Category: Gastric Sleeve

Want to Know How Much Weight Loss Surgery in Birmingham, AL, Actually Costs?

Posted on January 19, 2021

weight loss surgery cost

weight loss surgery cost
We have found that prospective patients often have it in their mind that weight loss surgery is super expensive. They may also think that there’s no way insurance will cover it. But we are happy to let you know that neither of these assumptions is correct. 

At Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery (BMI Surgery), our competitive prices for weight loss surgery cannot be beaten by any other clinics, but what’s even more important is that we offer so much value for the price you pay. In this article, we will look at our three most popular weight loss surgery options, the cost for each, and all that’s included. 

The Value You Get at BMI Surgery

In general, bariatric surgery prices vary based on type, level of invasiveness, and where you choose to have your surgery done. Unlike the doctors at many weight loss surgery practices, our physician, Dr. Jay Long, has years of specialized bariatric surgery training. He completed a fellowship in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, where he focused on taking care of patients that are morbidly obese. 

Dr. Long brings this extensive experience to BMI Surgery. We have developed great skill in successfully achieving permanent weight loss for our patients. Our facilities are built for procedures like gastric sleeve surgery and other weight loss surgery options, and we specialize in making weight loss surgery as painless as possible.

When you come in to talk to us about the possibility of having weight loss surgery, Dr. Long provides a one-on-one consultation. This helps each individual decide which weight reduction option is best. A multi-disciplinary team also offers further advice before and after surgery through monthly support meetings, a nutrition/prep class, and customized high protein diets. 

Gastric Bypass Costs and Value

“How much does it cost to have gastric bypass surgery?” The short answer is that gastric bypass surgery starts at $15,999 cash pricing. The cost can go up to $18,500 cash pricing for laparoscopic gastric bypass. 

But what exactly is included in this cost? A lot!

  • Pre-operative testing, blood work, and EKG, if necessary
  • Pre-operative nutrition evaluation
  • Surgeon fee for the procedure
  • Anesthesiologist fee
  • Hospital fee with one night in the hospital after surgery
  • Post-operative visit with the nutritionist within four weeks of surgery
  • Monthly support group meetings

The cost may be somewhat less than the numbers mentioned above for patients who do have insurance coverage. However, insurance companies that do provide coverage of some sort typically have many requirements that you must meet, such as a physician-supervised diet that often takes up to seven months. By paying out of pocket for the procedure, you can start the journey towards a better, healthier life much more quickly.

Gastric Sleeve Costs and Value

Several factors contribute to the costs of gastric sleeve surgery. Gastric sleeve surgery is considered one of the less invasive weight loss procedures. It requires less time spent in surgery and a shorter hospital stay for most patients. This allows us to offer gastric sleeve at a lower price than some other weight-loss surgeries.

Obesity is officially recognized as a disease by the American Medical Association. The health risks associated with it are so high that many insurance plans will cover most, if not all, of the costs of the surgical procedure for gastric sleeve surgery. However, because there are so many different plans, and there are instances where there is no coverage for weight loss surgery, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with us to discuss your options.

Private pay is a very common option for those who are not covered by their insurance or choose to pay without using insurance. While prices vary among different surgeons, our gastric sleeve surgery at Birmingham Minimally Invasive starts at just $8,999, making it an affordable option for many. 

$8,999 cash pricing includes:

  • Pre-operative testing, including blood work and EKG, if necessary
  • Surgeon Fee for the procedure
  • Anesthesiologist Fee
  • Post-operative office visits for 90 days
  • Surgery Center Fee (Not all patients will be candidates for outpatient surgery. If the procedure has to be performed in the hospital, the total price will be $12,800, and this cost will cover a one-night stay in the hospital.)
  • Monthly support group meetings

The LAP-BAND Costs and Value

This minimally invasive procedure is one of the most common weight loss surgery options. In fact, it is generally thought to be the least “traumatic” of all weight-loss surgeries. It does not require any cutting, stapling, or stomach rerouting. This means less post-operative pain, a shorter hospital stay, reduced recovery time, and a lower cost.

The cost of the LAP-BAND is $7,999, and this cash pricing includes the following:

  • Pre-operative testing, including blood work and EKG, if necessary
  • Pre-operative nutrition evaluation
  • Surgeon Fee for the procedure
  • Anesthesiologist Fee
  • Surgery Center Fee (LAP-BAND is performed on an outpatient basis)
  • Post-operative visit with the nutritionist within four weeks of surgery
  • Monthly support group meetings

The LAP-BAND is on the lower end of the scale in terms of weight loss surgery cost. This is often especially appealing for those who will be paying out of pocket rather than using insurance assistance for payment.

Any kind of weight loss surgery will be a big investment, but it’s an important one. You are investing in your own health, but you are also investing in your family, your career, and your overall well-being. At BMI Surgery, we will work with you and any insurance coverage you have to make surgery possible!

Find out more about the cost of weight loss surgery at BMI Surgery! 

The caring group of professionals at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery will help you get started on your weight loss journey and stay with you every step along the way. Dr. Long and his team specialize in all types of bariatric surgery, including gastric sleeve surgery, gastric bypass, and the LAP-BAND. Visit us today at http://www.bmisurgery.com/ or give us a call to set up a consultation at 205-833-6907. 

Make 2021 the Year You Finally Commit to Weight Loss Surgery

Posted on January 5, 2021

weight loss surgery

weight loss surgery
You’ve been thinking about it for a while. You follow us on Facebook. You read our blog posts every month and keep coming back to our website again and again. You even know someone who’s had weight loss surgery and have talked to them about it.

But you still haven’t done it yourself. We know it’s a big decision. The decision to change your life and potentially save your life is enormous. So will 2021 be the year when you finally go for it?

Making the Decision to Have Weight Loss Surgery

Our surgeon, Dr. Jay Long, is the best in finding the right weight loss surgery option for you. He’s also the best when it comes to performing all of these procedures. Dr. Long, along with other team members, will be with you every step of the way to help you achieve the best possible outcome.

We have three primary weight loss surgery options: gastric sleeve surgery, gastric bypass surgery, and the LAP-BAND. Here is some basic information about them all.

Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Gastric sleeve surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that can help you lose weight and keep it off. It is a very popular procedure at Birmingham Minimally Invasive for many reasons. One significant advantage is that we perform gastric sleeve laparoscopically, which means there is a shorter recovery time than other bariatric surgeries, allowing you to resume your normal daily life sooner. 

Compared to other options, gastric sleeve is considered to be a more straightforward procedure. We cut away the top and largest part of the stomach and remove about two-thirds of it. We do not reroute the intestines. It typically takes only about 30 to 45 minutes, and there are no large abdominal incisions. After gastric sleeve, patients usually experience less pain, shorter hospital stays, and faster overall recovery.

Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass is often an excellent option for our heavier patients because most lose up to 80% of their excess body weight instead of about 60% with a gastric sleeve. This rapid weight loss can be beneficial for those with more severe health issues, such as sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and diabetes. It’s also a good option for anyone with severe acid reflux or poorly controlled diabetes since gastric bypass has been proven to cure both. 

With gastric bypass (also called Roux-en-Y), we create a small stomach pouch that restricts food intake. Doing so reduces the amount of food you can take in because your stomach holds only one to two ounces. This bypass also reduces the absorption of nutrients and thereby reduces calorie intake.

We have heard that some people think gastric bypass is more invasive than other options, but we take a minimally invasive approach. We typically make six incisions, and it’s done entirely laparoscopically. It is a little more labor-intensive for the surgeon, but the inpatient surgery takes only one to two hours and requires a hospital stay of one or two nights.

The LAP-BAND

We typically perform the LAP-BAND procedure in our outpatient surgery center, and you are usually discharged the same day. Some patients prefer the LAP-BAND because it is not permanent. We are not changing the stomach anatomy, and we can take the LAP-BAND out if you choose to do so. 

With this procedure, we place the LAP-BAND near the top of the stomach, where it meets the esophagus. This creates a tiny pouch that empties into the larger remaining portion of the stomach. We connect the band to a port, which is located underneath the skin of the abdomen. This port is how we put fluid in the band, which allows us to make the band opening larger or smaller in size, providing more or less restriction.

Why the Time for Weight Loss Surgery is Now

We all know that we should lead a healthy lifestyle. We should maintain an appropriate weight, eat healthy foods, and exercise. But one thing we learned on a much more specific level in 2020 is that being overweight or obese can lead to devastating results for diseases, such as COVID-19 and many others. 

You need to get healthy now so that your body can better handle anything that comes its way in 2021 and every year after that. With all three of our weight loss surgeries, the goal is for you to lose weight and become healthier, hopefully eliminating or reducing the severity of other health issues. 

Let BMI Surgery help you get healthier and achieve your goals in 2021!

The caring group of professionals at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery will help you get started on your weight loss journey and stay with you every step along the way. Dr. Long and his team specialize in all types of bariatric surgery, including gastric sleeve surgery, gastric bypass, and the LAP-BAND. Visit us today at http://www.bmisurgery.com/ or give us a call to set up a consultation at 205-833-6907.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Posted on October 15, 2020

gastric sleeve

gastric sleeve
Gastric sleeve surgery is one of our most popular weight loss surgery options at Birmingham Minimally Invasive. There are many benefits and reasons to choose this surgery, including the fact that it is a cost-effective choice for many. It’s also a low-risk procedure with a high success rate. 

We like to be as open and honest as possible, and this includes talking about the potential risks of any surgery and what recovery may be like.  

What Happens During Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

Gastric sleeve surgery is a laparoscopic bariatric procedure that reconfigures the stomach into a sleeve-like shape. In doing so, we remove a part of the stomach responsible for producing ghrelin, the hormone, that tells your brain when you’re hungry. The surgery also restricts the size of the stomach, making it much harder to eat large portions of food. These two factors combine to help you lose weight.

What Are the Risks of Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

Overall, gastric sleeve surgery is a very safe procedure. Our surgeon, Dr. Jay Long, has performed the surgery many, many times. While it is a minimally invasive procedure, it is a significant inpatient surgery, which will always carry some risk. Here are the three main risks you should know about:

  1. Internal bleeding — Because of the nature of the procedure, internal bleeding is a risk. However, with so much experience performing gastric sleeve, we have great methods to correct and combat this risk. It is not a common outcome of the surgery.
  2. Infection — All surgeries carry some risk of infection, and gastric sleeve is no different. But infections from this procedure are very rare. If it does occur, we treat the infection with antibiotics.
  3. Eating too much after surgery — This risk is more specific to gastric sleeve surgery. Since it is a restrictive procedure, overeating after surgery can lead to severe abdominal pain and cramps. With overeating, you may also experience vomiting or diarrhea. 

To avoid risk #3, our professionals at BMI Surgery will work with you along the way as much as possible. You will have a diet plan and all the tools and information you need to be successful. It will be a challenge in the beginning, but as time goes on, our patients typically get into a really good groove of knowing what to eat, what their body needs, and how to accomplish their goals. 

What to Expect After Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Gastric sleeve surgery greatly reduces the size of your stomach and limits the amount of food that you can eat at one time. It does not cause decreased absorption of nutrients or bypass your intestines. After eating a small amount of food, you will feel full very quickly and continue to feel full for several hours. The procedure may also cause your appetite to decrease due to the removal of the hunger hormone mentioned above.

Depending on your pre-operative weight, you can expect to lose between 40 to 70% of your excess body weight in the first year after gastric sleeve surgery. Additionally, many obesity-related problems improve or resolve after the procedure. This may include diabetes, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and abnormal cholesterol levels. 

Gastric Sleeve Recovery

Because we remove a large portion of your stomach, it will take some time to recover. Exactly how long it takes you to get back to normal will depend on many factors, including your starting weight and what type of job you have.  

You will be required to follow a strict post-op eating plan that will look similar to this: 

  • Stage one of the gastric sleeve diet: liquids — right after surgery
  • Stage two of the gastric sleeve diet: protein-rich liquids — a few days after surgery
  • Stage three of the gastric sleeve diet: pureed soft foods — approximately two weeks after surgery
  • Stage four of the gastric sleeve diet: solid foods — approximately four weeks after surgery

Going through this diet plan while letting your body adjust is an extremely important part of recovery. Your body will learn new healthy habits, and most patients stay very motivated to continue eating in the way they should even after the post-op gastric sleeve diet is complete.

Three Tips for Success After Gastric Sleeve Surgery

The reality is that you will not be able to go back to your old eating habits, including eating unhealthy foods and eating too much. Your commitment to following your plan will play a huge role in your success. It goes much beyond the fact that your stomach is now smaller. 

While there are many tips, tricks, and pieces of advice that we will provide you with when you have gastric sleeve surgery at BMI, here are three of the most important tips for success:

  1. Eat small portions — By eating small portions, you’ll be likely to absorb more of the nutrients in the food while also feeling full. You will also be less likely to experience any adverse effects of overeating. 
  2. Eat slowly — You won’t feel as full or satisfied when you eat fast, which often causes people to eat more. By eating slowly, you will allow your body to tell you when it’s full.
  3. Only drink between meals — Liquids take up space in your stomach and make you feel full. When having a meal, you need this space for food to provide your body with important vitamins and nutrients. Drinking during non-meal times is often very helpful.

As you can see, there are many good things we can say about gastric sleeve surgery. While there are some challenges and risks, we have many tools to make sure you experience no complications or negative consequences of the surgery. We will do everything we can to help set you up for success! 

Decided to have weight loss surgery? Here are your options at BMI Surgery

Posted on September 3, 2020

BMI weight loss surgery

BMI weight loss surgery
Have you decided that weight loss surgery is something you are definitely going to do? We are happy to hear that! However, we know it can be overwhelming to take the next steps. This is a life-changing and life-saving decision. 

Our surgeon, Dr. Jay Long, is the absolute best when it comes to finding the right weight loss surgery option. He’s also the best when it comes to performing all of these procedures. Dr Long, along with other members of our team, will be with you every step of the way to make the best decisions. 

To help you wade through all of the information, we like to focus on educating our patients as much as possible about what to expect before, during, and after surgery.

We have three primary weight loss surgery options: gastric sleeve surgery, gastric bypass surgery, and the LAP-BAND. Let’s take a closer look at them all. 

Gastric sleeve surgery

During gastric sleeve surgery, we basically cut away the top and largest part of the stomach, which is called the fundus. We remove about two-thirds of the stomach. The removed section is where the hunger hormone, ghrelin, lives. The combination of removing the hunger hormone and a large portion of the stomach typically leads to significant weight loss.

If using insurance to cover the procedure, you must have a minimum BMI of 35 to 40, along with various other health issues, such as diabetes, sleep apnea, or heart disease. If your BMI is higher than 40, these other health issues are not required. Gastric sleeve is a good option for anyone meeting these requirements without insurance coverage as well.

Compared to other options, gastric sleeve is considered to be a more simple procedure. We do not reroute the intestines like we do during gastric bypass, and we do not put in a foreign body as we do with the LAP-BAND. It typically takes only about 30 to 45 minutes, and we perform the surgery laparoscopically. This means we avoid the need for large abdominal incisions, which typically results in less pain, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery.

Gastric bypass surgery

With gastric bypass (also called Roux-en-Y), we create a small stomach pouch that restricts food intake. We attach a Y-shaped section of the small intestine to the pouch. This allows food to bypass the lower stomach — the duodenum (the first segment of the small intestine) and the first portion of the jejunum (the second segment of the small intestine). Doing so reduces the amount of food you can take in because your stomach holds only one to two ounces. This bypass also reduces the absorption of nutrients and thereby reduces calorie intake.

Gastric bypass is often a great option for our heavier patients because most lose up to 80% of their excess body weight as opposed to about 60% with gastric sleeve. This rapid weight loss can be very beneficial for those who have more severe health issues, such as sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and diabetes. It’s also a good option for anyone with severe acid reflux or poorly controlled diabetes since gastric bypass has proven to cure both. 

We sometimes hear that people have the impression that gastric bypass is more invasive than other options, but we take a minimally invasive approach. We typically make six incisions, and it’s done completely laparoscopically. It is a little more labor-intensive because we do change your anatomy. The inpatient surgery takes one to two hours and requires a hospital stay of one or two nights.

The LAP-BAND

With this procedure, we place the LAP-BAND near the top of the stomach where it meets the esophagus. This creates a very small pouch that empties into the larger remaining portion of the stomach. We connect the band to a port, which is located underneath the skin of the abdomen. This is how we put fluid in the band, which allows us to make the band opening larger or smaller in size, providing more or less restriction.

We typically perform the LAP-BAND procedure in our outpatient surgery center, and you are usually discharged the same day. Some patients prefer the LAP-BAND because it is not permanent. We are not changing the anatomy of the stomach, and we can take the LAP-BAND out if you choose to do so. It can be a good option for those paying out of pocket, because it is a very cost-effective choice. 

With the LAP-BAND, weight loss may be somewhat slower than with other options. We have to find that “happy place” where you are able to eat well but also maintain smaller portion sizes. This is where band adjustments come into play.

Which option is right for you?

With all three of these weight loss procedures, the goal is for you to lose weight and become healthier, hopefully eliminating or reducing the severity of other health issues. Which one is best for you will depend greatly on your individual situation. But you must remember that no weight loss surgery option is a magic fix for permanent weight loss. While these procedures will certainly help, diet and exercise will still be important. 

You don’t have to figure this all out alone. You’ve made a huge first step in deciding to have weight loss surgery, and Dr. Long will now come alongside you to provide his expertise and experience to consider your unique needs and find the right option.

The importance of regular exercise after weight loss surgery

Posted on July 6, 2020

exercise after weight loss surgery

exercise after weight loss surgery
While undergoing gastric sleeve or other weight loss surgery is a huge step in your journey toward better health, your work does not stop once your procedure is complete. Diet and exercise will play a significant role in your long-term success, and in this post we will focus on the importance of a regular work-out routine. 

Exercise can help you lose more weight and keep it off after surgery. According to several studies by the National Institutes of Health, those who exercised after weight loss surgery saw their body mass index (BMI) decrease 4.2% more than those who did not.

Benefits of exercise after weight loss surgery

Regular exercise will help you recover faster, reach your weight loss goals, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Even if your activity level before surgery was very low, we will work with you to find an exercise plan to meet your unique needs and abilities.

Setting realistic goals and gradually increasing your daily activity level after surgery has many benefits, such as:

  • Maintaining weight loss
  • Improving circulation
  • Strengthening your heart and bones
  • Increasing your metabolic rate
  • Developing muscle strength and endurance
  • Improving blood sugar control
  • Relieving stress
  • Improving your mood

 How to work out after weight loss surgery

For about four weeks after your surgery, your primary focus should be on getting back into the routine of your normal everyday activities. You should not lift anything over 10 pounds, but there are still plenty of ways to be active. During this stage, anything from washing dishes to going up and down the stairs in your home counts as activity. 

Walking is a great option during these first weeks, if cleared by Dr. Long. Walking improves your blood flow and expedites wound healing after surgery. Lack of exercise after a major operation could put you at a higher risk of developing a blood clot and conditions like pneumonia. 

You may want to set a goal to walk for a certain amount of time each day, then push yourself to walk a little more. Slowly increasing your activity level right after weight loss surgery will help you build up stamina and add more active habits in your daily routine.

The exact timeline for each patient may vary, but after about four weeks, we are able to clear most people for many types of exercise. This is when you can really start ramping up your work-out routine and begin exploring different types of exercises to find what you like best. You will be able to gradually incorporate low-intensity aerobic exercise at this point, such as biking or swimming. 

While there are many benefits of exercise after weight loss surgery, we know that it can be challenging, especially for those who have been very inactive prior to their procedure. But you are not alone. Many others have been through this process and come to love exercise. We’ve found that patients who seek out support, follow an exercise routine, and stick to a healthy diet are far more likely to lose the weight and keep it off.

Want to get to a place where you can exercise again?

Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery is a caring group of professionals who specialize in all types of bariatric surgery, including gastric sleeve surgery. We have the resources to help you prepare for surgery, undergo a successful surgery, and recover after, including personalized plans for diet and exercise. Visit us today at http://www.bmisurgery.com/ or give us a call to set up a consultation at 205-833-6907. 

The gastric sleeve diet: before & after surgery

Posted on June 15, 2020

gastric sleeve diet

When it comes to gastric sleeve surgery, people always want to know two things first: how much will it cost, and what will I actually eat? We share all about the cost of surgery on our website, and in this blog post, we will share details about the gastric sleeve diet. 

The most important thing for you to know is that we are here for you every step along the way. 

Gastric sleeve diet: before surgery

We will help you make a plan for a special diet you will need to follow before surgery. This pre-op diet is geared toward reducing the amount of fat in and around your liver to reduce the risk of complications during surgery. 

Making changes in your diet before surgery will also help you start getting used to a new way of eating. This is a lifelong change, so the sooner you start, the better. Your new eating plan may begin as soon as you are cleared for the procedure.

Guidelines are individualized for each patient, but may include the following:

  • Eliminating or decreasing saturated fats, such as whole milk products, fatty meat, and fried food
  • Eliminating or decreasing foods that are high in carbohydrates, such as sugary desserts, pasta, potatoes, and bread
  • Eliminating high-sugar beverages, such as juice and sodas
  • Practicing portion control
  • Avoiding binge eating
  • Quitting smoking
  • Avoiding alcoholic beverages and recreational drugs
  • Not drinking beverages with meals
  • Taking a daily multivitamin
  • Taking protein supplements

With your pre-op diet, you will likely drink protein shakes and eat other high-protein, low-calorie foods that are easy to digest. As you get closer to your surgery date, you may need to follow a mostly-liquid or liquid-only diet. Based on your weight and overall health, you may be able to eat some solids during this time, such as fish, watered-down hot cereal, or soft-boiled eggs.

Gastric sleeve diet: after surgery

Gastric sleeve surgery drastically reduces the size of your stomach, leaving it a fraction of its original size. A smaller stomach means a stricter diet. In order to allow your stomach to heal and adjust properly, you will be required to follow a post-op diet plan that can be broken down into four stages. 

Stage one of the gastric sleeve diet: liquids

Stage one begins right after your surgery. During this time, you are restricted to clear liquids like water, broth, and unsweetened gelatin. This may sound like it will be challenging, but most patients experience little to no hunger the first few days after surgery.

Important things to remember for stage one of the post-op diet:

  • Avoid sugar – Do not consume any sugary liquids during the first week after surgery. Sugar can have negative side effects on the body and can lead to dumping syndrome, a digestive problem that can occur after bariatric surgery. Food is “dumped” directly from your stomach into your small intestine without being digested. We want to avoid this.
  • No carbonation – Carbonation can lead to gas and bloating and should be avoided.
  • Lots of fluids – It is important to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated during your recovery process. Just remember to take it slow and only drink small amounts at a time. 

 Stage two of the gastric sleeve diet: protein-rich liquids

We will confirm when you are able to move to stage two, which is usually around five days after surgery. During this stage, you will introduce more liquids into your diet and begin drinking high protein shakes. You may experience an increase in appetite, but it is important that you stick to your diet plan and avoid solid food. Your body will not be able to handle it yet. 

Stage two food options include: 

  • Thin broth and creamed soups (no chunks)
  • Sugar-free protein/nutrition shakes
  • Sugar-free nonfat yogurt or pudding
  • Thinned oatmeal

The goal of stage two is to make sure you are consuming the correct amount of protein and staying hydrated. You should try new foods at a slow pace and in accordance with your diet plan. Sugary liquids should still be avoided, along with carbonation, high fat options, and chunky foods. 

Stage three of the gastric sleeve diet: pureed soft foods

During this stage, your blender will become your best friend. Once you are around two weeks post- surgery, you can begin incorporating pureed soft foods into your diet. The key here is to eat slowly and chew thoroughly. You may find that your tolerance for certain foods has changed, so you should take your time testing new food options. 

At this stage, your food should be the consistency of a thick liquid or smooth paste. You should continue to avoid chunky or fatty foods, sugar, seasonings, starches, and fibrous vegetables like broccoli and asparagus.  

Stage three of the gastric sleeve diet includes pureeing the following food items with water, skim milk, broth, or sugar-free juice:

  • Cooked vegetables (steamed or boiled until soft)
  • Eggs
  • Beans
  • Lean ground meats
  • Soft fruits 
  • Cottage cheese
  • Plain yogurt

Remember to keep drinking liquids. It is easy to become dehydrated after gastric sleeve surgery because your body is no longer getting fluids from some of the foods you used to eat, so always stay on top of your liquid intake. 

Stage four of the gastric sleeve diet: solid foods 

You’ve made it to the final stage. With Dr. Long’s approval, you can begin the transition to eating soft, solid foods around four weeks after surgery. Make sure to test foods one at a time to determine what you can tolerate. 

Try to structure your meals with protein in mind. We recommend consuming around 60 grams of protein per day, which can be difficult if you fill up on other foods first. A daily protein shake, in addition to high protein foods like eggs and lean ground meat, will help you meet your recommended protein goals.

As you slowly start integrating solid foods into your diet, make sure to stick to healthy, easy-to-digest options. This includes things like chicken, fish, well-cooked vegetables, low-fat cheese, and fruit. 

Foods you should continue to avoid: 

  • Whole milk products 
  • Fried foods
  • Starchy items like pasta, white potatoes, and bread
  • Sugary drinks and snacks
  • Over-processed/packaged foods like potato chips 
  • Fibrous vegetables like celery, asparagus, and broccoli
  • Spicy or heavily seasoned foods

 Achieving long-term success after gastric sleeve surgery

Once you have successfully incorporated solid foods back into your diet, it is important to continue making conscious food choices. The amount of food you eat throughout the day will be limited, so what you eat and how you eat is vital to staying on track.

Here are a few helpful tips on how to eat long-term after gastric sleeve surgery:

  • Chew and eat slowly
  • Limit snacking throughout the day
  • Cut food into small pieces 
  • Stick to small portions
  • Do not overeat
  • Avoid trans fats and fried, processed, or fast foods
  • Try not to eat and drink at the same time

For more information about gastric sleeve surgery and the recovery and diet plan process, schedule a consultation with us

Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery is a caring group of professionals who specialize in all types of bariatric surgery, including gastric sleeve surgery. We are so proud of our pricing that we publish the costs right on the front page of our website! We work with our patients to make the process as simple as possible and determine the best payment options on a case-by-case basis. Visit us today at http://www.bmisurgery.com/ or give us a call to set up a consultation at 205-833-6907. 

The truth about appetite suppression after weight loss surgery

Posted on May 15, 2020

appetite suppression
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The truth about appetite suppression after weight loss surgery

When you have weight loss surgery (also called bariatric surgery), you need to have all the facts. We want to clear up myths and misconceptions so that you know what to expect. One sometimes confusing issue that we often talk about with patients is appetite suppression. Understandably, people want to know what their appetite will be like after they have weight loss surgery. 

We will look at this more closely in this post, but the short answer is that it’s different for everyone. Many people have the idea that they will not be hungry at all. While this is true for some, it’s not true for everyone. You will likely still experience some hunger, but it will also probably be less than what you experienced before. Appetites are typically suppressed rather than eliminated completely. Here’s why. 

More about appetite suppression

According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, bariatric surgery increases the production of certain gut hormones that interact with the brain to reduce hunger, decrease appetite, and enhance satiety (feelings of fullness). Because of these factors, bariatric surgery typically helps produce long-term weight-loss.

When you experience rapid weight loss after surgery, your body goes through many hormonal and biochemical changes. Researchers also believe that the communication between the brain and the process of food digestion in the intestines is disrupted after weight loss surgery. 

Gastric sleeve & appetite suppression

It’s also worth mentioning that the results of gastric sleeve surgery are a little different than with gastric bypass or the LAP-BAND. With gastric sleeve, we cut away and remove part of the stomach. This is where the fundus is located, and the fundus produces the hunger-causing hormone ghrelin. The removal of the fundus and ghrelin significantly reduces hunger sensation in many patients. 

Right after surgery, the combination of swollen tissues and the difference in the amount of ghrelin being produced does often pretty much eliminate hunger and cravings. However, this won’t be permanent. Tissues return to normal, and the reduced ghrelin becomes the new normal that your body adjusts to over time. Many lifestyle factors will also lead to feeling hungrier than you were immediately after surgery, but your appetite will likely still be suppressed. Your hunger levels will eventually fall in line with your new food consumption patterns.

Managing hunger after weight loss

There is a big difference between hunger and cravings. Learning to tell the difference between the two is a big step for long-term weight loss. Even after surgery, you may still experience cravings for trigger foods. For example, you are not hungry at all, but you still want to eat potato chips. This is a craving, not hunger. 

Managing cravings and hunger after weight-loss surgery is very important. We start preparing you for this before your surgery with our pre-surgery diet plans, and you will also have a post-surgery diet plan. 

With a plan, strong willpower, and motivation, managing hunger — whether suppressed or eliminated for a period of time — is possible. Here are some tips that help many of our patients be successful:

  • Eat nutrient-dense foods. Foods that are high in fat and sugar are very low in nutrition. They also provide very little long-term satiety. Nutrient-dense proteins offer large satisfaction in small portions. Focus on lean meats instead of processed ones, and choose whole grains and vegetables for every meal. 
  • Eat slowly. Many of us eat much faster than we should, and our bodies do not register fullness until it’s too late. Instead, eat slowly and chew thoroughly. Your body will be able to catch up and let you know when to stop eating. 
  • Drink water strategically. Drinking water 45 minutes before and after a meal can also help with hunger, especially because we often mistake thirst or hunger. 
  • Have small, frequent meals. This is often key for many of our patients. When you are actually eating more often throughout the day, it can help with hunger and cravings. You don’t feel deprived, and it keeps you feeling satisfied. Five smaller meals often work well, and be sure to never skip meals even if you do not feel hungry.  

While we help prepare you for diet changes before weight loss surgery, it is a big adjustment to manage post-op. Like anything else, you will get used to it. More importantly, your body will adjust. Many patients come to prefer their post-surgery diet plan. To talk more about what to expect regarding appetite and hunger after weight loss surgery, we would love to talk with you about your individual situation. Contact us today!

We will work with you every step along the way on your weight loss surgery eating plan

Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery is a caring group of professionals, including nutritionists and dieticians. Give us a call to set up a consultation at 205-833-6907. 

Interested in Birmingham Minimally Invasive?

Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery is a caring group of professionals who specialize in all types of bariatric surgery.  Our surgeon Dr. Jay Long has highly specialized training in bariatric surgery, having completed a fellowship in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, where he focused on taking care of patients that are morbidly obese.  And we are so proud of our pricing that we publish the costs right on the front page of our website!  Insurance won’t pay?  We have a variety of financing options we can offer you so that you are able to get the healthy body you’ve wanted for years.

To get started fill out our form, or call today to set up a consultation. Our helpful team is ready to help you on your weight loss journey! 

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Is what you’ve heard true? Gastric sleeve myths

Posted on March 8, 2020

gastric sleeve myths

gastric sleeve myths

Gastric sleeve surgery, also called sleeve gastrectomy, is one of the most common procedures we perform at Birmingham Minimally Invasive. Many people have embraced the benefits of this option and found it to be the best fit for them. 

Of course, there is plenty of misinformation out there, and some people have misconceptions about what sleeve surgery is, what the surgery is like, and what it’s like after surgery is complete. 

Because we want you to be as educated as possible about this option and others, we will debunk a few common misconceptions and myths about gastric sleeve surgery in this blog post.

Common myths & misconceptions about gastric sleeve surgery

Gastric sleeve surgery takes a long time, as does recovery.

The important thing to understand here is that we perform gastric sleeve surgery laparoscopically. This avoids the need for large abdominal incisions and results in less pain, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery. When you compare it to other options, such as gastric bypass, surgery and recovery time are typically shorter.

You will change my anatomy.

With this surgery option, we do not re-route your digestive anatomy. We leave the pyloric portion of your stomach intact to help avoid dumping syndrome (rapid gastric emptying causing cramps, nausea, and diarrhea). Overall, gastric sleeve is a simple procedure that helps avoid the associated risks of an intestinal bypass. It also avoids the use of foreign materials, such as with a gastric banding procedure.

My body won’t be able to absorb nutrients properly after surgery.

There is no malabsorption of nutrients with gastric sleeve. The surgery reduces the size and volume of your stomach to limit food/calorie intake.. The surgery results in a stomach that functions normally, enabling you to eat most foods and for your body to absorb nutrients after the procedure.

I will be able to eat anything after surgery.

This is true to some extent once you are in the much later stages of recovery. However, initially, you will go through the five stages of the gastric sleeve post-op diet, which includes liquids, protein-rich liquids, pureed solid foods, and solid foods. Once you have successfully incorporated solid foods back into your diet, it is important to continue making conscious food choices long-term. You will not be able to eat anything and everything. The amount of food you eat throughout the day will be limited, so what you eat and how you eat is vital to staying on track and healthy.

I will be fully recovered within a few days after gastric sleeve surgery.

There is a difference between returning to everyday activities and full recovery. As time passes after your surgery, you will gradually be able to begin eating more and taking on a more active lifestyle. Within one to two weeks, you should start to feel less tired and get back into your normal routine. However, your stomach will still be healing. On average, it takes two to three weeks for incisions to heal and six to eight weeks for the stomach staple line to heal. After one month, most people can begin a normal exercise routine and are well on the way to being fully recovered.

My Insurance will not cover the surgery.

Most insurance companies cover bariatric surgery, but their individual requirements may vary based on the type of surgery. If gastric sleeve coverage is included in your insurance policy, you will have to meet your provider’s criteria in order to obtain approval. Requirements often vary based on the provider. You can contact your provider to see if gastric sleeve is covered under your plan, and, from there, you can request more information about their coverage criteria and required documentation.

There’s no way I can pay out of pocket.

Gastric sleeve surgery is considered one of the less invasive weight loss procedures, requiring less time spent in surgery and a shorter hospital stay in most cases. This allows us to offer it at a lower price than some other weight-loss surgeries. For those who are not covered by their insurance or choose to pay without using insurance, private pay is a very common option. While prices vary among different surgeons, at Birmingham Minimally Invasive, our gastric sleeve surgery is $8,999, making it an affordable option for many patients.

I won’t be able to have any other weight loss procedures after having the sleeve.

While we do not consider gastric sleeve to be a reversible procedure, in some patients, the stomach tube or “sleeve” may stretch over time leading to late weight regain. If you do experience this, we have the option to perform a second stage operation known as a duodenal switch or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

We hope this clears up any confusion about gastric sleeve surgery. It is an excellent solution for many people, and if you are interested in weight loss surgery, we look forward to working with you to find out if this option or another is right for you.

 

Explaining the “sleeve” in gastric sleeve surgery

Posted on February 25, 2020

gastric sleeve surgery

gastric sleeve surgeryWhen many people hear “gastric sleeve surgery,” they get an idea in their head that we actually insert a sleeve-like structure into your stomach. However, this is a common misconception. With gastric sleeve surgery, also called sleeve gastrectomy, we don’t insert anything at all. 

The term “sleeve” is simply a description of what your stomach looks like after the procedure is complete. During sleeve surgery, we remove about 75% of the stomach. This leaves a narrow gastric “tube” or what looks like a sleeve. 

What happens during gastric sleeve surgery?

Gastric sleeve surgery is the most frequently performed bariatric procedure in the United States. You may be a candidate for this procedure if your body mass index (BMI) is greater than or equal to 40. You may also be a candidate if your BMI is between 30 and 40 and you also have other medical problems such as diabetes, sleep apnea, heart disease, or high blood pressure.

Gastric sleeve surgery may be an option for you if you are severely obese and have not been able to shed the excess weight through diet and exercise. The procedure, in coordination with lifestyle modifications, can help improve your overall health and quality of life.

We take a laparoscopic approach for gastric sleeve surgery. This means we make just five or six small incisions in the abdomen and perform the procedure using a video camera (laparoscope) and long instruments that we place through these small incisions. We remove around 75% of your stomach and leave a narrow, sleeve-shaped gastric tube. With this procedure, we do not remove or bypass your intestines. Gastric sleeve surgery takes one to two hours to complete.

Weight loss from gastric sleeve surgery & other benefits

Gastric sleeve surgery is a restrictive procedure. It greatly reduces the size of your stomach and limits the amount of food that you can eat at one time. It does not cause decreased absorption of nutrients or bypass your intestines. After eating a small amount of food, you will feel full very quickly and continue to feel full for several hours.

The procedure may also cause your appetite to decrease, and people often wonder how this happens.  In addition to reducing the size of your stomach, gastric sleeve may also reduce the amount of “hunger hormone” that your stomach produces. This can contribute to weight loss after the procedure as well.

Depending on your pre-operative weight, you can expect to lose between 40% to 70% of your excess body weight in the first year after gastric sleeve surgery.

Many obesity-related problems improve or resolve after the procedure. Diabetes, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and abnormal cholesterol levels are improved or cured in more than 75% of patients undergoing gastric sleeve. 

Many patients are surprised to learn that gastric sleeve surgery is more affordable than they had imagined. We have payment options with and without insurance, but our $8,999 cash pricing cost is the best you will find in the area. To learn more, schedule your appointment with us today.

Contact Us to Learn More About Gastric Bypass Surgery

Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery in Birmingham, Alabama, is a caring group of professionals who specialize in all types of bariatric surgery. Our surgeon Dr. Jay Long has highly specialized training in bariatric surgery, having completed a fellowship in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, where he focused on taking care of patients that are morbidly obese. And we are so proud of our pricing that we publish the costs right on the front page of our website! Insurance won’t pay? We have a variety of financing options we can offer you so that you are able to get the healthy body you’ve wanted for years. Visit us today at http://www.bmisurgery.com/ or give us a call to set up a consultation at 205-833-6907. 

 

A look at the major differences between gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and the LAP-BAND

Posted on January 8, 2020

weight loss surgery differences

weight loss surgery differences
Making the decision to have weight loss surgery is huge. But even when you are certain that this is what you need to do, it can be overwhelming to move forward. Our surgeon and staff will be with you every step along the way, but we know that many patients like to be as informed as possible about their options. 

In this post, we will take a closer look at three of our most common procedures to discuss differences, advantages, disadvantages, and more. 

Differences between our three most popular weight loss surgery options

One thing we hear often is that patients want to have the least invasive surgery possible. As our name suggests — Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery — all of our options are indeed minimally invasive. Our three most common procedures are gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and LAP-BAND. We perform each of these laparoscopically, which requires only four to six tiny incisions and less than two hours in the operating room.

Gastric Sleeve

During gastric sleeve surgery, we basically cut away the top and largest part of the stomach, which is called the fundus. About ⅔ of the stomach is removed. The removed section is where the hunger hormone, ghrelin, lives. If you’ve heard someone say they are never hungry after gastric sleeve surgery, it is because we have removed the hormone completely. Some people find this benefit more appealing than others. The combination of removing the hunger hormone and a large portion of the stomach typically leads to significant weight loss.

Who’s a good candidate for gastric sleeve? If using insurance to cover the procedure, you must have a minimum BMI of 35 to 40, along with various other health issues, such as diabetes, sleep apnea, or heart disease. If your BMI is higher than 40, these other health issues are not required. Gastric sleeve is a good option for anyone meeting these requirements without insurance coverage as well. Because the procedure has been shown to be acid inducing, anyone with severe acid reflux disease should probably avoid this option.

What are the benefits of gastric sleeve as opposed to other weight loss surgeries? Compared to other options, gastric sleeve is a simpler procedure. We do not reroute the intestines like we do during gastric bypass, and we do not put in a foreign body like we do with the LAP-BAND. It’s a quick procedure that involves cutting 2/3 of the stomach away, leaving a very small, banana-sized stomach.

Gastric Bypass

With gastric bypass (also called Roux-en-Y), we create a very small stomach pouch that restricts food intake. A Y-shaped section of the small intestine is attached to the pouch and allows food to bypass the lower stomach — the duodenum (the first segment of the small intestine) and the first portion of the jejunum (the second segment of the small intestine). This reduces the amount of food you can take in because your stomach holds only one to two ounces. This also decreases the absorption of food and nutrients, which aids in weight loss as well.

Who’s a good candidate for gastric bypass? Gastric bypass is often a better option for our heavier patients because most will lose up to 80% of their excess body weight as opposed to about 60% with gastric sleeve. This rapid weight loss can be very beneficial for those who have more severe health issues, such as sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and diabetes. It’s also a good option for anyone with severe acid reflux or poorly controlled diabetes since gastric bypass has proven to cure both. 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of gastric bypass? Some people like knowing that gastric bypass is technically considered reversible. However, this is something we always want to avoid, because reversal will cause you to gain the weight back. After surgery, you do have to take nutritional and vitamin supplements for life because of the malabsorption of food and nutrients.

We hear that people often have the impression that gastric bypass is more invasive than other options, but we take a minimally invasive approach. We typically make six incisions, and it’s done completely laparoscopically. It is a little more labor intensive because we do change your anatomy.  

The LAP-BAND

With this procedure, we place the LAP-BAND, a foreign body made of a special material, near the top of the stomach where it meets the esophagus. This creates a very small pouch that empties into the larger remaining portion of the stomach. The band is connected to a port, which is located underneath the skin of the abdomen. This is how we put fluid in the band, which allows us to make the band opening larger or smaller in size, giving patients more or less restriction.

Who’s a good candidate for the LAP-BAND? Many patients prefer the LAP-BAND because it is not permanent. We are not changing the anatomy of the stomach, and we can take the LAP-BAND out if the patient chooses to do so. It can be a good option for those paying out of pocket, because the cost is less than other options. It’s one of our more cost effective procedures.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the LAP-BAND? With the LAP-BAND, weight loss may be somewhat slower than with other options. We have to find that “happy place” where the patient is able to get food down but also able to maintain smaller portion sizes. This is where band adjustments come into play.

Weight loss surgery with and without insurance

The role your insurance plays may be a big factor in which weight loss procedure is best for you. Many insurance companies have a BMI requirement for each surgery that you will need to meet in order to be a candidate. If you will be paying out of pocket, the cost of the procedure will likely play a major role in your decision. 

With all three of these weight loss procedures, the goal is for you to lose weight and become healthier, hopefully eliminating or reducing the severity of other health issues. But you must remember that no weight loss surgery option is a magic fix for permanent weight loss. While these procedures will certainly help, diet and exercise will still be important.

Contact Us to Learn More About Gastric Bypass Surgery

Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery is a caring group of professionals who specialize in all types of bariatric surgery.  Our surgeon Dr. Jay Long has highly specialized training in bariatric surgery, having completed a fellowship in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, where he focused on taking care of patients that are morbidly obese.  And we are so proud of our pricing that we publish the costs right on the front page of our website!  Insurance won’t pay?  We have a variety of financing options we can offer you so that you are able to get the healthy body you’ve wanted for years.  Visit us today at http://www.bmisurgery.com/ or give us a call to set up a consultation at 205-833-6907.