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Non-Surgical Medical Weight Loss Options

weight loss optionsIf you’re struggling to lose excess weight, you might be surprised to hear about the wide range of non-surgical medical weight loss options available today. These procedures offer an alternative to both yo-yo dieting and extreme exercise plans. They also give you another option to undergoing a surgical procedure such as LAP-BAND, gastric bypass, or gastric sleeve.

Innovations in Non-Surgical Weight Loss

Recent advances in bariatric medicine have led to the development of some innovative non-surgical medical weight loss solutions for patients who need help shedding excess pounds.

These FDA-approved non-surgical medical weight loss procedures are less invasive than traditional weight loss surgeries. They don’t involve any external incisions. This makes them a good option for patients who might not want to (or be able to) undergo a major operation.

Here at My Destination Weight Loss, our team of bariatric surgeons, nurses, and support staff all have extensive training and experience in minimally-invasive and non-surgical medical weight loss procedures. Our team is also ready to provide nutritional and lifestyle counseling to our patients.

ORBERA Gastric Balloon

ORBERA is a soft, inflatable balloon made of medical-grade silicone. It’s inserted into the stomach by a bariatric surgeon using an endoscope, which is a thin, sterile device.

The deflated balloon passes through the patient’s mouth down into their stomach. The balloon is then filled with sterile saline (salt) water. It stays in the stomach for up to 6 months.

While the patient has the ORBERA balloon, they will feel fuller between meals. When they do eat, they’ll fill up quickly. This helps patients to eat less food. The goal of the ORBERA system is to give patients enough time to develop healthy eating and exercise habits while achieving a safe, steady rate of weight loss. In most cases, patients lose 3 times as much weight as they were able to with diet and exercise alone.

OverStitch Endoscopic Suturing System

Patients who have undergone a bariatric surgery procedure such as gastric bypass may find that over time, they begin to experience unwanted weight gain. This happens as their stomach capacity slowly re-expands back to its pre-surgical size.

Here at Destination Weight Loss, our team of bariatric surgeons are now able to help these patients get back on track with OverStitch. This revolutionary, non-surgical outpatient procedure adjusts the size of the stomach following gastric bypass.

During the OverStitch procedure, the surgeon inserts an endoscope through the mouth down into the stomach. He then places stitches to reduce the stomach capacity. The new capacity is similar to that achieved by the initial gastric bypass procedure.

Lipotropic Injections

Lipotropics are a collection of three natural substances known as essential amino acids. They are responsible to helping your body process and eliminate unwanted fat.

Patients who struggle to shed excess pounds may find lipotropic injections to be helpful in kick-starting their weight loss efforts. Lipotropics optimize metabolic rates and increase liver function. They also boost overall mental clarity and energy levels.

Lipotropic injections can be used as a stand-alone non-surgical medical weight loss treatment. They can also  be combined with bariatric surgery, counseling, or a supported weight loss program.

To Learn More

To find out more about the non-surgical medical weight loss options offered here at My Destination Weight Loss, contact us to enroll in our free, no-obligation online bariatric seminar.

The Benefits of Bariatric Surgery

Overweight women have examination at dietitian-nutritionist's office . They looking results and talk about dieting and healthy eating

The benefits of bariatric surgery to your overall health are numerous. Weight loss surgery can literally change your life for the better.

Most of the changes you will see after having bariatric surgery are directly related to the amount of weight that is lost. Weight loss through bariatric surgery is more likely to be permanent than weight lost through diet plans or simply reducing calories. The severely obese person often fails at such diets, but can reap the advantages of weight loss from surgery.

Continue reading The Benefits of Bariatric Surgery

Is Weight Loss Surgery Right For Me?

Women legs with shoesIf you are asking yourself the question, “Is weight loss surgery right for me?” then you are probably concerned about your health and as well as some of the other effects obesity can have on your life, including:

  • Depression
  • Discrimination
  • Isolation
  • Poor self-image

We live in a one-size-fits-all world, and you may feel like you don’t fit in. You’re not alone. In the U.S., more than two-thirds of adults are considered overweight or obese.

Continue reading Is Weight Loss Surgery Right For Me?

Study: Gastric Bypass Medical Weight Loss Programs Lead to Sustained Weight Loss

Weight loss conceptA new study has added to the growing evidence that specific medical weight loss programs and surgeries like gastric bypass can help patients sustain weight loss for substantial periods of time.

Although it’s a complicated type of surgery, gastric bypass has been performed for the past 50 years. The surgery is performed by stapling off a portion of the stomach to create a small pouch. The pouch is then connected to the small intestine. In basic terms, the surgery shrinks the stomach and then bypasses part of the small intestine to limit food digestion.

Although some patients express concern that they will gain back any lost weight after undergoing these types of weight loss surgery options, the study found that the majority of patients who receive these types of surgeries remain at a lower weight for 10 years or more. The results were a pleasant surprise even to clinicians.

The study compared data from patients who underwent different types of medical weight loss programs — from gastric bypass to lap bands — and found that the gastric bypass surgeries were by far the most successful for those in the data pool. The average bypass surgery patient lost 31% of their baseline weight, while those who chose a non-surgical option for weight reduction lost only 1% of their baseline weight on average.

Of course, there are many benefits of a gastric sleeve over gastric bypass. Gastric sleeve surgery is much less complex, and it’s become quite popular in recent years. According to this study, gastric sleeve patients lost an average of 18% of their baseline body weight at the four-year mark, which means that it’s very much a viable option for many folks. However, compared to the 28% body weight loss that gastric bypass patients experienced in the study within the same amount of time, gastric bypass may be a more attractive option for some.

Lap bands have also grown in popularity, but the results of lap band patients in this study showed that their weight loss — though measurable — was less impressive over time. At the four-year mark, patients displayed an average of 11% loss in body weight. In addition, there are a number of lap band complications associated with the surgery. Although there’s an incredibly low number of fatalities from these types of medical weight loss programs, up to half of patients require lap band removal at some point.

The overall good news from the study is that even when patients gain weight post-surgery, they can still experience increased health benefits. It’s been noted that any kind of weight loss surgery actually changes digestive system hormones, which signals a feeling of fullness to the brain. This is the change that can help sustain weight loss over time. In addition, these types of medical weight loss programs and surgeries can help improve physical health and quality of life — and, in many cases, emotional well-being as a result.

If you’re interested in finding out how you can improve your life with bariatric surgery, please contact us today to find out the option that would be best for you. Our skilled staff of weight loss doctors will identify your needs and desires, and will get you started on the journey to achieving your weight loss dreams.

Weight Loss Surgery: An Explanation of Your Options

weight loss surgery optionsThere are many reasons to try to lose weight. Some studies have shown that the loss of 5 to 10% of your body weight is proven to lower the risk of heart disease, while a Harvard study showed that obesity increased the risk of diabetes by 20 times. There are also other considerations — carrying around all that extra weight puts a strain on your skeletal frame, causing aches and pains and difficulty breathing.

And, of course, some people just want to feel pride in the way they look.

But for many people, traditional diets and medical weight loss programs simply don’t cut it, which is when weight loss surgery options come in. Check out an explanation of three types of surgery below to familiarize yourself with these options:

Gastric Bypass
In gastric bypass surgeries, a surgeon first creates a smaller stomach area. Then, the surgeon makes sure the new stomach bypasses part of the small intestine. Because patients both eat less and absorb less calories, patients can expect to lose up to 80% of excess weight within a year or a year and a half of the surgery. Not only that, but about 50% of that lost excess weight will still be lost five years after surgery.

Gastric Sleeve
In this form of restrictive weight loss surgery, the surgeon removes about 75% of the stomach, leaving a small, narrow sleeve connected to the intestines. This operation is good for people who are extremely obese, sick, or when other types of weight loss surgery might be too risky. And, since the surgery doesn’t affect the intestines, the gastric sleeve doesn’t affect how your body absorbs nutrients.

It is, however, irreversible.

Lap Band
This is a restrictive weight loss surgery in which a surgeon uses an inflatable band in order to squeeze the stomach into two sections: a small upper pouch and larger lower one. The sections remain connected by a small channel, which slows the emptying of the upper pouch. The result is that most people will only be able to eat 1/2 to 1 cup of food before feeling too full.

If you feel like one of these weight loss surgery options are right for you, contact weight loss doctors to find out more about lap band insurance, gastric sleeve qualifications, and more, so you can make an informed decision about the future of your weight and health.

The Difference Between Medical Weight Loss Programs, Explained

medical weight loss programsAcross the nation, obesity is an epidemic. From small, rural towns to urban city centers, obesity is one of the few things that still unites these United States. Today, more than two out of three American adults are considered to be overweight or obese, a term that means you weigh more than 20% of what is considered normal for your height, weight, age, and sex.

Loosing weight can be troublesome for many adults, but for the first time in human history, there are reliable, medicine-based solutions available. Say goodbye to “get thin quick schemes,” because medical weight loss programs are here to help those that need an extra boost.

In fact, there are now a variety of physician-directed, medical weight loss programs to choose from. Here is a quick breakdown of the different medical weight loss solutions available.

Gastric bypass

Gastric bypass is a form of bariatric surgery that divides the stomach. This leads to a reduction in the size of your stomach, thereby limiting the amount of food you are able to eat and store in your body. Additionally, this new stomach bypasses part of the small intestines, which means less calories are absorbed by the body.

Some gastric bypass requirements include a body mass index of over 40, along with having a serious weight-related health problem, such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or severe sleep apnea. For patients who do qualify, this surgery can reduce your symptoms of diabetes by 80% and sleep apnea by a whopping 90%. Additionally, gastric bypass recovery time is minor. The patient can expect to stay in the hospital for two to three days, and be back to normal activities within three weeks.

Lap Band

Another one of the popular medical weight loss programs available is the lap band. This is when a silicone band is placed around the top portion of the stomach to shrink the stomach and slow the consumption of food. The goal is to loose weight steadily and to change one’s psychological reaction to food. The surgery is minimally invasive, and the patient can expect to be back to their everyday life in about one week.

Gastric Sleeve

This surgery reduces the stomach to about one-fourth of its original size. The result is a sleeve like structure, and like gastric bypass, it will limit the amount of food a person can eat. Gastric sleeve qualifications include having a BMI of over 40, being 100 pounds or more overweight, and having trouble loosing weight through regular diet and exercise.

No matter the solution you choose, there is always a medical weight loss program available to you. If you have any questions about what surgery is the most beneficial to you, do not hesitate to call a doctor today. And for patients in the Alabama area, contact My Destination Weight Loss.

Overweight and Obese – What’s The Difference?

Two plus size women jogging in Central Park, New York during a beautiful day.The words ‘overweight’ and ‘obese’ are often used interchangeably, however, there are distinct criteria that impact whether a person is classified as underweight, at a healthy weight, overweight or obese.

Body Mass Index

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, your body mass index (BMI) is the gold-standard measurement when it comes to determining whether or not you are considered to have a healthy, borderline, or unhealthy amount of fat on your body.
To calculate your BMI, enter your height and weight into this online calculator, or use this chart.
  • If your BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9, you are considered to be within the healthy weight range.
  • If your BMI is between 25.0 and 29.9, you are classified as overweight.
  • If your BMI is 30 or greater, you are within the obese range
The CDC guidelines reflect internationally-accepted standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO), which estimates that as of 2014, 39% of adults (age 18 and older) worldwide were overweight, and 13% met the criteria for obesity.
*It’s important to note that pregnant women cannot use the body mass index calculator to determine the status of their body weight, since the pregnancy significantly impacts temporary weight gain.Generally speaking, anyone with a BMI of greater than 25 faces an increased risk of obesity-related health problems; the severity and rate of occurrence of those health problems tends to rise in relation to an increased BMI.
There are a wide range of treatment options available to overweight and obese individuals, including behavioral counseling, diet and exercise programs, and weight loss surgery. If you struggle with unwanted body weight, our team of bariatric surgical specialists here at My Destination Weightloss in Albertville can help you understand your options for achieving a sustainable, healthy BMI.

About Surgical Associates
of Marshall County

Destination Weight Loss is a comprehensive medical weight loss practice that uses the most advanced technology to help patients meet their weight loss goals through bariatric surgery and non-surgical methods. Our team of trained professionals includes licensed physicians and specially trained nurses that can provide emotional and practical support.

Together, we combine a small town, customer-friendly atmosphere with expertise in sophisticated bariatric surgery technology. We take pride in providing the personal attention you need and will walk with you every step of the journey toward your weight loss goals.

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133 Wall St.
Albertville, AL 35951
7938 Hwy 69 Ste. 120
Guntersville, AL 35976