The Gastric Bypass is a great option for patients who have a higher BMI, have Type 2 Diabetes(especially those who take insulin), and have reflux or GERD.

At WeightWise, we are committed to the patient as a whole. This process consists of a medical evaluation, psychological screening, conversations with dietitians and exercise physiologists, and a sleep evaluation. All of this is done to make sure you don't have any underlying issues and understand everything that goes into a gastric sleeve surgery.

Medical Evaluation

This is when you meet with our providers to get an overview of your current health and investigate which procedure is right for you. Not every client is in the same situation and no procedure is one size fits all. During this evaluation, any medical issues you may have will be addressed.

We’ll also talk about your physical history as a whole. Have you tried dieting or exercising in the past? What worked and what didn’t? Were there major injuries or life events that got in the way of you living a healthy lifestyle? This will help WeightWise craft the perfect weight loss plan for you.

Psychological Screening

At WeightWise, we want to make sure you are mentally, as well as well as physically ready for the gastric sleeve surgery. There is more to these procedures than coming in, have the procedure, and then leaving. We want to make sure you understand what is about to happen to you and your body.

This is a big life moment for our patients. The body will undergo a massive change, which means your lifestyle will need a big change, too. We want to make sure you’re in the right place mentally for the surgery and help you work through any roadblocks you may have.

Dietitian Consult

While the gastric sleeve will physically limit your food intake, it is possible to hurt or even injure yourself if you deviate from your new lifestyle. Our dietitians will discuss your past eating habits, nutritional knowledge, and trigger points you have that may negatively impact your food consumption. They will also outline a plan for the rest of your life.

This process doesn't have to be stressful! Once you understand why you’re doing this, it will be easier to see yourself eating less, becoming more healthy, and feeling better than you have in a long time. We’ll show you how you can still enjoy food, too!

Incorporating Physical Activity

While the gastric sleeve procedure and improving your eating habits are certainly great ways to lose weight, instituting an exercise regimen will help you keep the weight off. Will you need to run three miles every day and hit the weights? Of course not!

Our exercise physiologist will outline a program specifically for you and discuss both short- and long-term goals. Although, if one of those goals happens to include running a marathon or becoming a powerlifter, we can help you reach those heights. But improving your cardiovascular system, flexibility, and overall strength are the main concerns.

Sleep Evaluation

Finally, we will talk to you about sleep apnea and how it can affect the success of the gastric sleeve surgery both during and after the procedure. We want this lifestyle change to work as much as you do, so we will investigate if you suffer from sleep apnea or not.

All of this is to ensure you have all the information you need to make this very important decision. WeightWise wants all of our patients to live long, productive lives well after the gastric sleeve surgery. That’s why these consultations are so important – the more we know about our patients, the better it is before, during, and after the procedure.

With any weight loss surgery, there is a small risk of a staple line leaking or bleeding, and infection. With the bypass specifically, the risks are limited to intestinal ulcers or strictures. Most risks are uncommon, and complications are rare. The benefits however, are endless: Significant weight loss, good resolution of co-morbidities, can eliminate reflux, and the restoration of an active and vigorous life! They definitely outweigh the risks in our opinion!

As with any laparoscopic procedure, recovery is quick with minimal pain. You will stay in the hospital for observation for two nights and most patients usually resume their normal activities within a week!

Will I have to take vitamins? Yes, our patients are required to take a bariatric specific vitamin regimen for life.

What is dumping syndrome? This happens when food, especially sugary or high carb, moves too quickly from the pouch into the small intestine. It is an unpleasant mix of symptoms like: nausea, diarrhea, sweating, racing heart or heart palpatations, lightheadedness, feeling faint, the need to lie down. It lasts around 45 minutes to an hour and is why we recommend a low carb and sugar free diet.

What about all of the bypass horror stories? The bypass has been around for over 40 years, and it has evolved to be less invasive and so much more safe. Combined with the advanced anesthesia techniques we have now, it is a much more refined and routine procedure.