Bariatric surgery, also called weight loss surgery, is a popular option when diet and exercise fail to produce long-lasting results. The bariatric surgeons at Spring + Heights Hospital in Spring, Texas, have extensive experience successfully performing multiple types of bariatric surgery. Studies show that these surgical procedures result in significant long-term weight loss, help recovery from diabetes, improve cardiovascular risk factors, and reduce mortality. To learn if you’re a good candidate for bariatric surgery or to explore other options like body contouring, liposuction, or a tummy tuck, call the hospital today.

Visit Our Bariatrics Website to Request An Appointment

How does bariatric surgery support weight loss?

Bariatric surgery helps you lose weight using one or more of the following techniques:

• Reducing the size of your stomach, so you eat less at one time
• Bypassing part of your small intestine, so you absorb less of the food you eat
• Reducing the levels of hormones that make you feel hungry
• Increasing the hormones that make you feel full

Through its impact on your hormones, bariatric surgery may also reverse Type 2 diabetes, which supports weight loss and improves your overall health.

Who qualifies for bariatric surgery?

To be considered for bariatric surgery, you must have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher or be more than 100 pounds overweight. Or you may have a BMI of 35-39 and be diagnosed with at least one obesity-related health condition.

In addition to meeting one of the BMI requirements, you should also have a history of unsuccessful weight loss attempts.

What health problems develop due to obesity?

When you’re obese, you have a high risk of developing health conditions that are directly caused by your weight. These obesity-related health problems include:

• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Osteoarthritis
• Heart disease
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Chronic respiratory disorders
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• Blood lipid abnormalities

Obesity can also lead to gastrointestinal problems. You may develop gastroesophageal reflux disease, colon polyps, or gallstones, to give you a few examples.

What are the different types of bariatric surgery?

The bariatric specialists at Spring + Heights Hospital perform three weight-loss procedures:

• Gastric bypass surgery, to reduce the size of your stomach and bypass the small intestine
• Lap-Band® surgery uses a band placed around your stomach to create a small upper stomach and slow down digestion
• Sleeve gastrectomy, to remove about 80% of your stomach

If you had an earlier bariatric procedure that failed or caused side effects, the Spring + Heights Hospital surgeons perform revision bariatric surgery.

What non-bariatric procedures eliminate fat?

If you’re close to your healthy body weight, but you still have pockets of fat you want to eliminate, you have other options for slimming and toning your body:

Body contouring

Advanced devices use laser or radiofrequency energy to break down fat cells, and then your body eliminates the waste. These procedures are noninvasive because the energy safely passes through your skin and only affects the fat cells.

Liposuction

Liposuction removes more fat than noninvasive procedures. Your plastic surgeon at Spring + Heights Hospital makes a small incision, inserts a narrow tube, and then uses gentle suction to remove the fat.

Tummy tuck

This is a major surgery in which your plastic surgeon at Spring + Heights Hospital removes abdominal fat, tightens the muscles, and eliminates excess skin.

You can also explore surgeries such as an arm lift or excess skin removal after losing a substantial amount of weight post-bariatric surgery.

No matter how much weight you need to lose, the Spring + Heights Hospital physicians are here to help. Call the hospital to learn more about bariatric surgery.

Visit Our Bariatrics Website to Request An Appointment