Weight-Loss Surgery: Home 

Pictured: Accountant Patricia Ordiz lost 135 pounds after her weight-loss surgery.

When “overweight” becomes “obese.”
According to the American Obesity Association, nearly 9 million American men, women and children are severely obese. They are not just 20 or 30 pounds overweight, but are 100 pounds or more over their ideal body weight.

This excess weight puts them at increased risk for medical, emotional, economic and social problems. If you are severely obese, you may face one or more of the following health problems:

 Heart attack and angina.
 High cholesterol and high blood pressure.
 Diabetes.
 Sleep apnea or other breathing problems.
 Varicose veins.
 Infertility.
 Interrupted menstrual cycle or unusual uterine bleeding.
 Lower back pain.
 Degenerative arthritis.
 Stress urinary incontinence.
 Increased risk of cancer (colorectal, prostate, breast, uterine and ovarian).
 Depression or other mental health problems.

What is weight-loss surgery?
Obesity is on the rise in adults and children alike. For some, lifestyle change may help them control their weight. Those who are moderately overweight may have success with dieting. But diets are ineffective 99 percent of the time for those who are severely obese. For these individuals, surgery may be the solution.

Since 1991, the National Institutes of Health has supported weight-loss surgery — or bariatric surgery — as a viable treatment option for obesity. At South Miami Hospital, we offer three weight-loss surgery procedures:

• Gastric bypass - reduces the size of your stomach and reroutes the digestive system (the gold standard for bariatric surgery)
• Lap Band - reduces the volume of your stomach so food intake is restricted
• Gastric sleeve - reduces the volume of your stomach so food intake is restricted

Is this right for me?
The first step in determining whether weight-loss surgery is right for you is to consult a surgeon who specializes in bariatric surgery. South Miami Hospital offers free monthly information sessions, both in English and Spanish, for people considering weight-loss surgery to learn about the different procedures directly from a surgeon and understand the requirements. At the information session, you can sign up for a one-on-one consultation with the surgeon. See Information Sessions and Support Groups below for more information.

In the consultation, the doctor will explain the benefits and risks of the surgery and will discuss other, related issues to help you decide. Once you and your doctor agree that you may be a candidate for weight-loss surgery, there are other factors to consider before choosing surgery. Depending on your health, some tests may be necessary.

As with any surgery, these procedures involve risks, including blood clots, hernias, leaks from the reduction of the stomach, incisions that won’t heal and even death. So it is important that you thoroughly examine and evaluate all the information about the surgery before making a decision.

In addition to the surgery itself, South Miami Hospital offers pre- and postsurgery counseling and testing. This is designed to help you prepare for surgery by addressing the hurdles you will face before and after the procedure.

After your surgery
After surgery, you will be cared for by a professional staff specially trained in bariatric care. Most patients spend one or two days in the hospital after their surgery. A multidisciplinary team of nurses, physical therapists, social workers and dietitians will monitor you closely and work with you to speed your recovery.

For more information on these groups or if you have questions about the weight-loss surgery program at South Miami Hospital, call 786-662-8745.

Evaluations to consider before surgery:
Psychosocial assessment: Because weight-loss surgery is a life-altering operation, you must be mentally prepared to deal with the significant changes that will occur after surgery. This mental preparation includes ensuring that you have a good support system of friends and family; that you understand how important it is to adhere to new routines after the surgery, such as diet; and that you have a realistic plan for physical recuperation after surgery. Before you undergo surgery, a social worker will explain these changes so that you will know exactly what to expect. You will also be given information on the support groups available.

Nutritional counseling: The diet you follow after your procedure will have a big impact on the success of your weight-loss surgery. Registered dietitians will meet with you to provide customized nutritional counseling. They will assess your nutritional needs and explain how to make healthy food choices after bariatric surgery. After you leave the hospital, you may contact our dietitians to discuss your questions or dietary concerns.

Other testing: South Miami Hospital also offers other pre-surgery testing, such as cardiac testing, sleep apnea, X-rays and blood work.

The state of your health will determine whether you will need additional testing prior to surgery. Once all tests have been completed and you and your doctor have decided that surgery is right for you, you can proceed with your surgery.

Will my insurance cover this?:
Insurance Information:
Whether an insurance company will cover a bariatric procedure or any of the pre-surgery testing, such as a sleep apnea test, varies from company to company. We recommend that you check with your insurance company or contact one of our bariatric surgeons before you begin preparing for surgery to be sure you know what your health plan will pay.
Even if your insurance company covers the procedure, you will have additional co-payments. If you do not have insurance coverage for bariatric surgery, there are other financial options that you can discuss with your surgeon.

Information Sessions and Support Groups:
Talking to the surgeons and those who have had bariatric surgery will help you better understand how the procedure will affect your life. There are many support groups and information sessions for people who have had or are considering a bariatric procedure.

BARIATRIC PROGRAM - INFO SESSION 
A free information session for people considering weight-loss surgery will be held the first Thursday, in Spanish, and third Thursday, in English, of each month, 7-9 p.m., in the Victor E. Clarke Education Center Auditorium at South Miami Hospital, U.S. 1 and SW 62 Avenue.

The program, conducted by one of our bariatric surgeons, is designed to educate prospective patients and their family members about the types of bariatric surgeries available and the requirements to have the surgery. For more information about the session, call the Bariatric Program nurse coordinator Cyndi Iduate, R.N., at 786-662-8745.

WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY SUPPORT GROUP
A support group for people who have had or are considering weight-loss surgery meets the fourth Thursday of the month from 7-9 p.m., at South Miami Hospital’s Victor E. Clarke Education Center Auditorium, U.S. 1 and SW 62 Avenue.

The free meetings, which are open to the entire community, offer people affected by obesity a chance to hear from surgeons, psychologists, dietitians and other healthcare professionals about the post-operative concerns of bariatric surgery. Group members who have had the surgery provide support for each other.  Those who have not had the surgery are encouraged to attend to hear from patients who have.

For more information about the session, call the Bariatric Program nurse coordinator Cyndi Iduate, R.N., at 786-662-8745.