St. Louis Bariatrics
Do you suffer from type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnea or other medical conditions associated with fighting to overcome the extremely difficult process of losing weight? Many people have tried almost every diet or exercise program that is out there and have not been able to achieve the desired weight loss results. If you have had a similar problem in your life, then St. Louis Bariatrics could be a great option for you. At Ricks Bariatrics, you will receive one-on-one care and will be presented with many possible procedures that can help you reach your active and healthy lifestyle goals.
What is Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric surgery is a weight loss procedure that is performed when diet and exercise have not worked to help you lose weight, or you if you have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnea due to the amount of excess weight. Some of the procedures limit the amount of food that you can eat, while others will reduce the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. Other procedures do both of these things. Although these surgeries will help you lose weight, if there is not a change in diet and exercise along with these procedures, then there will not be long-term success from the surgery.
Procedures We Offer
There are multiple different procedures that can be performed in order to help you on your weight loss journey. Just as each patient has different situations, each procedure has its own set of circumstances where it would be used. Dr. Ricks will sit down and will go over each of the different procedures so that you can choose the surgery that will best help you with your specific needs. Some of the procedures that are offered include:
Orbera Balloon
The Orbera Balloon is a weight loss aid for those who suffer from obesity. These patients who will be candidates for this procedure will have already tried different methods to lose and keep off the weight but were unable to do so. This balloon will be placed in the stomach for no longer than 6- months, and you will be given a diet along with an exercise plan. If the diet and exercise plan is not followed while the Orbera Balloon is in place, then they cannot expect significant weight loss.
Lap Band
Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding, also known as a “lap band” is a restrictive surgery in which there is a silicone band that is placed around the upper part of the stomach. This procedure creates a much smaller stomach pouch, and as a result will help you feel full for a much longer period of time after eating. Although it does help you feel fuller, weight loss and improved health does not come from the lap band alone, it will be up to you to maintain a healthy lifestyle which may include watching portion control, creating an exercise plan, quitting smoking, or any other plan that has been discussed with the surgical team.
Sleeve
Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy is a restrictive bariatric surgery. In this surgery, the surgeon will go in and create a small, sleeve shaped stomach that is about the size of a banana. This means that the stomach will be able to tolerate less food, which could result in weight loss, as it causes a feeling of fullness more quickly. However, this alone will not achieve the desired weight loss goals. It will be up to the patient to continue living a healthy lifestyle including eating a healthy diet, having an exercise plan, as well as having regular medical care.
Duodenal Switch
The duodenal switch is a procedure that modifies both the stomach and the small intestine. This procedure will remove part of the stomach and will also include an intestinal bypass. This both restricts the amount of food that your stomach can hold, but also makes the path through your intestines shorter. It will reduce the amount of hunger hormones that are produced by both your stomach and small intestine.
Gastric Bypass
Gastric Bypass is a type of surgery where a small pouch is created from the stomach, and the small intestine will then be connected to the newly created pouch. This will allow the food that is able to essentially bypass the stomach and to be almost directly absorbed by the small intestine. This is one of the most commonly performed bariatric surgeries and is only performed after you have tried dieting and exercising with no weight loss.
What are the Benefits of Bariatric Surgery?
There are many ways in which getting bariatric surgery can help your quality of life. Many patients report an improved quality of life after getting bariatric surgery including improvement in self-esteem, and a decrease in anxiety and depression. Not only will weight loss improve your health mentally, but it will also help you physically. Getting bariatric surgery will also help you see long-term results when it comes to weight loss and will be able to help your health improve. Bariatric surgery has been shown to help resolve type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol obstructive sleep apnea and several other medical conditions. You will be able to notice an improvement in your mobility, and normal day-to-day tasks that once seemed to be difficult, will become easier, as you shed the excess weight.
Why Choose Ricks Bariatrics?
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 purcedures. 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 ready to start your weight loss journey, and are considering getting bariatric surgery, then contact us today. We look forward to helping you on your weight loss journey so that you can get back to living the active lifestyle that you want to.