited to join the free Alvarado Advantage Club. Members receive a variety of benefits, including VIP parking and priority for a private room when available; 10% discount at the Alvarado Gift Shop, Cafe and Gourmet Coffee Cart; 10% discount at the Alvarado Medical Plaza Pharmacy; first notification of special events and classes; hotel discounts; and much, much more! To learn more or to register online, click here. To register through one of our customer service representatives, call (800) 258-2723.
What have you got to lose, but weight. To learn more about weight-loss surgery at Alvarado Hospital, contact us today!
