Weight loss surgery can help you live a longer, healthier life – and it might also make you feel good about how you look.
So you resolved to lose weight in 2019 – and in 2018 and 2017. You tried diet and exercise and they were not enough.
Could it be time to consider weight loss surgery?
How do you know if weight loss surgery is for you? First, you have to have a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40 – or 35 if you have other weight-related medical issues like high blood pressure or heart disease. And you have to be in good psychological health.
Obesity is related to a number of serious health conditions like heart disease and stroke. It can also increase the severity of asthma symptoms and lead to diabetes and certain types of cancer. With weight loss surgery, on average, 50 to 70 percent of a patient’s excess weight will come off, mostly during the first year.
We offer two major types of minimally-invasive weight loss surgery. Minimally invasive procedures mean less pain, fewer complications and a faster recovery.
- Gastric bypass makes the stomach smaller so patients are limited in how much they can eat, and the food is rerouted to bypass a portion of the intestine, reducing the area for nutrients to be absorbed.
- Gastric sleeve surgery involves removing a portion of the stomach until it resembles a sleeve. This approach is popular because it can have fewer side effects and complications as well as a faster recovery.
Weight loss surgery can change people’s lives. It can increase their lifespan and decrease their risk of heart attack, stroke and certain cancers. So patients will not only live longer, but better.
To learn more about White Plains Hospital’s accredited bariatric surgery program and to find a bariatric surgeon, visit wphospital.org/bariatric
Dr. Philip Weber is Director of the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Robotics and Bariatrics at White Plains Hospital.
Dr. Philip Weber is the Director of the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Robotics and Bariatrics at White Plains Hospital. To make an appointment, please call 914-948-1000.