HARLINGEN — Living healthier. For some, taking that path begins with losing weight. It may not be easy, but, it can be done. And, for a certain group of individuals, surgical weight loss can be a launching pad for the new, healthier you!
The Surgical Weight Loss Program at Harlingen Medical Center will host a Spring Surgical Weight Loss Information Seminar to help educate the community on what surgical weight loss is, what it can do for your health, and how it can positively impact your life in the future! Dr. Carlos Barba, General Surgeon and Partner-In-Care to Harlingen Medical Center, will lead the Information Seminar scheduled for Monday, March 7, 2016 at 5:30 p.m., in the hospital’s Medical Office Building (MOB) Conference Room, located at 5505 S. Expressway 77 in Harlingen.
“Weight loss is something many people are looking to accomplish for themselves,” said Manny Chacon, Director of The Surgical Weight Loss Program at Harlingen Medical Center. “Many are looking to lose weight, with the assistance of surgical weight loss, simply because they want to be healthier, more physically active, and they want to improve their overall quality of life.”
The Surgical Weight Loss Program Information Seminar will feature an in-depth PowerPoint presentation featuring:
– General overview of program
– Surgical procedures offered
– Available management/guidance through the program
– Available nutritional management/guidance through the program
– Nutritional management/guidance after the surgery
– Financing options available for the procedure
– Exercise regimen after the surgery
– Available support group after the surgery
Those who attend the information seminar will also be given the opportunity to ask questions and receive immediate feedback regarding the program, procedure, nutritional guidelines, exercise regimen, financial assistance and more.
The Surgical Weight Loss Program at Harlingen Medical Center offers the laparoscopic adjustable band, the laparoscopic gastric sleeve, and the roux-en-y gastric bypass, which are available to men, women, and young adults.
“The ideal candidate for surgical weight loss is someone who is a minimum of 100-pounds over their ideal weight; suffers from comorbidities, such as: Type II Diabetes, hypertension, and/or osteoarthritis,” said Chacon.
“There are a number of qualifying factors that someone looking to have surgical weight loss should meet before they consider this path. This is a serious procedure, which gives people a tool to begin their weight loss journey, but, there are serious matters to consider before one chooses surgical weight loss.”
According to bariatric experts, surgical weight loss is ideally for someone who has a need to resolve medical problems related to obesity. That is because surgical weight loss has shown that it can improve the health status of a patient. In some instances it has shown to dissolve diabetes altogether. It has also shown to dissolve hypertension.
And, if the patient follows specific dietary, exercise and vitamin instruction, it can have great benefit to the patient’s overall health.Surgical weight loss is designed to alter the anatomy of a patient’s stomach, limiting their ability to in-take food.
With the laparoscopic adjustable band a ring, also known as a band, is placed around a portion of the stomach in order to restrict the in-take of food.
This creates a smaller stomach pouch — allowing for lesser food in-take; helping the patient reduce their weight.
With the laparoscopic gastric sleeve, 80% of the stomach is removed surgically — creating a smaller stomach pouch that is then stapled.
The newly created smaller stomach pouch will allow for lesser food in-take, helping the patient reduce their weight.
With the roux-en-y gastric bypass, a portion of the stomach is removed and the remaining small pouch is connected to a portion of the small intestine, where most of the calories and nutrients are absorbed, causing the patient to lose weight.
“The goal of our surgical weight loss program is to improve the patient’s health, quality of life and life span, by inducing weight loss,” said Chacon. “Through our program, the patient will also be able to improve self-image and cosmetic appearance, while moving forward with a new healthier life.”
The Surgical Weight Loss Program at Harlingen Medical Center features multidisciplinary support before, during, and after surgery.
Comprehensive pre-surgical evaluation and physical, sophisticated surgery and post-operative follow-ups, help transform the health and life of the patient.
The program and resources combined with the highly experienced staff at Harlingen Medical Center will give patients the best opportunity for successful long term weight loss and improved health.
If you would like to attend The Surgical Weight Loss Program Information Seminar, please RSVP to (956) 365-1140 or at [email protected].
To learn more about surgical weight loss, or Harlingen Medical Center, log on to www.HarlingenMedicalCenter.com.
