Weight Management and Bariatric Center THE BARIATRIC CENTER Lawrence General Hospital 25 Marston Street, Suite 405 Lawrence, Massachusetts 01841 Phone: 978.946.8450 Fax: 978.946.8058 [email protected] Weight Management and Bariatric Center Team Approach Led by Dr. Abraham Frech and Dr. Victor Villarreal, General Surgeons with specialty training in Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery, the Weight Management and Bariatric Center team at Lawrence General Hospital consists of a multidisciplinary group of experts, committed to compassionate, patientfocused care throughout the entire process – from initial evaluation and treatment to follow up care and lifestyle management. Program Components Nutrition & Exercise Counseling, Diabetes Management & Endocrinology, Surgical Options, Case Management and Social Services. Each member of the team is intimately involved with the patient’s treatment plan, and provides expert care in the special issues involved with weight loss surgery. Members of this team include: • Bariatric Surgeon • Registered Nurse • Certified Diabetes Educator • Endocrinologist • Registered Dietitian • Exercise Therapist • Medical Assistant/LPN • Social Worker Lawrence General Hospital 1 General Street, P.O. Box 189 Lawrence, MA 01842-0389 978.683.4000 www.lawrencegeneral.org So good. So caring. So close. Please note that if you are accepted into the weight loss surgery program, all patients are asked to exercise daily and may be required to lose weight before the operation to better prepare for a a safer surgery and a more successful outcome. Joining our Program is Easy! Welcome! You have come to the right place for weight loss surgery (WLS). Our team of specially trained doctors, nurses, dietitians, social worker, and clinical exercise physiologists provides the full range of state-of-the-art open and laparoscopic surgical procedures and treatments in a safe and comfortable environment. At Lawrence General Hospital our team works hard to make sure all your questions and concerns are addressed and your individual needs are met. Our caring doesn’t stop after surgery, as we provide support and guidance as you develop your new healthy lifestyle. Weight loss surgery is a serious procedure and is only performed on patients with extreme obesity. Some of the criteria used to determine if patients are candidates for weight loss surgery include: • a BMI (body mass index) of 40 or higher, or 35 or higher if it is also associated with serious health conditions such as sleep apnea or diabetes. Getting Started With Your Evaluation • C ontact your insurance company to ensure weight loss surgery is covered under your insurance plan. You may want to request a copy of your coverage plan regarding weight loss surgery. • Y ou will receive a Patient Packet to review with forms to fill out. Bring those forms to your 1st appointment, and we’ll set up a series of additional appointments for you with members of your team, including a dietitian, a social worker and the surgeon. • W e may also require that you see an exercise physiologist or physical therapist to receive an exercise plan that is safe and effective for you. • Y ou may undergo some medical tests that will help us determine if surgery is appropriate for you. • W e will provide you with detailed information on WLS & support along the way. • O nce you have completed the above steps, members of our team will review the findings and determine whether WLS is right for you. • a re between the ages of 18-60 (patients 60 and older will be evaluated on an individual basis) • I f you are a good candidate for surgery, you will meet with one of our surgeons to discuss the surgery, review the risks and benefits and schedule a surgery date. • have failed at attempts to lose weight through other means (documentation may be required) Weight Loss Surgery • are otherwise healthy enough for surgery Weight loss surgery has been shown to be an effective tool to help people with morbid obesity achieve and maintain a healthier weight. The Weight Management & Bariatric Center offers a full range of surgical options to meet your individual needs. • have realistic expectations of weight loss goals • a re motivated and committed to maintain a healthy lifestyle after surgery We look forward to working with you to improve your overall health! Surgical Procedures Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass (Roux-en-Y) combines two weight loss surgery techniques. It limits the amount of food that can be eaten at a meal and changes the way food enters the intestines, affecting hunger hormones, which may also help individuals feel full for a longer period of time. Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding limits the amount of food you can eat at one time and slows the flow of food out of the stomach by placing a silicone band around the top of your stomach. Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy limits the amount of food you can eat at one time by permanently reducing the size of your stomach.