Northside offers several types of non-surgical and surgical weight loss procedures to aid in a patient's desire to lose weight. Eligibility for each option is based on various factors including a patient's Body Mass Index as well as any obesity-related medical conditions that they may be experiencing.
Candidate Eligibility: Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30-40
The intragastric balloon is a non-surgical procedure that helps to reinforce portion control while allowing the patient to work with their bariatric team to help learn healthy habits. Done as outpatient surgery under a mild sedative, a think and deflated balloon is placed in the stomach via the patient's mouth. It is then filled with saline until it reaches about the size of a grapefruit.
By partially filling the stomach, the placement of the balloon allows a patient to feel fuller faster. At six months, the balloon is removed and the patient works with their support team to continue to make healthy lifestyle choices to keep the weight off.
Candidate Eligibility: Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 45
The duodenal switch method is a minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery similar to the sleeve or gastric bypass procedures. First, a smaller, tubular stomach pouch is created by removing a portion of the stomach. Next, a large portion of the small intestine is bypassed resulting in reduced fat absorption and subsequent weight loss.
With this procedure, it is possible to lose 60-70% of excess weight or more. The duodenal switch limits fat absorption and causes favorable changes in gut hormones that reduces appetite. This procedure is also effective against diabetes.
Candidate Eligibility: Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater OR a BMI of 35 or greater, with one or more obesity-related medical conditions
Gastric bypass, or Roux-en-Y,was one of the first weight loss procedures offered and has been performed at Northside for more than 20 years. This procedure involves creating a small pouch out of a portion of the stomach and stapling it directly to the small intestine, bypassing a large part of the stomach.
A gastric bypass limits the amount of food a patient can consume as well as the amount of calories the small intestine absorbs. Patients feel full more quickly, which aids in controlling their hunger. The quick and healthy weight loss resulting from the procedure may help patients improve their co-existing obesity-related medical conditions such as hypertension and diabetes much faster.
Candidate Eligibility: Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater, with one or more obesity-related medical conditions
The vertical sleeve gastrectomy is a minimally invasive procedure that removes about 80 percent of a patient's stomach. The remaining sleeve-shaped stomach holds a considerably smaller volume than the normal stomach and helps to significantly reduce the amount of food (and thus calories) that can be consumed. The greater impact, however, seems to be the effect the surgery has on gut hormones that impact a number of factors including hunger, satiety and blood sugar control. This procedure does not involve any cutting of the bowel or implantation of a device in the body, but it also is not a reversible procedure.
Surgical weight loss procedures can be performed via several laparoscopic methods including single incision and robotic-assisted techniques.
Northside was the first hospital in Georgia to perform the gastric bypass, laparoscopic adjustable gastric band and vertical sleeve gastrectomy procedures with a single-incision. Single-incision surgery reduces the number of incisions, and thereby the number of scars, associated with traditional laparoscopic weight loss surgery. Instead of the traditional multiple incisions, a single 4.5-centimeter incision is made, often at the bellybutton, to reduce the appearance of scarring. The single-incision procedure is the same operation as that of the multi-incision procedure except that it offers less pain and scarring, a faster recovery and a quicker return to everyday activities.
Northside also offers weight loss surgery procedures, performed with the da Vinci® Surgical System. This minimally invasive procedure involves making just a few small incisions for the tools and small camera, which allows the surgeon to view a full-color, magnified, 3-D image of the surgical site. The superior motion of the robotic arms and the ability to view the surgical area through high-definition magnification enhances the surgeon’s skills, which provide patients with a number of benefits including a shorter hospital stay and recovery time.
We are excited to help you start your weight loss journey to healthier living. To start the conversation, please give us a call at one of the following locations:
