Weight Loss Program

Through the Physicians Surgery Center at Alvarado, Alvarado Hospital offers the new FDA-approved Orbera Gastric Balloon.

• Gastric “Belly” Balloon

This non-surgical weight-loss technology has been popular in Europe for many years and was recently approved by the FDA for use in the United States. A deflated silicon balloon is inserted into the patient’s stomach through an endoscope and then inflated with saline. This outpatient procedure takes less than 30 minutes. This provides the patient with a sense of fullness to adjust eating habits. After six months, the balloon is deflated and removed. Patients are required to participate in a one-year medically supervised diet and exercise program to sustain weight loss. Studies show that patients may lose up to three times the weight as those who do diet and exercise alone.

Alvarado Hospital offers three major types of weight-loss procedures for qualifying patients:

• The Gastric Banding Procedure

Lap-Band (gastric banding) surgery is a minimally invasive treatment option for those living with obesity. It is the least invasive and only adjustable surgical treatment for obesity. The Lap-Band works by reducing the stomach’s capacity, restricting the amount of food that an individual can consume before feeling discomfort. Surgeons use laparoscopic techniques, which include small incisions and long-shafted instruments, to implant an inflatable silicone band into the patient’s abdomen.

The band is fastened around the upper part of the stomach, which essentially creates a new, smaller stomach, which limits and controls the amount of food the patient can eat. This procedure also includes the creation of a small outlet that slows the stomach’s emptying process into the residual stomach and intestines. Patients who undergo the Lap-Band procedure tend to feel full faster, making weight loss easier.

• Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Roux-en-Y

Another minimally invasive weight-loss option is gastric bypass. A majority of weight-loss surgery patients in the U.S. undergo this type of procedure because it helps patients lose more weight and may treat diabetes more effectively than other techniques. Similar to gastric banding, surgeons create a small stomach pouch. The rest of the stomach remains where it is, but is separated from the new, smaller stomach pouch. The small stomach is then connected to the jejunum, which is the first part of the small intestine. This is where the body digests food.

To watch a video that discusses the difference between gastric bypass and banding, click here.

• Gastric Sleeve

Another option is gastric sleeve surgery, which makes up over 60% of all weight-loss surgery procedures performed in the U.S. More than half of the stomach (close to 80%) is removed, leaving a thin vertical sleeve. The procedures makes your stomach smaller so you require less food to feel full faster.Patients are left with a small capacity for food storage, thus limiting their intake. Recent research has found that the hunger-producing hormone ghrelin was significantly lowered in gastric sleeve patients. Following surgery, patients can slowly add all foods types back into their diet, but in much smaller amounts Another benefit of the sleeve is that, unlike the Lap-Band, no adjustments are necessary.

• How many years have you been in bariatric practice?
• How many bariatric cases have you performed?
• Are you fully trained and dedicated to bariatric surgery?
• What is your complication rate?
• What is your mortality rate?
• What is the average weight loss of your patients?
• Do you patients maintain weight loss?
• What are the hospital’s qualifications?
• What are the risks?

Alvarado’s Physician Referral Service can help you find an experienced bariatric surgeon who meets your needs. To find a bariatric surgeon, simply click on the Physician Finder or call (800) ALVARADO (800-258-2723) and allow one of our friendly customer service representatives to assist you.