Obesity (Bariatric Surgery)

These are only general guidelines and not meant to replace instructions from a physician. Please talk with your physician about your specific condition.

About The Condition

bariatric surgeryGastric Bypass

Obesity is a medical condition defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30. To qualify for bariatric surgery, you must have a BMI equal to or greater than 40 or a BMI greater than 35 with weight-related medical conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease or gastroesophageal reflux. Obesity can place individuals at risk for serious health conditions or make these conditions worse. If you have not been successful with diet and exercise, bariatric surgery can be a life-saving option for you.

Bariatric Health History Form

bariatric surgeonplay video

Patient Testimonial: Bariatric Surgery.

Obesity and Bariatric Surgery

Our specialists will guide your bariatric surgery journey from the first phone call through your recovery and new lifestyle.

STEP 1: BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY

STEP 2: VERIFY INSURANCE

Once you watch the video you will be prompted to enter your name, email & a contact number.  Our office will reach out to you to gather your insurance information and check your benefits to make this a smooth process.  If you don’t hear from us you may call us at 763.760.6699.

STEP 3: SCHEDULE CONSULTATION

Once your insurance benefits are checked, our office will contact you with next steps including scheduling an appointment.

Before Surgery

Bariatric surgery will require major lifestyle changes, even before your surgery. Your physician may ask you to:

Please ask your physician about any additional steps you should take before your surgery.

Surgery

Our surgeons perform two types of bariatric surgery:

Gastric Sleeve (Gastrectomy). In this procedure, a portion of your stomach is removed, creating a smaller, narrower stomach called a “sleeve.” After surgery, the stomach resembles a banana, restricting how much food may be eaten. Food will still be absorbed normally in your intestines. This surgery typically results in decreased hunger sensations due to hormonal changes. Weight loss occurs fairly rapidly.

Roux en Y Gastric Bypass. During this surgery, the most common gastric bypass procedure, your stomach is divided to create a small pouch about the size of your thumb. This causes you to feel full after only a few bites of food. Your intestine is divided and reattached to your stomach so that the outlet from the pouch empties into the small intestine, causing food to bypass approximately 150 cm of your intestine. This procedure restricts the amount of food that may be eaten, as well as reduces the amount of nutrients and calories that are absorbed, resulting in rapid weight loss.

In most cases, bariatric surgery is performed laparoscopically, but our surgeons can perform both open surgery and minimally invasive procedures.

Open surgery. With open surgery, your physician will make an incision large enough so he or she can see and touch your internal organs while operating.

Minimally invasive surgery. Minimally invasive surgery is performed with traditional laparoscopy or robot-assisted surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System.

• Laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic surgery requires only a few small incisions into which your surgeon will fit long, thin surgical instruments and a tiny camera. The camera will provide images to guide the surgeon during the procedure.

• Robotic surgery. Some laparoscopic surgeries may be performed using the da Vinci Surgical System. This robotic option gives your surgeon a magnified 3D high-definition view inside your body. The system also enables the surgeon’s hand movements to be translated into precise movements of small instruments inside your body.

After Surgery

 Call your surgeon right away if you have any of the following:

Dietary Instructions for Gastric Sleeve (Gastrectomy) Patients:

Fluids.  When you leave the hospital, you will be on a clear liquid diet and given instructions about measuring your fluid intake daily. The goal is to drink at least 64 ounces every day by the third or fourth day after surgery. Continue this clear liquid diet until you are seen for your one-week follow-up visit with your surgeon.

Medications. Your physician may prescribe one or more of the following medications:

Weeks 1 and 2. You will be on a clear liquid diet for the first two weeks after surgery. You may have sugar free, non-caffeine, non-carbonated beverages such as water, flavored water, diluted juices, sugar-free Jello and broth.

Weeks 3 and 4. At this point, you may try a full liquid diet including tomato or V8 juice; tomato soup (diluted 1:1 with water or skim milk); low-fat, low-calorie strained cream soup; low-fat milk or yogurt without fruit. Continue to monitor your fluid intake to reach 64 ounces a day.

Weeks 5 and 6. You may now begin a puree diet using foods in your handbook. A few days after starting this diet, you should begin taking your supplements, as instructed by your physician. Make an appointment to see the dietitian and nurse coordinator before starting your solid food diet. Call 763.581-5355 to schedule these appointments.

Week 7. Seven weeks after surgery, you may begin solid foods. Remember to take very small bites about the size of a pea, and chew very well. You need to chew 25 to 35 times for each bite until food is of the consistence of applesauce. Do not drink with your meals. Wait 30 to 45 minutes after eating before drinking. Stop eating before you feel full. Meals should be a couple of tablespoons total per meal. Once this is routine, you may slowly eat up to ¼ cup at a meal by around three months after surgery. Continue to drink more than 64 ounces of fluid a day.

Dietary Instructions for Roux en Y Gastric Bypass Patients:

Fluids.  When you leave the hospital, you will be on a clear liquid diet and given instructions about measuring your fluid intake daily. The goal is to drink at least 64 ounces every day by the third or fourth day after surgery. Continue this clear liquid diet until you are seen for your one-week follow-up visit with your surgeon.

Medications. Your physician may prescribe one or more of the following medications:

Week 1. You will be on a clear liquid diet for the first week after surgery. You may have sugar free, non-caffeine, non-carbonated beverages such as water, flavored water, diluted juices, sugar-free Jello and broth.

Weeks 2 and 3. At this point, you may try a full liquid diet including tomato or V8 juice; tomato soup (diluted 1:1 with water or skim milk); low-fat, low-calorie strained cream soup; low-fat milk or yogurt without fruit. Continue to monitor your fluid intake to reach 64 ounces a day.

Week 4. You may now begin a puree diet using foods in your handbook. A few days after starting this diet, you should begin taking your supplements, as instructed by your physician. Make an appointment to see the dietitian and nurse coordinator before starting your solid food diet. Call 763.581.5355 to schedule these appointments.

Week 5. Five weeks after surgery, you may begin solid foods. Remember to take very small bites about the size of a pea, and chew very well. You need to chew 25 to 35 times for each bite until food is of the consistence of applesauce. Do not drink with your meals. Wait 30 to 45 minutes after eating before drinking. Stop eating before you feel full. Meals should be a couple of tablespoons total per meal. Once this is routine, you may slowly eat up to ¼ cup at a meal by around three months after surgery. Continue to drink 64 ounces of fluid a day.

Lifestyle Changes:

Bariatric surgery will help you lose weight, but it is important to make lifestyle changes for the best long-term outcome. After surgery, you will be asked to make the following changes:

North Memorial Medical Center offers an integrated metabolic and bariatric surgery program to provide comprehensive care, management and planning for surgical weight loss for qualified patients. The program is a partnership with Specialists in General Surgery and headed by Jonathan C. Gipson, M.D., FACS. Visit North Memorial Bariatric and Metabolic Surgical Weight Loss  for more information.

If you have additional questions, please contact us at 763.780.6699.

Videos

laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy surgeonplay video

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy information

roux-en-y gastric bypassplay video

Laparoscopic Roux En Y Gastric Bypass information

bariatric surgeonplay video

Overview of Bariatric Surgery by a Patient & Dr. Gipson

Surgeons Who Treat Obesity (Bariatric Surgery)

SPECIAL MEDICAL INTERESTS:

  • Advanced laparoscopy
  • Robotic assisted surgery
  • Reflux disease/GERD
  • Paraesophageal hernia
  • Hiatal hernia
  • Gallbladder surgery
  • Weight loss (bariatric) surgery
  • GI surgery
  • Abdominal wall hernias
  • Groin hernias
  • Upper endoscopy
Read More
Jonathan C. Gipson, MD

Special Medical Interests:

  • Gastrointestinal surgery
  • Pancreas and foregut (esophagus and stomach) cancer surgery
  • Complex laparoscopic and robotic surgical procedures, including gastric bypass, gastric sleeve and hiatal hernia
  • Emergency surgical procedures
  • Surgical management of trauma
Read More
Sarah J. Lippert, MD

Special Medical Interests:

  • Minimally invasive surgery
  • Bariatric surgery
  • Advanced esophageal procedures
  • Trauma surgery
  • Hernia surgery
Read More
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