Surgical Weight Management

Catawba Valley Medical Center’s Surgical Weight Management Program offers medical assistance, including bariatric surgery and support, to provide treatment options aimed at improving health and prolonging life. The program is a Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery accredited center, by the American College of Surgeons and America Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and voted one of America’s Best Hospitals for Bariatric Surgery.

Bariatric surgery can be an option for those individuals who are 18 to 69 years of age, weigh more than 100 pounds over recommended weight, have a documented Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater, and have exhausted all efforts to lose weight through diet and exercise.

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Services

Our program features the following elements:

Comprehensive care coordination by an RN both before and after surgery
Operative education, support and follow-up for the patients and family
FREE Medically Supervised Diet required by some insurances to complete before surgery
Nutrition counseling and education by a clinical dietitian prior to and after surgery
Monthly support group meetings and an online support group
Lifetime follow-up care
Commitment to the long-term management, support and care of our patients

Surgery

The Surgical Weight Management Program offers two different surgical procedures – Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy. These surgeries decrease the size of the stomach into a small pouch which can only hold a limited amount of food. This pouch becomes full quickly and empties out slowly. It provides a feeling of fullness that lasts longer but with a smaller intake of food. Decreasing the size of the stomach helps the person have more control over what type of food and how much they eat.

Program Acceptance

Weight loss surgery is major surgery and is viewed first and foremost as a method for alleviating debilitating, chronic disease. Because of this, candidates for surgical weight management are required to complete a series of protocols for acceptance into the program, including the following:

Completion of a detailed questionnaire about weight issues and medical history
Mandatory participation in an educational seminar about the program and its surgical options
Referral letter from your primary care physician
A comprehensive physical exam from your primary care physician, which includes thyroid panel testing
A psychological evaluation from a board-certified psychiatrist or psychologist
Compilation of medical history from the past three years, including weight documentation

Contact the Surgical Weight Management Program at 828.326.2082 for further information.

Surgical Weight Management FAQ

The following are some of the most common questions about weight-loss surgery. Catawba Valley Medical Center Surgical Weight Management Center also hosts informative monthly seminars to answer your questions and introduce you to people who have undergone weight-loss surgery.

What health issues can weight loss surgery help to improve or resolve?

Health issues that often improve or resolve following weight loss surgery include diabetes, heart disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, sleep apnea, high cholesterol and weight-induced arthritis.

Bariatric surgery patients have significantly reduced rates of developing diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, infectious diseases, and pulmonary disorders.

Patients also benefit from improved social and employment opportunities, self-image, self-confidence, ability to interact with others, and the capability to participate in recreational and physical activities, which lead to a higher quality of life.

Will insurance cover surgery?

Coverage depends on your individual insurance plan. You can learn more about working with your insurance company at our information seminar. If you do not have insurance coverage, learn more about the financial options available to you by calling our office at 828.326.2082.

How soon will I start to lose weight?

You will start losing weight immediately after surgery but you may not notice any loss until the second week. The weight loss after gastric bypass and the sleeve gastrectomy is initially rapid, with a slowing about nine months after surgery. At the four-week follow-up visit, we typically see around a 15-20 pound weight loss. This depends on how much the starting weight was. The heavier the starting weight, the more weight that is lost.

Can I regain weight?

With the gastric bypass and the sleeve gastrectomy, weight-loss continues up to 18 months and then plateaus. Depending on the size of the stomach pouch and the type of food eaten, some patients can experience a 20 to 30 pound weight regain after two years. That is why it’s very important that you use the stomach pouch as a tool, and follow the instructions given to you by the dietitian on how and what to eat.

How long before I can return to work?

The answer to this question is, it depends. It depends on the procedure you have and the type of work that you do. If you have a relatively sedentary job and do not do a lot of heavy lifting (greater than thirty pounds), you are usually able to return to work within one to two weeks after surgery. If you have a more physical job, then you may need to be off as long as 4-6 weeks.

Will I require vitamin supplements after weight loss surgery?

Patients undergoing bariatric surgery will require a daily vitamin supplement for the rest of their lives.

What is “dumping syndrome”?

Eating simple sugars (such as sugar, honey, and corn syrup) or high-fat foods can cause dumping syndrome in patients who have had gastric bypass surgery. This occurs when these products are “dumped” from the stomach into the intestine at a rapid rate. Water is pulled into the intestine from the blood stream to dilute the sugar load. This flush of water causes symptoms that can include diarrhea, rapid heart rate, hot flashes or sweating and clammy skin and dizziness.

Will I need plastic surgery after my weight loss surgery?

After a large amount of weight loss, you may find yourself with excess skin in various places. Plastic surgery may be an option 18-24 months following surgery once your weight has stabilized. This is typically performed by a plastic surgeon experienced in this field. The plastic surgeon will evaluate you and decide with you what areas need “tightening” up. Unfortunately, this is cosmetic surgery and not covered by insurance, however, there are many plastic surgeons that are flexible and may offer a discount or work out a payment schedule with you.

What impact does bariatric surgery on resolving Type II Diabetes?

Bariatric Surgery has been shown to improve or resolve Type II Diabetes. Immediately after bariatric surgery, blood sugar levels improve and diabetic medications may be stopped, even before significant weight loss.

Recent studies show that Gastric Bypass improves diabetes not only through rapid weight loss, but also by bypassing a portion of the small intestine from the flow of nutrients. This means that gastric bypass surgery improves diabetes even before weight is lost.

Almost 90 percent of obese patients who undergo gastric bypass are free from diabetes one year after surgery. These results are typically persistent for the rest of life, as long as a healthy body weight is maintained.

Where Can I Learn More About Weight Loss?

You can learn more about weight loss by signing up for our weight management seminar. You can also find more information on the following sites:

Feel free to contact us with any additional questions.