If you've struggled with weight loss through traditional methods like diet and exercise, bariatric surgery at Riverside Surgical Associates might be the life-changing solution you've been searching for. Riverside offers a comprehensive approach to weight loss, with a team of expert surgeons and providers dedicated to helping individuals achieve significant and lasting weight loss and improve their overall health. Located at 275 Varnum Ave, Lowell, MA 01854, and affiliated with the Lowell General Hospital Center for Weight Management and Bariatric Surgery at 20 Research Place, North Chelmsford, MA 01863, Riverside is committed to providing personal, safe, and high-quality care to those battling obesity.
Is Weight Loss Surgery Right for You?
Choosing weight loss surgery is a significant decision. Research suggests that losing weight through bariatric surgery can reduce the risks associated with conditions like diabetes and heart disease and may even lower death rates for people with severe obesity. Riverside's expert team will help you evaluate your situation and determine if surgery is the right path for you.
Determining Candidacy
To determine if surgical weight management is right for you, Riverside offers a comprehensive evaluation process. This includes consultations with a psychologist specializing in bariatric surgery patients, a specially trained dietitian to assess your current diet and eating habits and a comprehensive medical evaluation to ensure bariatric surgery is appropriate and safe. At OhioHealth, a similar multidisciplinary approach is used, providing expert, compassionate care from the initial consultation to ongoing weight management support after surgery.
Bariatric Surgery Options at Riverside
Riverside Surgical and Weight Loss Center offers a range of bariatric surgery options to individualize your care. The team focuses on providing a safe, personal, and exceptional surgical experience using state-of-the-art surgical technology. Here are some of the procedures available:
Sleeve Gastrectomy
Gastric sleeve surgery, also known as sleeve gastrectomy, is a restrictive procedure that involves removing a portion of your stomach and reforming the remaining portion into a sleeve shape resembling a banana. This laparoscopic procedure is performed through small incisions. The remaining narrow tube, or sleeve, has a smaller capacity, restricting the amount of calories you can consume. Sleeve gastrectomy reduces your stomach size by about 85%. For reference, a normal stomach can hold approximately three pints of food, while after sleeve gastrectomy, it can only accommodate about 1 to 4 ounces.
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The majority of the appetite-inducing hormone Ghrelin is removed during the procedure, further aiding in weight loss. Ghrelin is primarily produced in the top of your stomach.
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is a laparoscopic procedure that reduces the overall size of your stomach. The upper portion of the stomach is stapled, separating it from the lower portion, and a part of the small intestine is rerouted. This restricts calorie intake by reducing the size of the stomach and reduces calorie absorption by bypassing part of the small intestine.
This surgery can lead to vitamin and mineral malabsorption, requiring you to take certain supplements following surgery.
Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (BPD-DS)
A BPD-DS procedure involves a sleeve gastrectomy and rerouting the intestines. Because the intestines are rerouted when food is consumed after surgery, it will not pass through the upper part of the small intestine. Surgeons typically limit this procedure to individuals with very high BMIs or those experiencing health concerns related to obesity-related medical conditions. Riverside's bariatric surgeons discuss all benefits and risks associated with this procedure to determine if BPD-DS is the best option for you.
SADI-S
SADI-S is a newer procedure where a sleeve gastrectomy is performed, and a part of the upper small intestine gets divided and connected to a loop of the small intestine. Bypassing part of the small intestine leads to malabsorption of macronutrients (calories) and micronutrients (minerals and vitamins), which causes weight loss. You may be a good fit for this procedure if your BMI is greater than 50kg/m2 or greater than 45 kg/m2 and you also have uncontrolled type II diabetes mellitus.
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Revision Surgery
Revision bariatric surgery can be performed if you have previously undergone some form of weight loss surgery, including sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, or gastric banding. The type of revision surgery needed will vary depending on the initial bariatric procedure performed. It can help improve or repair a past procedure or change the type of procedure that was performed. For example, some people may initially receive a gastric sleeve and then undergo revision surgery to convert to a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Following a sleeve gastrectomy, you may opt to have your sleeve gastrectomy turned into a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for additional weight loss. Patients who have already had weight loss surgery are sometimes candidates to modify the initial procedure or convert to a different procedure. This is called revision surgery and is considered when there is less than optimal weight loss, weight regain, or complications from the initial surgery.
The Riverside Approach
Riverside is proud to be a full-service, comprehensive metabolic and surgical weight loss center in the Treasure and Space Coast area. They offer patients a complete package, starting with extensive preparation for bariatric surgery, which includes evaluations with bariatric providers, nutritionists, psychologists, and physical therapists, as well as board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeons for excess skin removal.
Comprehensive Pre-Operative Evaluation
When your pre-operative evaluations and consultations are complete and your health insurance has been approved, you'll meet with your bariatric surgeon and nurse. During this pre-surgery consultation, your surgeon will explain your procedure in detail and give you specific instructions about how to prepare for the surgery.
Multidisciplinary Team
At Riverside, you'll receive support from a multidisciplinary team that will help you learn about and prepare for surgery. This team will provide the best surgical care and help you on your journey to lose weight and transform your health. The team includes experienced bariatric surgeons, a certified bariatric nurse practitioner, nutritionists, psychologists, and physical therapists.
Commitment to Patient Care
Riverside's team forms a relationship with each person they have the privilege of taking care of. They are passionate about what they do for their patients, focusing on providing a safe, personal, and exceptional surgical experience.
Read also: Comprehensive Diet Guidelines
Accredited Center of Excellence
All of Riverside's weight loss surgeries are offered at Sebastian River Medical Center (SRMC). SRMC has been designated a bariatric surgery Center of Excellence (COE) by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons. In addition to being an outstanding medical center, Sebastian River is a fully accredited center of excellence (COE) in bariatric surgery.
Benefits of Choosing Riverside
- Experienced and Highly Trained Surgeons: Dr. Domkowski and Dr. Radecke are among the most experienced and highly trained bariatric surgeons in the area.
- Comprehensive Care: Riverside offers a complete package, including extensive preparation, evaluations, and support from a multidisciplinary team.
- Personalized Approach: The team focuses on providing a safe, personal, and exceptional surgical experience, tailoring care to your individual needs.
- Accredited Center of Excellence: Riverside's surgeries are performed at Sebastian River Medical Center, a fully accredited Center of Excellence in bariatric surgery.
- State-of-the-Art Technology: Riverside utilizes state-of-the-art surgical technology to ensure the best possible outcomes.