Chesterfield, MO Bariatric Surgery
Do you suffer from type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnea, or high blood pressure due to excess weight? If you have tried everything in your power to lose weight, have yet to see results, and still have been unable to lose the excess weight, then you may want to consider getting bariatric surgery. If you live in the Chesterfield, MO area, then you should go to Ricks Bariatrics in order to get your bariatric surgery. Dr. Ricks and his staff will be sure to take the time necessary to listen to and learn about your specific history in order to choose a procedure that will best suit your needs and your own situation. Come to Chesterfield, MO bariatric surgery in order to get the best bariatric procedure to help you start on your own weight loss journey.
What is Bariatric Surgery?
A common question is what is bariatric surgery? Bariatric surgery is weight loss surgery that will modify either your small intestine, stomach, or in some procedures, both. There are multiple types of bariatric surgeries that you could get depending on your needs and situation. There are three types of surgeries that could be performed:
Restrictive Surgeries
In this type of bariatric surgery, the stomach is modified. Typically, it is made smaller so that it cannot hold as much food, and so that the patient gets fuller in a shorter amount. Many people have the misconception that once getting a restrictive procedure, that will help them lose and keep off the weight, that however is not entirely true. While these types of surgeries are helpful in losing weight, alone, it will not help you keep off the weight. It is important to follow both the diet and exercise program that Dr. Ricks and his surgical staff will create with you.
Limiting the Nutrient Absorption
Another type of bariatric surgery is one that will limit the nutrient absorption by the body. In this type of procedure, the small intestine will be modified in a way where it will not be abe to absorb as many nutrients as it was before the modification. Similar to the restrictive surgery, the weight loss will not be sustainable if the diet and exercise plan is not followed. The surgery alone is not enough, it is imperative that the other plans are followed in order to keep off the weight following the surgery.
Both Restrictive and Limiting Nutrient Absorption
There are some types of surgeries that will modify both the amount of food that the stomach can hold in addition to the amount of nutrients that can be absorbed by the small intestine. Just like the other two different types of procedures, there will be no sustained progress unless you follow the diet and exercise plan that is made by Dr. Ricks and his staff.
What are the DIfferent Bariatric Surgeries?
As mentioned above, there are multiple different types of procedures that can be performed based on what is best for you. Some of the procedures include:
Gastric Bypass
The gastric bypass is one of the most common types of bariatric procedure. This is one of the restrictive types of bariatric surgery. In this procedure, the stomach is modified. It will be modified into a pouch that is about the size of a banana. The small intestine will then be attached to the newly created pouch. This will allow food to essentially bypass the stomach, and will be directly absorbed by the small intestine. As mentioned previously, you cannot expect to see any type of results unless the diet and exercise plans are followed.
Sleeve
The Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy is more commonly known as the “sleeve” is a restrictive type of bariatric surgery where the stomach is modified to restrict the amount of food that the stomach can hold. In this type of restrictive surgery, the stomach is created into a pouch that is about the size of a banana. This will make the stomach pouch smaller so that it is not able to hold as much food as it did before the procedure. This will result in you feeling fuller faster, and for a longer time, as the stomach is smaller. To ensure sustained weight loss it is imperative to follow diet and exercise plans.
Lap Band
Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding is more commonly known as the “lap band”. This is another kind of restrictive surgeries that will help lessen the amount of food that is able to be in the stomach. Instead of modifying the stomach to create a smaller pouch, there will be a silicone band that is placed on the stomach to make it smaller. This will make it so that the stomach will not be able to hold as much food in it, which will help you feel more full for longer. As with all of the other types of bariatric surgeries you will need to diet and exercise for the surgery to really have a lasting effect.
Duodenal Switch
The duodenal switch is a type of bariatric surgery where both the small and intestine are modified. In this procedure, part of the stomach is removed so that the stomach is smaller which will limit the amount of food that the stomach will hold. The small intestine will then be shortened. The result of this is that you will feel fuller after eating more quickly than previously in addition to less hunger hormones being produced, so that you will not feel hungry as often. This procedure alone will not guarantee sustained weight loss. It will be up to you to make sure that the diet and exercise plan is followed to ensure that the weight will stay off.
Orbera Balloon
The Orbera Balloon is a type of bariatric surgery where a balloon will be placed into your stomach for no longer than six months. While the balloon is in place, patients cannot expect to see any type of results if the diet and exercise plan is not followed. This type of bariatric surgery is only intended for those who suffer from obesity.
As you can see there are many different types of bariatric surgeries that have different purposes as to what you would get them. Because everyone has differing circumstances, Dr. Ricks will sit down with you to help you choose the best type of surgery that will help you in your circumstances.
Why Choose Dr. Ricks?
Choosing the right doctor to help you on your weight loss journey, is no small decision. Dr. Ricks at Ricks Bariatrics provides highly skilled medical care to each of his patients. He is an advanced laparoscopic general surgeon who has specialized in bariatric surgery. He has performed 2000+ Bariatric Surgeries and is certified to perform laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, and duodenal switch procedure. Dr. Ricks has received the Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence, designation. This means his Surgical Mastery has Proven Outcomes: BSCOE status is earned through measurable patient successes. He has consistently achieved outstanding weight loss results. He and his support staff are committed to treating each of his patients with care and compassion, to ensure the best experience possible. However, the expert care does not end once the procedure is complete. We strive to offer our patients the best care before, during and after the surgery is completed.
Contact Us
If you are in the Chesterfield, Missouri area and are wanting to start on your weight loss journey, then feel free to reach out to us and contact us today! We look forward to working with you and helping you achieve your goals!