Expert: Gastric Bypass
Robert L. Korn, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Surgical treatment for obesity
The Problem:
Obesity has become a national epidemic and is now the number one threat to public health in the United States. It is estimated that over 15 million Americans are morbidly obese, that is more than 100 pounds over their ideal body weight. Obesity greatly increases the risk of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, degenerative arthritis, gastric reflux disease, as well as breast, uterine, colon and prostate cancer. Obesity is also known to significantly shorten life expectancy.
A Solution:
The medical literature has thoroughly documented that diets, even those supervised by physicians, simply don’t produce long-term significant weight loss for patients that are 100 or more pounds overweight. Over 98% of morbidly obese patients who diet either lose only a small portion of their weight or subsequently gain it all back. Unfortunately, these patients usually end up weighing more after each attempt at going on a diet.
Of all the methods of weight loss, the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and the Lap-Band procedure provide the best profile of successful long-term weight loss, quality of life and patient safety. Laparoscopic gastric bypass patients, on average lose about 70% of their excess weight in the first year and are able to maintain sustained weight loss for over 10 years. Laparoscopic Lap-Band patients, on average lose 40-50% of their excess weight in the first year. Lap-Band patients, on average may approach 50-60% weight loss at about year 3 and may sustain this weight at 5 years after surgery.
Bariatric surgery has also been shown to significantly increase life expectancy in obese patients, when compared to optimal medical management without surgery. Bariatric surgery leads to resolution, in the majority of patients, of high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, reflux disease, urinary stress incontinence and chronic headaches. The health improvement, longevity of weight loss, quality of life and patient safety profile of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and laparoscopic gastric banding are without equal.
How Does Laparoscopic Lap-Band or Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Really Work?
Laparoscopic Lap-Band and Gastric Bypass surgeries offer overweight patients two very powerful tools to help them change their eating habits. After surgery, patients consistently experience and report a major decrease in their appetite. They report little to no craving for food, even while consuming much less food than they did before surgery. In addition, patients report a feeling of fullness and satisfaction after eating very small portions.
Everyone who has been on a diet knows the constant hunger that both becomes wearisome and dooms the dieter to eventually eat more, thereby regaining their weight. Bariatric surgery works because it liberates the patient from this urge to eat and thereby helps them succeed in making long-term changes in eating habits.
More about the surgical procedures:
The laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure is performed in about 2 hours and involves a 2 day hospital stay. Patients return to work in 1 to 2 weeks. The laparoscopic Lap-Band procedure is performed in about 1 hour and patients go home the same day. Lap-Band patients return to work in one week.
Exercise (walking) begins the day of surgery and patients are instructed regarding increased exercise, often in the gym, by the end of the first week after surgery. Patients are encouraged to prioritize a healthy diet and exercise program before they return to their daily work schedule.
How to be successful – choose the right program:
Learning how to use either the Lap-Band or gastric bypass procedure to build a new and different life is the key to success. Dr. Robert Korn is the only regional surgeon who performs both laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and laparoscopic gastric banding. Dr. Korn offers monthly seminars that begin this educational process. Patients are instructed regarding their suitability for either Lap-Band or gastric bypass surgery and are taught about the thorough pre-operative work-up of medical issues. The clinical experience of the procedure itself is also discussed in detail.
Dr. Korn’s bariatric program includes extensive personal contact with the surgeon, as well. Nutritional instructions are provided before surgery, after surgery, and on a long-term outpatient basis by registered dieticians with expertise in bariatric nutrition.
Pre-operative psychological and medical evaluations are performed to insure the safety of the surgical experience and the peri-operative exercise program. Psychological evaluation and support are provided by licensed psychologists both before and after surgery.
Dr. Korn’s program is focused on providing the professional services that each patient requires to make the transition to a far more healthy body and a more healthful lifestyle.
Dr. Korn is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. He is certified in both general surgery and critical care by the American Board of Surgery. Dr. Korn participates fully in the bariatric program at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center.