Full Service Bariatric Weight Loss Clinic
Monday, April 16th, 2012
A full service bariatric weight loss clinic is totally patient focused and offers preparatory and follow up services. This complies with the Consensus Statement published by the National Institute of Health in the US in 1992. Although bariatric surgery is the main tool used for weight loss, it is only part of a longer term treatment program.
Surgery Options
A responsible clinic allows patients to engage at their own speed. These days, potential patients often start by checking the internet for what is available. Perhaps they are not even sure if they would qualify so the first step is doing an online calculation of their Body Mass Index. If this indicates morbid obesity and eligibility for weight loss surgery, it is likely that a person would follow up with medical staff who would discuss these options.
Lap band surgery. A silicon band is placed around the upper part of the stomach. The band is inflated to restrict comfortable food intake. There is ongoing monitoring.
Gastric bypass surgery. The surgeon creates a small pouch to process food as the major part of the stomach is bypassed. Because there are no digestive juices in that pouch, food with refined sugars or high fat content produce extreme discomfort in the patient.
Gastric sleeve surgery. This surgery permanently reduces the size of the stomach, leaving only a sleeve shaped pouch for digestion.
Staff at the clinic discuss the pros and cons and individual appropriateness of each procedure before a decision is made.
Treatment Program
A comprehensive treatment program begins with the first consultation and follows through until the patient is living a normal, sustainable lifestyle.
Medical exam pre-surgery.
Confidential clinical services specific to bariatric patients.
Nutritional counseling to stabilize diet after surgery.
Regular medical monitoring.
Access to support groups and individual counseling for life changes.
A professional bariatric weight loss clinic provides all this assistance to ensure successful patient outcomes.