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Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy: Addressing FAQs and Common Concerns

Posted on April 22, 2024

A doctor discusses information with a patient

Any type of surgery is scary—especially serious, life-changing operations like an adrenalectomy. However, new surgical developments, using laparoscopy instead of large invasive incisions, make this procedure much less risky for patients, with many returning to normal activities shortly after. Of course, if your doctor has scheduled you for a laparoscopic adrenalectomy, you probably have a million questions about this type of surgery and the risks involved.

In this post, we will address frequently asked questions about the surgery, recovery process, potential side effects, and long-term outcomes.

What is Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy Surgery?

An adrenalectomy is the removal of one or both of the adrenal glands. In recent years, operative laparoscopy has revolutionized adrenal surgery, making it less invasive and much less risky for patients. With this procedure, surgeons use a laparoscope, a small tool with a camera attached, and other instruments to perform surgery through small incisions and remove the adrenal gland.

Why is laparoscopic adrenalectomy performed?

Surgeons will recommend a laparoscopic adrenalectomy for individuals with adrenal gland tumors, including benign adenomas, adrenal cancer, or conditions such as Cushing’s syndrome, Conn’s syndrome, or pheochromocytoma.

Who is a good candidate for laparoscopic adrenalectomy surgery?

Surgeons often perform laparoscopic adrenalectomy when a patient has a tumor on one or both of their adrenal glands, their adrenal glands produce too many hormones, or they have a condition called Cushing’s syndrome. However, if they have a tumor larger than about 8 cm or other confounding problems arise, a standard procedure with a larger incision is preferred.

What are the benefits of laparoscopic adrenalectomy?

The adrenal glands are small, which is why surgeons can use the minimally invasive laparoscopic approach to remove them. Laparoscopic surgery has many benefits over the standard procedure, including smaller scars, less recovery time, and less pain.

How long is recovery after an adrenalectomy?

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a minimally invasive procedure, which means there is less postoperative pain and length of hospitalization. Most patients require only a single night hospital stay after the surgery and are able to return to normal activities after about a week. However, patients should still avoid strenuous activities for a while after or until recommended by their doctor.

These results represent a significant improvement compared to the standard open adrenalectomy, which came with greater risks of infection and other complications.

Is there pain after laparoscopic adrenalectomy?

Because this procedure is minimally invasive, patients report a requirement for pain medications that lasts an average of 2-3 days with a “return to normal activities” by 5-7 days.

What happens after adrenalectomy?

When a surgeon removes the adrenal gland due to a tumor or other confounding issue, they send it to a laboratory to be examined. Next, pathologists will study the gland and report their findings and the need for follow-up care to the patient’s doctor.

If only one adrenal gland is removed, the remaining gland usually takes over the work for both adrenal glands. Patients who have had one adrenal gland removed may need to take hormone replacement medicine until the other gland catches up.

If the surgeon removes both adrenal glands, then the patient will need to take hormone replacement medications for the rest of their lives to make up for the hormones the glands would make.

What are the risks associated with laparoscopic adrenalectomy?

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a very safe procedure, but it still comes with some possible risks, including:

Bleeding
Infection
Injury to surrounding organs
Conversion to open surgery

Even so, the risk of complications during laparoscopic adrenalectomy is much lower when compared to open surgery.

Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy Surgery at BMI

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a safe and effective surgical option for the treatment of various adrenal gland disorders. By addressing common questions and concerns, we hope to alleviate any apprehensions you may have about undergoing the procedure.

At Birmingham Minimally Invasive, we are performing laparoscopic adrenalectomy on a routine basis. There are many benefits to this minimally invasive approach, including less pain, shorter hospital stays, and a quick recovery period. These results represent a significant improvement compared to the standard open adrenalectomy that has been done in the past.

At Birmingham Minimally Invasive, we understand how much an adrenalectomy can change your life. That’s why we provide compassionate care and are there for our patients through the process, from pre-op to the end of their recovery and beyond.

Healthy and Happy Living After Weight Loss Surgery at BMI

Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery supports you by ensuring you have a clear understanding of what to expect during your laparoscopic adrenalectomy, including how to manage any side effects or discomfort. Our compassionate team will be here to answer all questions and concerns as they arise. If you have specific concerns or questions, contact BMI for personalized support. You can call us anytime at (205) 858-1211.

Elizabeth’s Testimonial: How Gastric Sleeve Was Exactly What I Needed

Posted on October 24, 2018

Over the years, my weight had just kind of gone up and down. I’d tried Weight Watchers, Medifast, and nothing seemed to work. When I changed jobs a while back, I even looked into weight loss surgery and went to a seminar held by Dr. Long at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery. I was seriously considering it until I found out it wasn’t covered under my insurance.
I had kind of given up on the idea of having weight loss surgery until the daughter of one of my mother’s friends had it performed by none other than Dr. Long. One day she asked me if I’d thought about doing it and even went on to tell me she’d help me out if it wasn’t covered. So out of curiosity I checked again, and turns out, my insurance plan had changed, and it was now covered!

Without giving it a second thought, I went to Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery to see Dr. Long.

Before I knew it, I was done with the insurance-required six-month supervised diet, and in June of 2017, I had gastric sleeve surgery. Looking back, it’s one of those things where you feel like it should’ve been harder than it was. I’m not saying it was easy by any means, but it was exactly what I needed.

When people ask if I wish I’d done it sooner, I tell them, yeah, I wish I’d done it sooner. But at the same time, given my personality and where I was at in my life, I think it was the right time for it to work for me.

Since the surgery, while I tend to crave a variety of things, I’d say I eat very healthy most days, and I even feel out of sync if I don’t have a small salad as part of a meal at least once a day. That’s not to say that I don’t still eat things that might be considered unhealthy, but I rarely want them since they typically make me feel bad afterwards. For instance, I found that if I have something that’s super processed or full of sugar, it makes me feel weird, like I can feel my system is in the wrong gear. Because of this, I definitely crave unhealthy stuff a whole lot less than I did before, and for someone who was able to always pack it in, it’s nice to have an internal governor that makes me want to stop after only a bite or two.

For me, my personality is such that the stricter you make it, the more I’m going to act out. But with the sleeve, if I really want pizza, I can still have it, but again, I just eat a bite or two before I’m good. That’s a big reason as to why I think the sleeve was such a perfect fit for me. It’s not restricting and just allows me to listen to my body.

My advice for anyone that’s considering weight loss surgery – talk to people that have had it done and are maintaining so you know what it’s like after surgery.

Get their perspective – is there stuff they miss? You should go into it with the understanding that you’re not going to be able to eat like the rest of your family, that you really can’t do carbonation, and if you have a really bad day, you can’t eat a whole pizza and drink a bottle of wine. You can have a piece and a glass, but that’s it.

Once you learn about the surgery from someone who’s been through it and been successful, I believe you’ll be better prepared going into it, and there’s no one better to go see than Dr. Long. It’s not an easy journey, but if you’re like me, it’s exactly what you need.

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.

Eating After Weight Loss Surgery: 3 Simple Rules to Help You Avoid Dumping Syndrome and Overeating

Posted on October 24, 2018

By Caitlin Hastings, Physician Assistant

After being on a liquid diet two weeks prior to weight loss surgery, and then again, depending on the procedure you had, for a week or two after, it can be a challenge learning how to eat. When you’re re-introducing solid foods into your diet after about four weeks, there’s definitely a learning curve, but we try to educate our patients on what they can expect.

While everyone’s different, there are a few rules that are going to make things much easier when it’s time to introduce soft and solid foods. But by keeping these three rules below in mind, you’ll be much less likely to experience dumping syndrome or get sick from overeating.

Rule #1: Expect to eat only three or four bites before you feel full. Patients are always very surprised that they feel full after three bites, and while just one bite too much can be overeating, there’s the chance that you could feel very sick after that. Always keep in mind, you can come back to that meal when you get hungry later.

Rule #2: Chew your food to an applesauce consistency before you swallow. Take it slow, chew very well, and take your time swallowing. I know, it sounds so silly, but it really matters when you’re eating solid food again for the first time in weeks. By chewing your food to an applesauce consistency, you’re ensuring that the food goes down more easily and doesn’t get stuck. Don’t worry, it gets much easier to eat and get things down after a while, but in the beginning, it can be hard.

Rule #3: Don’t eat and drink at the same time. There are two reasons for this. First, this is because you’re only able to eat three or four bites of a meal at a time, and we really want you focusing on getting your protein – you need it to heal after surgery. If you’re only able to get in three bites of a high protein food, we don’t need you filling your tiny stomach up with fluids. Plan on drinking about thirty minutes later, once the food is digested.

Another reason you’ll want to wait to drink until after you eat is to reduce your chances of experiencing what’s known as dumping syndrome. This occurs when food moves through the body too quickly and doesn’t get absorbed like it needs.

Think about it like this – You’re chewing your food to an applesauce consistency so imagine applesauce in your stomach. Then say you pour water on top of that applesauce. That’s going to make it really thinned out and move through the body a lot quicker. When this happens, it might make you a little bit nauseous, or you may have to run to the restroom quickly. You’re not staying full as long because that water is just pushing all that food through, and it’s like you never even ate.

By simply following these three rules, you’ll learn how you can eat enough food without feeling sick or experiencing dumping syndrome. It can be hard at first, but as time goes on, you’ll learn your body and know exactly what it takes to stay satisfied and healthy.

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.

Considering Weight Loss Surgery? Here Are 5 Reasons the LAP-BAND System Might Be Right for You

Posted on October 5, 2018

With Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding, better known as the Lap-Band System, being one of the more popular surgical weight loss solutions, our patients often come to us wanting to learn more about this procedure and its benefits. We understand, the fact that you’re simply placing a band around the upper end of the stomach in order to reduce its size and restrict food intake definitely sounds appealing. But even with its many perks, the truth is, not everyone’s going to be satisfied with the LAP-BAND System in the long run.

On the other hand, there are just as many people who are perfectly happy with LAP-BAND system years down the road, and depending on your lifestyle and your unique situation, it could be the perfect solution. Here, we’ll take a look at five reasons the LAP-BAND System might be the right choice for you.

Minimally Invasive – Recognized as the least traumatic of all the weight loss surgeries, the LAP-BAND procedure is performed laparoscopically and doesn’t require any cutting, stapling, or stomach rerouting. This in turn means less post-operative pain, a shortened hospital stay, and, ultimately, a reduced recovery time.
Low Risks – When compared to other procedures, there’s a lower mortality risk as well as a lower chance of suffering from nutritional deficiencies or hair loss. Patients are also less likely to experience what’s known as “dumping syndrome” when it comes to dietary restrictions.
Adjustable – The LAP-BAND System can also be adjusted to your own customized weight-loss rate. This is done without the need for additional surgery through an access port that’s placed below the skin during the initial procedure. If you and your doctor decide it’s time for an adjustment, the size of the band can be either inflated or deflated with the use of saline solution.
Reversible – Since it hasn’t been altered in any way, the stomach typically returns to its original form and function if the LAP-BAND system is removed. This means, no matter the reason, you can restore your stomach if you and your doctor so chose.
Effective – With more than 860,000 cases performed around the globe, patients lose an average of 40-60% of their excess body weight within two years though its been shown that 65% of excess weight can be lost at one year.

With many surgical weight loss solutions out there, finding the one that’s right for you takes careful consideration, and more importantly, the opinion of a professional surgeon who understands your lifestyle. By working with an experienced surgeon, together, you can select the weight loss solution that you’ll be happy with for years to come.

Marco’s Testimonial: The Hardest, But By Far, the Most Rewarding Thing I've Ever Done

Posted on October 5, 2018

I’ve been a police officer for the last 28 years, and along with the way, I’ve had several injuries that caused me to get set back. In March of 2013, I even tore my posterior tibial tendon and meniscus while I was tackling a burglar on a bicycle. It seemed like every time I got hurt, I was laid up for a while, and I’d get big. I was struggling with my weight, and though I’d considered weight loss surgery before, everybody talked me out of it. I tried doctor supervised diets, but I just felt like all these diets were all wrong for my body makeup. Every diet I tried, it seemed like I would lose some weight, and then it would just pack right back on.

I knew I had to do something. I had to come to terms with myself and put myself first this time because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be there for my family.

My oldest is 30-years-old, and I have two other kids who are 27 and 23, and my youngest is 10. I wanted to be here for my youngest when he was 20, and I knew that if I didn’t do something, I wasn’t going to be here very long.

I was just miserable – I had high blood pressure and my blood sugar kept going up. It had gotten to the point where I couldn’t even go to Walmart with my wife and walk to the back of the store without sitting down. I got up to 420 pounds, and I was going to have to go on medical retirement, which would ruin all my pension.

I was seeing a neurologist about my back, and that’s who told me I should consider weight loss surgery with Dr. Long. So, of course I went to see him, and the first time I did, I asked Dr. Long, “Where do I sign up?” I was convinced that this was what I wanted to do.

I took a leap of faith and just did it, and I took off work on December 28th, 2016 to have gastric sleeve surgery.

After the surgery, I stuck to what Dr. Long and his staff told me to do, and the weight just started coming off. I lost the first 80-90 pounds really fast, and after that, I started seeking out other things to do health-wise. I started watching my carbs and sugars, and I just did a little bit every day; whether that was walking up and down the driveway, or parking my car a little further away from the entrance.

As I lost the weight, I know my wife thinks I just got fanatical with it because it got the point that every time she would stand still long enough I’d do pushups on the floor. We’d be shopping in Walmart, and I’d crawl up on the clothes rack and do dips. I even upped my workout program to about 5 times a week and started finding hobbies to do.

Everything is just great; I’m living it, and loving it. I’m doing things I’ve never done in my life.

Me and my wife do everything together; we go kayaking, we ride bikes together, heck, we even race go karts together ever since I found out I could fit in one. I’ve been racing go karts all this year, and right now I’m third place in the points standings in my class. I do a lawn care service also. I’ve always had to hire help to do the hard stuff like the weed eating and whatnot, but now I do it all by myself.

Everything at work has even gotten better. I’m probably more fit than most of those guys in the department now. They don’t hound me about my weight, and a few of them have gotten on the program, working out and doing things with me.

I don’t look for food for comfort anymore, I just look at it as a way to survive.

My lunch and dinners don’t change much because I just don’t look at food the same way anymore. My wife packs my lunch every day, and it consist of celery sticks with peanut butter, snow snap peas with my homemade ranch, and maybe some protein and cheese. I snack on that all day long, and I’m most definitely satisfied. If we go out to eat for dinner, I usually just eat the protein off her plate.

Not only have I reached my own personal goal, but I’ve reached Dr. Long’s goal for me as well. While I didn’t think I’d want to be any lighter than 190, I’m now down to 171. Dr. Long’s goal for me was 175. I went from a size 58 in the waist to a 30. I not only contribute this success to my staying active and watching what I ate, but what I felt was my duty to motivate others to do the same.

I found that the more people I stepped out and helped, the more it helped me.

If I talked to somebody who needed or wanted to do this program or asked me what I did, I would share it with them. I’d stay with them until they lost the weight. I’d share my diet plan, I’d share everything with them. It helped me to help them, and it kind of kept me in check – I guess the whole practice what you preach kind of thing.

The surgery has been life changing. Dr. Long and his staff saved my life.

I had tried every diet out there, and they never worked. This tool that Dr. Long gave me really helped me do what I needed to do. I am where I am today because of that, and the people who supported me.

Dr. Long is a super nice person, and his staff is amazing. They always remember you by name, and they’re always really respectful. Right after I had my surgery, they called and checked on me the first month it seemed like every other day.

My advice to anyone considering weight loss surgery – don’t let anybody make the decision for you. If you’ve made up your mind, don’t let anybody talk you out of doing it. Just take a leap of faith and do it. I wish I would have done it 10 years ago; I wasted that 10 years of my life. It’s not going to be easy. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but the rewards are so great.

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.

Looking for a Bariatric Surgeon? Here’s Why Our Patients Choose Us

Posted on August 20, 2018

Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery, we’re proud to give you countless reasons to choose us over other weight loss surgery practices in the area. But don’t just take our word for it, when we ask patients why they chose us, here are the reasons we hear the most.

As far as private pay goes, we definitely offer the best price.

If you’re paying out of pocket for an operation, you obviously want a reputable surgeon, but you also want the lowest price possible. At BMI Surgery, a lot of our patients are private pay with many coming from places like Atlanta and Nashville for this reason alone. While our price for Sleeve Gastrectomy is only $9,999, we definitely have the best price in Birmingham, and possibly in all of Alabama.

Unlike many other weight loss surgery practices, we use staple line reinforcement.

Patients also really like the fact that we use staple line reinforcement for gastric sleeve. This reinforcement is used on the surgical stapler that we use during surgery to divide the stomach, and it provides security to the edge of the stomach where it is divided. These special staple loads act as a hemostatic agent that stops bleeding and ensures there aren’t going to be any leaks.

It’s a great tool with countless studies backing it, and it’s actually one of the ways we’re able to keep our cost so low. Since we’re using this special kind of stapler, we don’t have to waste money putting in clips or drains to ensure there’s no post-op bleeding. Whether they’re just not aware of this newer technology or don’t want to change their ways, not every surgeon uses staple line reinforcement.

Dr. Long’s past patients refer their friends and family.

Dr. Long has an excellent reputation, and many of his patients come from word of mouth referrals from past bariatric patients. Dr. Long also performs general surgery, and many of the general surgery patients tell their friends and family about their experience with Dr. Long. These patients as well as their friends and family frequently come to us for their weight loss surgery as well. To us, this is a true testimony of just how much he truly cares about each and every person who walks through our doors.

If you’re considering Dr. Long for your weight loss surgery, don’t take our word for it. Dr. Long and our staff receive regular outstanding reviews that you can read for yourself. No matter your reason for coming to us, you can be sure you’re in the hands of an experienced surgeon that’s dedicated to helping you meet your weight loss goals that will allow you to lead a healthier, more fulfilling life.

June’s Testimonial: Going to Dr. Long was the Best Decision I Ever Made

Posted on August 7, 2018

Over the years, I consistently gained weight. I’d gain about 5 to 10 pounds every couple of months, and literally before I knew it, I was pushing 300 pounds. It just kind of happens before you know it. When I got to the point where I knew I had to do something, I literally Googled “centers of excellence for bariatric surgery,” and that’s when Dr. Long at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery came up. From there, I read a lot about Dr. Long and his practice before making the decision to attend a seminar they were holding one Saturday morning.

I liked what I heard at the seminar, so I went ahead and made an appointment for a consultation. When I went to see Dr. Long for the first time, I immediately told him I wanted to do gastric band, what I believed was the least invasive of all the weight loss surgeries. After he spent some time getting to learn more about me, my lifestyle and hobbies, he told me he just didn’t think I’d be happy with gastric band. He thought it would restrict me to the point where I wouldn’t be happy, and that it didn’t seem to suit my lifestyle. He went on to educate me in the difference between gastric band and gastric bypass while going into further detail on how the band greatly restricts what you can eat. He also said, and I’ll never forget, that though everyone is different, with gastric bypass, at some point in time, I could eat whatever my family eats – I just wouldn’t be able to eat as much.

I’m so glad I decided to do gastric bypass because Dr. Long was absolutely right. I have no regrets. None.

Prior to the surgery, Dr. Long had me go on a two-week liquid diet that I thought that would be incredibly hard. Turns out, it was actually very easy, and I didn’t have a problem with it all. To my amazement, the liquids kept me satisfied, and I was never even hungry, and during that two weeks I lost 12 pounds.

After staying in the hospital two days, I came home on a soft diet with a list of foods I could eat. Whatever was on the list, I was supposed to divide that by three. One of the things on the list was an egg, and it was amazing how long it would take me to eat a third of an egg. Truthfully, I didn’t want to eat anything and never had any food cravings. I just ate because I needed to while focusing on staying hydrated.

I kept going back to what Dr. Long said from the get-go – that I can eat whatever my family eats, just not as much. And I do. I eat whatever they eat, just a smaller portion, and I’m totally satisfied.

Of course, the surgery does different things to different people, but ever since, I haven’t craved any type of carbonated beverage and haven’t had one in four years. I literally took a sip of my husband’s Diet Coke the other day to get a piece of ice out, and it tasted like chemicals. It was terrible. It’s interesting how I use to love the things I now hate. I used to love desserts and now I can’t stand anything with sugar. I can eat two M&Ms but if I eat four, I get sick because it’s just too much sugar for my body. I’ve been like that with sugar since day one. So, of course, I’ve found a couple things that don’t agree with me, and I just don’t eat them. But that’s what I love about gastric bypass. I’m not restricted, and I can eat anything I want.

Ever since the surgery, my life has been great. I can walk up the bleachers at my grandchildren’s softball and baseball games without having to stop after every three steps. It’s wonderful.

About seven weeks ago, I even had knee replacement surgery, and I just got through walking across the sand at the beach. I mean, walking in the sand after a recent knee replacement! If I were a hundred pounds heavier, I would not have been able to do that at all. I probably couldn’t have even had the knee replacement in the first place. It’s amazing because now I can put 25 pounds worth of groceries in my arms and walk up steps. I just can’t believe how I carried a hundred extra pounds before this surgery.

Dr. Long and his staff are wonderful. I could not ask for better. I’m absolutely satisfied, and I have no regrets, except for wishing I had done this 10 years sooner.

I feel like I missed out on some things with my grandchildren because I wasn’t physically able to do the things with them that I can do now, and that’s why I want to encourage others not to wait. If you’re considering weight loss surgery, don’t waste more years of your life like I did. I wish I’d done it 10 years sooner so I could’ve benefited from it way before now. Do it, and I promise it’ll be the best decision of your life.

Go see Dr. Long. He’s not in a hurry, takes the time to explain everything to you, and he’s considerate and compassionate. He’s the greatest, and going to him was the best decision I ever made.

Jessica’s Testimonial: Dr. Long Won Me Over and Now My Life Is Totally Different

Posted on July 28, 2018

I first started considering weight loss surgery because of my knees. It had actually gotten to the point where I could barely walk anymore. My knee surgeon told me the only other thing that could be done was a knee replacement, but, unfortunately, insurance wouldn’t cover it because I was only 40-years-old at the time. While my knee surgeon got me on a weight loss plan, I began doing some research of my own. That’s when I did a Google Search and came across Dr. Long at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery.

What made we want to go to Dr. Long was that he wasn’t a show-off.

In his countless online reviews, all of his patients that commented on him were so happy with their experience, plus they were believable. To me, many of the other practices made it seem like doing weight loss surgery was just a job to them. Their message came across as a “this is what we do” kind of thing, and that’s what ultimately made me decide to schedule a consultation with Dr. Long.

What really won me over was when he asked me what surgery I wanted to do.

I told him I wanted to do the LAP-BAND System, and he asked me why. I told him, “Because it’s reversible.” So, then he asked me why I would want something to be reversible. I told him “Because if anything bad is going to happen, it’s going to happen to me.” He then told me about Gastric Bypass Surgery, and that it could also be reversible if something happened to my stomach. I had no idea, and after speaking with him further, I decided that was the surgery for me.

My pre-op experience was great and wasn’t near as bad as I expected.

I needed pre-authorization from my insurance, so I went on a 6-month physician-supervised diet where I went to the doctor once a month. Once I got approved for surgery, I did the 2-week liquid diet, which wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be, and I also had to quit smoking.

My life is totally different since I’ve had the surgery.

I’m wearing the size clothes I was in high school, and I haven’t been able to do that since I got pregnant 22 years ago. I was in a 22/24, and I’m now in a size 12. So, by all means, the surgery was successful, and I most definitely wish I’d done it sooner.

If you’re considering weight loss surgery, do it.

It’s a mental thing, and most people don’t realize that. If you’re not ready to dedicate yourself, don’t do it. But if you’re ready, go for it.

Everybody asks me how I got my results, and I’ve already sent a couple of friends to Dr. Long; I tell everyone to go to him because I believe he’s simply the best.

Top 3 Resources for Weight Loss Surgery Support and Advice

Posted on July 16, 2018

By: Caitlin Hastings, Physician Assistant

Whether they’re post-op or just starting to consider weight loss surgery, everybody has so many questions when they come into our office. There are all kinds of stuff out there on the internet that can be misleading, or worse, flat-out untrue. While every surgeon does things differently, from the kind of pre-op diet they put their patients on to their post-surgery recommendations, even “accurate” information, may not be what our doctor, Dr. Long, recommends.

In order to make sure our patients and potential patients get accurate information and thorough answers to their questions, we don’t suggest you seek out advice just anywhere. Along with our patient folder full of all the information you could possibly need and attending our required pre-op prep nutrition/prep class if you want resources you can truly count on, here are our top 3 recommendations below.

#1 Dr. Long

The absolute best way for patients and potential patients to get accurate information is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Long, as he really is the best resource. He can answer all of your questions and explain how we do things here at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery. He does a great job spending ample time with each patient, taking anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour just talking about what to expect.

Along with using Dr. Long as the main resource, our front office staff is highly trained to answer any questions regarding bariatric surgery. While they’re happy to answer common questions, they may also encourage you to come in for a consultation with Dr. Long if they think that would be best.

#2 Our Website and Blog

We put as much information as possible on our website and blog, so you can often find answers to your questions here. Whether you’re just starting to consider weight loss surgery, or if you’re days away from having surgery, this is a great online resource. From preparing for surgery to details on gastric bypass or any other procedure that we offer, you can trust that this information is both accurate and timely.

#3 Our Facebook Group

Once you’ve decided that you’re going to have the surgery, you can request to join our Bariatric Facebook Group called Saints for Wellness. While there are many weight loss support groups out there, this one is near and dear to us because it’s run by bariatric surgery patients. It’s a large group with nearly 3,000 members made up of our patients and patients of another local bariatric surgery group. While many join once their surgery is scheduled to ask questions, it’s full of patients that have “been there, done that”, making it great for those that are both pre and post-op.
While your first instinct may be to search the internet for the answers to your weight loss surgery questions, you can’t always know if the information you’ve found is correct, and if it is, if it’s what Dr. Long recommends. That’s why we always tell our patients and potential patients to just ask us, consult our website or blog, and/or join our Facebook Group. This way, we can ensure that you have the trustworthy resources you need to help guide you through your weight loss journey.

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.

Pre-Op, Post-Op and Everything in Between: What You Can Expect When You Decide to Have Weight Loss Surgery

Posted on June 19, 2018

By Caitlin Hastings, Physician Assistant

If you’re considering weight loss surgery, chances are, you have many questions. From how to prep for surgery to what recovery is like, you probably want to get an idea of what to expect. While the payoff can be huge, the process of preparing for weight loss surgery can be quite lengthy, and the recovery can be just as emotional. But for those that are serious about getting back to a healthy weight, we have countless patients who will tell you that it’s more than worth it.

From preparing for the operation, to the post-surgery diet, here’s an overview of what you can expect when you decide it’s time to go forward with weight loss surgery.

6 Months Prior To Surgery: Begin Insurance-Required 6-Month Physician Supervised Diet Program

If your insurance covers the weight loss surgery, it’s usually about a 6 to 7-month process. This is due to most insurance companies requiring a 6-month physician supervised diet and exercise program before they’ll approve the operation. Regardless of whether or not you lose weight throughout the program, the goal is to document the fact that you’ve tried dieting and exercising, and you still need the surgery.

On the other hand, if you’re paying out of pocket for the procedure because you don’t have insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover bariatric surgery, we can get you scheduled for surgery fairly quickly.

A Month Prior to Surgery: Complete Pre-Op Testing

All patients will need a letter of medical clearance prior to surgery. Unfortunately, since a lot of obese patients have comorbidities like heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, we often require pre-op cardiac clearance. This is to simply make sure your heart is safe enough to undergo the surgery.

We encourage patients to attend support group meetings prior to surgery. We want to make sure you have the support you need and can ask patients that have been through the weight loss journey the necessary questions to be successful.

1-3 Weeks Prior to Surgery: Attend Pre-Op Prep Class and Begin Home Preparations

No matter if you’re private pay or paying with insurance, every patient is required to attend the pre-op nutrition/prep class that is led by our bariatric nutritionist. She actually had gastric bypass surgery herself, so she’s very familiar with the process, along with the emotions that go along with it. Here, she’ll address all your questions and concerns while giving you information on pre-op nutrition, post-op nutrition, and everything else you’ll need to know about the surgery, including mental preparations.

Also, during this time, we recommend prepping your home life in order to make things easier on yourself after surgery. Along with having a friend or family member come stay at the house, especially if you have children, we encourage you to have a pantry and refrigerator stocked full of easily-accessible diet foods and liquids. There are also five medications we prescribe after surgery that we recommend you have filled prior to the operation.

2 Weeks Prior to Surgery: Start Liquid Diet

Two weeks prior to surgery, you’ll start a full liquid high-protein, low calorie diet (protein shakes, pudding, etc.), and one day before surgery, you’ll start a clear liquid diet (broth, water, tea, or any other liquid you can see through). This diet is important because there are countless research studies that show going on a 2-week liquid diet before surgery actually reduces the size of the liver by purging toxins, and in bariatric surgery, the liver is always in the way. This diet allows us to actually get to where we need to go during the operation. It’s also really encouraging since you’ll lose weight before the surgery and continue to see the weight come off afterwards.

What to Expect After Weight Loss Surgery

Immediately After Surgery

Most insurance companies require a one-night stay in the hospital after surgery. However, if you’re not paying with insurance, surgery will be performed in our outpatient surgery center, and you’ll go home the same day.

If you’re having gastric sleeve surgery, we’ll go ahead and start you on the liquid diet immediately after surgery. If you have a gastric bypass, we will start you on a liquid diet the morning after surgery once you have an upper GI study. This swallowing study simply follows the bypass down to make sure there are no leaks or obstructions. As long as there are no issues, we’ll start you on the liquid diet following this test.

Post-Surgery Diet

Just after surgery, you’ll be on a clear liquid diet, and you will advance to full liquids at different times depending on the procedure that you had. After full liquids, you will advance your diet slowly by introducing soft foods, or foods of a creamy consistency, over the following weeks. After four weeks, you can start introducing meats and other foods that are a part of your normal diet.

The reason for this slow progression is that we don’t want to irritate the stomach after surgery. Liquids and soft foods are really easy for the stomach to break down so that it doesn’t irritate the healing process. This diet just gives the stomach the time it needs to heal.

Post-Surgery Restrictions

Until four weeks post-surgery, you shouldn’t lift anything over 10-lbs. We also don’t want you doing anything like sit ups that could strain the abdominal wall. This limitation is to help you avoid developing a hernia at any of the incision sites. After four weeks, we feel safe with you doing any and all exercises since everything should be healed up enough that you aren’t going to do any damage.

Success After Weight Loss Surgery

The patients that take their medications as prescribed and actually stick with the diet after surgery are the ones we’ve seen be the most successful. We’ve also found that patients who seek out support are also more likely to lose the weight and keep it off. That’s why we encourage our patients to join our Facebook support group, which is led by bariatric patients, and attend our hospital-sponsored support group that is held monthly. These support groups are a place where you can share your emotions and also get your questions answered by people that are on the same weight loss journey.

While weight loss surgery is quite an undertaking, both physically and mentally, the payoff can be bigger than you’ve ever dreamed. While most of our patients wish they’d done the surgery sooner, it’s never too late to get back to a healthy weight and get your life back.

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.