Positive Benefits of Weight-Loss Surgery
As Weight Melts Off Patients, Many Health Problems Vanish
When morbidly obese patients follow the gastric bypass surgery lifestyle, many of their health risks disappear, said Gus J. Slotman, M.D., medical director of the bariatric surgery program at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center.
"Gastric reflux goes away immediately in most cases. We also see very significant reductions in adult Type II diabetes, hypertension and sleep apnea," said the physician.
"And I tell people who have suffered disc pain and/or arthritis that when they lose weight they will find out what part of the problem was weight-related."
The medical literature shows that 10 years after Roux-en-Y surgery, the type of gastric bypass Dr. Slotman performs, patients will keep off about 50 percent of their excess weight, said the surgeon.
"So if you were 200 pounds overweight you will lose and keep off 100 pounds after 10 years on average. Even if you eat the wrong diet and you are protein malnourished you are still going to keep off that much weight."
He said his experience is that success for patients is proportionately related to how closely patients follow the two-ounce portion, high-protein, no sweets, no starch carbohydrate diet, and exercise regularly.
He thinks his patient base "probably has a much higher success rate" than that shown in the literature. He bases that on a study of 81 patients who were multiple members of the same families upon whom he has operated.
"The average (in the literature) is that about 60-to-65 percent of excess weight is lost in one year, but in this subgroup of our population, 77 percent of excess weight was lost in one year," he said.
Physical health can improve drastically after the surgery but so can mental health and wellbeing. Time and again patients thank the surgeon for "saving my life."
His practice has seen countless examples of lives changed for the good, a new appreciation for life, improved careers and a new confidence. "We see them come in smiling and happy and it makes it all worthwhile," he said.
To locate a Lourdes Health System bariatric surgeon by phone, call 1-888-LOURDES.
