Now is the perfect time to make a commitment for a healthier 2020.
 
Obesity is a disease throughout the world and about one-third of the U.S. population is morbidly obese. Being overweight or obese can greatly raise your risk for other health problems which include heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, cancer, back pain and sleep apnea.
 
Bristol Health’s Weight Loss Surgery Program is designed to help patients reach their weight loss and health goals in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. The ideal candidate is basically someone who is committed to changing their life. Their body mass index must be greater than 35 and there usually are the accompanying medical problems mentioned above. Candidates also should have tried and failed to lose weight by non-surgical means such as diet and exercise. Candidates also must be non-smokers.
 
To help patients achieve a complete lifestyle change, the Bristol Health Weight Loss Surgery Program pulls together a variety of professionals including surgeons, a bariatric-trained advanced practice registered nurse, bariatric nurse caregivers, dietitians and mental health providers.
 
There are two types of weight loss surgery procedures performed at Bristol Hospital:

• One is the sleeve gastrectomy in which about 80 percent of the stomach is removed.  It limits the amount of food you can eat by making you feel full after eating small amounts of food. With the sleeve gastrectomy, patients usually lose about two-thirds of their excess weight.
• Another procedure is the gastric bypass in which the surgeon forms a small stomach pouch and attaches it to intestine. The gastric bypass changes the way the digestive system absorbs and digests food. Patients usually lose three-quarters of their excessive weight with the gastric bypass.

 
Your life will definitely change following weight loss surgery. As you lose weight, the results will be obvious and medical conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure will improve or even be resolved. I love hearing the wonderful stories our patients share following their weight loss surgery. For example, someone can now go on a plane without asking for extension seatbelt; some can now cross their legs; put a ring on or tie their shoe laces. Your friends and family will notice the difference in your appearance. It’s an incredible feeling as a surgeon knowing that I have made such an impact on someone’s quality of life.
 
This journey can take up to six months before the actual surgery. The first step is to attend one of our mandatory information sessions which you can now watch online from the comfort of your own home. The online seminar video is about 48 minutes long and features interviews with members of the weight loss surgery team. The online seminar goes over in great detail about all of your weight loss surgery options and it pretty much answers all the questions you might have about your weight loss journey.
 
Vanessa Malit, MD, FACS, FASMBS, is a bariatric and general surgeon with the Bristol Health Medical Group. Dr. Malit also is the medical director of the Bristol Health Weight Loss Surgery and Robotic Surgery programs. For more information on Bristol Health’s Weight Loss Surgery program, including information on the free online information session, please call 860-585-3339 or visit www.bristolhealth.org