Obesity is a significant health concern, and for individuals who have struggled to achieve sustainable weight loss through traditional methods like diet and exercise, bariatric surgery, or weight loss surgery, presents a viable option. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, offers a range of weight loss surgery options and comprehensive programs to support patients through their weight loss journey. This article explores the various surgical procedures available, the qualifications for surgery, and the support systems in place in Baton Rouge.
Understanding Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery involves procedures performed on individuals with dangerous obesity to facilitate weight loss. These procedures can lead to a better quality of life by treating or preventing obesity-related conditions. It's crucial to understand that there is no universal surgery; the most suitable option depends on an individual's health and body type.
Qualifications for Weight Loss Surgery
To be considered for weight loss surgery, individuals generally need to meet specific criteria, including:
- Unsuccessful attempts at long-term weight loss through diet and exercise.
- A Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 35.
- A BMI greater than 30 with one or more obesity-related medical conditions.
Weight Loss Surgery Procedures Offered in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge offers several types of bariatric surgeries, each with its own mechanisms and outcomes:
1. Gastric Sleeve (Sleeve Gastrectomy)
The vertical sleeve gastrectomy, commonly known as the gastric sleeve, is a popular weight-loss surgery due to its high success rate and the digestive system remaining largely intact.
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- Procedure: During the gastric sleeve procedure, a large portion of the stomach (about three-quarters) is stapled and removed, leaving a smaller, banana-shaped stomach or "sleeve." The sleeve is about the size of a banana.
- How it Works: The smaller stomach pouch limits the amount of food that can be eaten at one time, promoting earlier and prolonged feelings of fullness.
- Digestion: Normal digestion and absorption processes are not significantly altered.
- Expected Weight Loss: Patients typically lose an average of 50% to 70% of their excess body weight and maintain most of it long-term.
2. Gastric Bypass (Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass)
Gastric bypass is considered one of the best procedures for weight-loss surgery. It is the second most frequently performed weight-loss procedure in the United States.
- Procedure: In this procedure, the surgeon creates a small stomach pouch using a stapling device and attaches a section of the small intestine directly to the pouch. The rest of the stomach is not removed from the body but is completely stapled shut from the stomach pouch. The food leaves the newly formed stomach pouch and flows into the lower portion of the small intestine, thus bypassing this first part of the small intestine. This is done by cutting the small intestine open and connecting the second section with the newly formed stomach pouch.
- How it Works: Gastric bypass combines restrictive eating with malabsorption, where food is delayed in mixing with bile and pancreatic juices, which aid in nutrient absorption. By creating a smaller stomach pouch, a gastric bypass limits the amount of food that can be eaten at one time, so you feel full sooner and stay full longer. By bypassing a portion of the small intestine, your body also absorbs fewer calories. The result is an early sense of fullness, combined with a sense of satisfaction that reduces the desire to eat.
- Expected Weight Loss: Patients who undergo gastric bypass lose an average of 50% to 70% of their excess body weight and keep most of it off long-term.
3. Duodenal Switch
The duodenal switch is a less common weight-loss operation that modifies your stomach and your small intestine.
- Procedure: It combines a sleeve gastrectomy (removal of part of your stomach) with an intestinal bypass, which makes the path your food takes through your intestines shorter. This restricts how much food your stomach can hold and also how much nutrition your small intestine can absorb from your food. It also reduces the hunger hormones that your stomach and small intestine normally produce.
- There are currently two different forms of the duodenal switch in practice. The original form is called the biliopancreatic diversion with a duodenal switch. This is the version with the most history and research behind it.
4. Adjustable Gastric Banding
- People who have had a gastric band placed previously may need to have the band removed and/or convert to another form of bariatric surgery. Most gastric band removals can be done minimally invasively. This is a relatively easy and safe operation depending on existing complications. Following the removal of the band, most people’s stomachs return to their normal, pre-operative state.
- If you have developed good diet, exercise, and lifestyle habits and are able to maintain these habits following the removal of your band, you may be able to keep the weight off. Unfortunately for many people, the loss of restriction to the stomach after the band removal usually leads to an increased feeling of hunger and the ability to eat larger quantities of food.
Table of Procedures
| Procedure | Length of Surgery | Changes to Digestive System |
|---|---|---|
| Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass | 90 - 120 minutes | A small stomach pouch is made and the digestive system is rerouted and shortened. |
| Sleeve Gastrectomy | 45-60 minutes | Outer two-thirds of the stomach is removed, leaving a smaller, banana-shaped stomach. |
| Duodenal Switch | 90 - 120 minutes | Combination of the other two procedures. |
Bariatric Surgery Programs and Centers in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge offers several reputable centers and programs for weight loss surgery:
1. The Baton Rouge General's Bariatric Surgery Program
The Baton Rouge General's Bariatric Surgery Program was created in 2010 by Dr. Jonathan P. Taylor, who serves as its Medical Director. Dr. Taylor is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and is licensed to practice in the state of Louisiana. He has held multiple medical leadership positions, including past Chief of Staff at Lane Regional Medical Center and Chief of General Surgery at multiple medical centers.
2. The Baton Rouge Clinic’s Bariatric Program
Dr. Jonathan P. Taylor also serves as the Medical Director of The Baton Rouge Clinic’s Bariatric Program.
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3. Louisiana Center for Bariatrics at Baton Rouge General
The team at the Louisiana Center for Bariatrics at Baton Rouge General offers expertise, insight, and experience to help patients achieve successful outcomes through both weight loss surgery and non-surgical weight loss options.
4. Woman’s Hospital
Woman’s offers a comprehensive weight loss surgery program dedicated solely to women. Their Weight Loss Surgery Coordinator guides patients through every step of their journey, from education and evaluation to surgery and aftercare. Woman’s is accredited as a MBSAQIP Comprehensive Center in Bariatrics.
5. Our Lady of the Lake
Our Lady of the Lake is a Comprehensive Center with the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), accredited by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) since 2010. Accreditation verifies that the bariatric surgery program at Our Lady of the Lake meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality of care.
6. Metamor Institute
Surgical weight loss options are available through a partnership with the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in the new Metamor Institute. The Metamor Institute focuses on the advanced treatment of obesity and diabetes, offering an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to caring for individuals who suffer from these diseases in a single facility.
Support Systems and Aftercare
Comprehensive care is essential for successful bariatric surgery outcomes. Programs in Baton Rouge typically offer:
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- Experienced Surgical Staff: Skilled board-certified Bariatric surgeons trained in robotic and laparoscopic surgical procedures as well as the gastric sleeve procedure.
- Registered Dietitians: Providing personalized nutrition guidance.
- Exercise Physiologists and Physical Therapists: Assisting with physical activity and rehabilitation.
- Support Group Meetings: Offering a platform for sharing experiences and encouragement. Our Lady of the Lake offers a monthly support group for their weight loss surgery patients. It is held the first Tuesday of the month at 6 PM in the Our Lady of the Lake Auditorium.
- Weight Loss Surgery Seminars: Guidance through your weight loss journey. Led by bariatric surgeons, you will learn about the different types of weight loss surgery and what to expect before and after surgery.
Nutritional Considerations
Following bariatric surgery, proper nutritional support is critical. Many over-the-counter products do not contain adequate levels of vitamins and minerals to properly support your nutritional needs following surgery.
Revisional Surgery
For some patients, years following an original bariatric procedure, they may need to have their sleeve or bypass revised. The most common reasons may include weight recurrence, anastomotic ulcers, hiatal hernia, severe reflux or heartburn, stricture, and dilated sleeve or gastric pouch. Revisional surgery can assist patients with these concerns by either converting the original procedure to another, such as by converting a gastric sleeve to a gastric bypass or duodenal switch, or by revising the original procedure, such as by redoing the gastric pouch to make it small again. Each revisional surgery is dependent on the specific anatomy and symptoms of the patient.
Cost and Financing Options
Fees for laparoscopic weight loss surgery vary based on surgeon fees and/or additional testing required. Some health insurance companies cover bariatric surgery. Because every insurance policy is unique, it's important that you thoroughly understand your Certificate of Coverage. Active and retired Louisiana state employees are eligible for weight loss surgery through the Office of Group Benefits. Alternative financing options such as a home equity loan or medical loan are also available. Woman's is pleased to announce financing options through Bayou Federal Credit Union, Campus Federal Credit Union and NOLA Lending.