Frequently Asked Questions
What we offer
Long-term success depends in large part on permanently following a restricted diet and making major lifestyle changes.
Mills-Peninsula offers the Roux-en-Y (roo-en-wy) Gastric Bypass procedure and the less invasive Lap-Band procedure. Roux was the name of the Swiss surgeon who developed this technique of joining the stomach pouch to the small intestine and creating a Y-shaped intestinal junction. This surgery was first performed for weight loss by Dr. Edward Mason in the early 1970's at the University of Iowa.
This surgery is considered a last resort for people who are more than 100 pounds overweight, and who have not been successful in permanently reducing through other methods.
Gastric bypass surgery should not be considered reversible. The decision to have this procedure must be made in consultation with a qualified surgeon, and after very careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks and the lifelong consequences.
Lap-Band surgery uses an adjustable silicone band that is placed around the top part of the stomach during a laproscopic surgical procedure. Laparoscopic surgery is less invasive than open incision surgery because it is performed by placing the instruments and a camera through several small incisions in the abdomen. At the time of surgery, a small device called a port (or reservoir) is placed under teh skin of the abdomen. It is connected by tubing to the Lap-Band, and allows the surgeon to adjust the tightness of the band periodically. This is done by injecting a small amount of saline water into the port. The Lap-Band may be adjusted several times in the first six months after surgery to promote maximum weight loss without side effects.
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What are the benefits?
The emotional and physical benefits of achieving a healthy weight are significant. People who lose at least 50 percent of their excess weight report they have more energy, endurance, and ability to enjoy physical activities, as well as significant improvement in back and joint pain. Research on the effects of major weight reduction have demonstrated a significant decrease in the risk of heart disease, and often improved blood pressure in patients with hypertension.
Many people with obstructive sleep apnea or respiratory problems enjoy marked improvement. The majority of significantly overweight people who have diabetes enjoy tremendous improvement in blood sugar control following major weight reduction, and many no longer require medication. Skin problems related to obesity usually resolve; Acid reflux (indigestion) symptoms often improve or disappear.
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Who is eligible?
You must be at least 100 pounds over your ideal weight and have a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 40. Click for Body Mass Index Tool to figure out your score.
If your score is 35 or above you might be eligible for this surgery. If your score is below 35, you are not eligible for this surgical procedure. However, Mills-Peninsula offers many other programs and services for weight management. Contact our Education Department (696-5600), Nutrition Counselors (696-4772), Eating Disorders Program (696-5737), Fitness Center or view our Education Calendar.
People with a BMI greater than 35 may be eligible if they have two or more diseases associated with their obesity, such as diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, heart disease or arthritis.
The age range for this surgery is generally 16 - 60 years old. However it may be appropriate for some older people in extreme situations. People with substance abuse issues are not appropriate candidates.
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Will my insurance pay?
Many health plans will cover this surgery if the person meets all requirements. For example, you must be able to document that you have seriously tried to lose weight multiple times through conventional methods without lasting results.
We can only accept Medicare patients for evaluation who live locally and are referred by their own physician. We do not accept MediCal. We encourage patients to call their provider and familiarize themselves with their respective plan.
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What are the risks?
Obesity surgery has a mortality rate of .5 percent or less. However, significant obesity itself increases the risk for many life-threatening diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, respiratory problems and liver dysfunction.
Complications which may occur during surgery, or soon after, include bleeding, a leak or narrowing of the anastomosis (where the loop of bowel is attached to the stomach pouch), abscesses inside the abdomen, wound infection, blood clots developing in the legs (deep venous thrombosis) or a blood clot going to the lungs (pulmonary embolism). Between 5 - 10 percent of patients experience a post-operative problem that requires medical attention.
Some patients may require up to 24 hours on the breathing machine (ventilator) following surgery, particularly those with existing respiratory problems such as sleep apnea.
Complications which may occur later include incisional hernia, narrowing or stricture of the anastomosis, small bowel obstruction, gallstone formation, anemia and diarrhea. Some complications may require additional surgeries.
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How much weight can I expect to lose?
Weight loss after surgery depends on how successful you are in making significant dietary and lifestyle changes. Mills-Peninsula's program is designed to support you in making those changes.
Most patients lose 10 pounds a month or more during the first year and continue to lose weight, usually at a slower rate for another year. Lap-Band patients who are not losing weight at a desired rate have the option of adjusting their band periodically.
Successful habits include eating three small, well-balanced meals, and a maximum of two low-fat snacks each day. Avoid carbonated or sugary beverages and alcohol. Carbonated bubbles over-fill the stomach pouch. Sugar and alcohol add empty calories.
A program of regular exercise is very important for promoting and maintaining weight loss. Patients tend to gain weight if they start eating larger portions, consume high fat or "junk" foods, or drink high-calorie beverages. In about 6 percent of cases, surgery cannot produce the physical changes required to achieve the expected weight loss.
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