Why is weight loss so important?
Weight loss is critical to good health because obesity is a cause of major health problems, including:
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Heart disease
- Liver disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Sleep apnea
- Some cancers
Weight loss can be challenging and is something many people struggle with. The healthiest way to lose weight is to make changes to your lifestyle, so you're eating fewer calories and have a better diet, while also exercising more to burn off fat.
However, if you've tried these approaches without success, then there are further interventions that might be suitable for you.
What surgical weight loss options are there?
If you're morbidly obese, you may qualify for weight loss surgery, enabling you to lose a significant amount of weight. Weight loss surgery reduces your stomach's capacity, so you physically can't eat large meals. It can also decrease your appetite by removing a part of your stomach that produces the hunger hormone, ghrelin.
Weight loss surgery options include:
Sleeve gastrectomy
Dr. Sutker reshapes your stomach, so instead of a large sac, it becomes a thin tube.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
Dr. Sutker reduces your stomach's size to form a small pouch, then rearranges your intestines and attaches them directly to your new stomach.
Revisional weight loss surgery
Revisional surgeries might be necessary if you've previously undergone a Lap-Band, vertical-banded gastroplasty, or similar procedure. Sleeve gastrectomies and gastric bypass procedures sometimes require revisional surgery, too.
Dr. Sutker typically performs these surgeries using minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques that only require small incisions. To maximize precision and aid recovery, Dr. Sutker has assistance from a state-of-the-art da Vinci® robotic surgical system.
How does the Obalon Balloon System help with weight loss?
Obalon is a swallowable intragastric balloon system that you can use temporarily to help with weight loss when diet and exercise alone have been unsuccessful. It's suitable for adults with a BMI of 30-40 in combination with a moderate-intensity diet and behavior modification program.
The Obalon Balloon System helps with weight loss by filling space in your stomach, meaning you eat less. Dr. Sutker places three balloons in your stomach for six months, after which the balloons have to come out.
During the six months when the Obalon balloons are in place, you receive professional help so you can make lifestyle changes that encourage weight loss. Using Obalon can help you keep weight off for the long term, as research shows that an average of 89% of patients’ lost weight hasn’t returned six months after removing the balloons.
To find out more about your weight loss choices, call the Michael Sutker, MD, PA, office nearest you today or book an appointment online.
