Webster Groves, MO Bariatric Surgery
If you have struggled to lose weight and have had health issues due to the excess weight that you have been unable to lose, then you may want to consider getting bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery is a weight loss option for people who suffer from obesity. Some of the common health conditions that appear as a result of obesity include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or even obstructive sleep apnea. Bariatric surgery is an option to help you lose weight so that you can get back to living the lifestyle that you would like to. Dr. Ricks and his support staff at Ricks Bariatrics, want to help you change your life and start your weight loss journey. If you live in the Webster Groves, MO area, and suffer from health issues as a result of obesity, contact us today!
What is Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric surgery is a type of surgery to help those who struggle with weight loss to lose weight. There are multiple types of surgeries that you could get depending on your own personal situation. Dr. Ricks and his support staff will create a plan of what surgery to do, in addition to a personalized diet and exercise plan that will need to be followed in order to keep off the weight. There are different kinds of surgeries, one is a restrictive type of surgery where the stomach will be restricted, another will limit the amount of nutrients that can be absorbed by the intestines, and the other kind of surgery will do both of those things. It is imperative that these are followed in order to have sustained weight loss, the surgery alone will not ensure sustained weight loss. The different kinds of bariatric surgeries include:
Lap Band
One common kind of bariatric surgery is the lap band. Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding is more commonly known as the “lap band”. This is a kind of restrictive surgeries that will help lessen the amount of food that is able to be in the stomach. This is done by placing a small silicone band at the top of the stomach to restrict the amount of food that the stomach is able to hold. The small pouch in the stomach that is about the size of a banana. This will make sure that the stomach is not able to hold as much food. The end result of this is that you will be able to feel fuller after eating, and for a longer period of time. While this may seem like an easy weight loss solution, that is not entirely the case. You will need to follow the plan that you make with Dr. Ricks and his team in order to keep off the weight following the surgery.
Gastric Bypass
The gastric bypass is one of the most common types of bariatric procedure. It is another type of restrictive type of bariatric surgery. In this procedure, the stomach will be modified into a pouch that is about the size of a banana. After the stomach is modified, the small intestine will be attached into the newly formed pouch. This will allow food to essentially bypass the stomach and to be directly absorbed in the small intestine. This will help restrict the amount of food that your stomach holds, will change the hormones in you stomach which will help you feel more full for longer amounts of time after eating, and will limit the amount of nutrients that can be absorbed. As with all of the other kinds of bariatric surgery if the diet and exercise plan is not followed, you cannot expect to keep the weight off after the surgery.
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 procedure, the stomach is created into a sleeve that is about the size of a banana. Similarly to the other types of restrictive bariatric surgeries, this will limit the amount of food that the stomach can hold which will help you feel fuller for longer after eating. This will also help you not get as hungry as often. Once again, it is important to note that there will not be lasting results if diet and exercise plan is not followed.
Duodenal Switch
The duodenal switch is a type of bariatric surgery where both the small and intestine are modified. In this surgery, part of the stomach will be removed, and the small intestine will be shortened. This will result in a smaller stomach pouch where food can fit, which will help you feel less hungry, as well as modify the hunger hormones, so that you do not feel hungry as often in the day. Once again, while this may seem as though it is an easy weight loss solution, that is not the case. It will require effort on your part especially when it comes to the diet and exercise plans are made with the doctor.
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 in the stomach, the patient cannot expect to see any sort of weight loss results unless the diet and exercise plan is followed. This type of bariatric surgery is only intended for the patients that suffer from obesity.
As you can see there are multiple different kinds of bariatric procedures that could be chosen for you depending on your own personal circumstances. After meeting with Dr. Ricks, he and his support staff will come up with a plan that will help you meet your weight loss goals and achieve the lifestyle that you would like to have.
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 Webster Groves, 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!