Introduction to Weight Loss Surgery
Obesity is a medical condition and a leading cause of death in the United States. While cosmetic reasons can seem like the most obvious benefit of weight loss surgery, the benefits to health are far more significant. Obesity has a host of health-related risks associated with it. And, bariatric or weight loss surgery can play an important role in mitigating these risks. Of course, feeling better about one’s physical appearance along with the ability to move around more easily are also benefits of weight loss surgery. At Las Vegas Surgical Associates, we offer outstanding surgical outcomes and superior expertise in the treatment of obesity and all its related health problems. Our expert surgeons take the time to educate, understand, and support you as you start on your journey to health and improved quality of life after Weight Loss Surgery in Las Vegas, NV.
What is Weight Loss Surgery?
Weight Loss Surgery, also called bariatric surgery, is a manipulation of the stomach size to cause patients to want to eat less and feel fuller faster. At Las Vegas Surgical Associates, we offer two types of bariatric surgery: Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery as well as Gastric Bypass Surgery. Please read more on their individual pages for more information. For Sleeve Gastrectomy, the stomach size is reduced by 80% of the stomach and its shape is created in a banana-looking sleeve whereas for Gastric Bypass, the stomach and part of the small intestine are removed, and the resulting stomach is the size of an egg. Weight loss is slower in a Sleeve Gastrectomy, but it is also a less invasive procedure and might require a lower recovery time. For both surgeries, the idea is to create the feeling of being full faster. This, over time, would lead to less food intake and ultimately, weight loss.
What’s The First Step?
Weight Loss Surgery Consultation
The first step in getting a Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery in Las Vegas is scheduling a consultation with one of our expert surgeons who deals with this area of specialty. Your surgeon will discuss your medical condition, history of surgeries as well as any pre-existing health issues that might intervene in the process of surgery and recovery. He will then examine you to discuss the best techniques for your surgery.
At the end of the consultation, your surgeon will give you a surgical plan which you can then take to our patient coordinator to price out, schedule your surgery as well, and give you any pre-operative instructions.
What to Expect on the Day of Weight Loss Surgery
On the day of your Weight Loss Surgery, your surgeon and their medical staff will welcome you to Las Vegas Surgical Associates, making you comfortable in your procedure room and going over your surgical plan. Once you sign off, an anesthetist will administer anesthesia to keep you sedated and pain-free during the procedure.
Most Weight Loss Surgeries done now are laparoscopic, though, it depends on your choice and the practice of the surgeon you choose. Once your surgeon has access to your stomach, in the case of a Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery, they will extract the part of your stomach that curves outward, called a fundus. Then, they will staple the rest of your stomach into a tube shape that looks like a banana or a sleeve. That is why it has been given the name “sleeve gastrectomy.” In addition to reducing the size of your stomach by 75-80%, you will want to eat less because the fundus secretes a hormone called ghrelin which makes you hungry, so once that is removed, your sensation of hunger will reduce.
Read more on the Gastric Bypass Surgery page for more details on that surgery.
A Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery usually takes two if there are no complications. A Gastric Bypass Surgery will take two to four hours if there are no complications.
Weight Loss Surgery Recovery
After surgery, your surgeon will monitor you in a recovery room to make sure that you come out of sedation and are fully back in consciousness. We recommend you have family or a friend drive you to be extra safe.
During the first month post-surgery, you will be mostly on a liquid and soft food diet where you will feel full very quickly. Your surgeon will recommend nutritional supplements to make sure you are getting all the needed nutrients. With time, you will be able to start eating solid foods but very little.
In the first two years, you can expect to lose one-half to two-thirds of your excess body weight. Weight loss will continue, in most cases, for a year and a half before stabilizing. Due to the sudden weight loss, be on the lookout for side effects such as fatigue, dry skin, mood changes, hair loss, and just a general immunity drop.
Cost and Insurance Information
How Much Does Weight Loss Surgery Cost?
The cost of Weight Loss Surgery in Las Vegas will depend on various factors including the complexity of your case, your surgeon’s fees, and the anesthetist’s fees. The most efficient way to arrive at a cost is to schedule a consultation with one of our providers who can give you a surgical plan that can then be priced out.
Most medical insurance policies will cover surgery for weight loss surgery, but we encourage you to check in with your insurer first. While you will have more information to provide your insurance company after your consultation, it’s always a good idea to come in with as much information as possible so that there are no surprises.
Why Choose Las Vegas Surgery Associates?
Las Vegas Surgical Associates should be one of your first choices for Weight Loss Surgery. It is a multi-specialty surgical group that is unique to the Las Vegas area in being able to offer services across a broad range of surgical specialties with a collective of highly qualified surgeons.
LVSA is a group practice and one of our physicians is always on call and can answer questions or take care of acute surgical emergencies when they arise. Our surgeons have certifications with many medical boards, including the American Board of Surgery (ABS), the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), the Society of Laparoscopic Surgery (SLS), and the Society for Surgery of Alimentary Tract (SSAT), the American Hernia Society (AHS), and the American College of Surgeons (FACS), ASMBS (American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery ), ASCRS (America Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons).
We welcome your patient referrals. You may refer your patients to a specific surgeon in our group by name or simply refer them to LVSA and we will make sure they see the appropriate physician according to their need. We strive to make sure your visit with us is pleasant and efficient.
Weight Loss Surgery FAQ’S
Schedule a Consultation
If you have been struggling with weight loss and have tried all sorts of diets and exercise regimens, it might be time to look into a Weight Loss Surgery. Please get in touch with Las Vegas Surgical Associates in Las Vegas, NV, and schedule a consultation at your earliest. You can do so by calling our office at (702) 258-7788 or visiting our website and filling out an online application form.