Surgical Weight Loss

(316) 962-2066

Free weight-loss surgery presentations

Bariatric surgeon Ian Villanueva, M.D. will give free presentations about weight-loss surgery on the first Thursday and the second Tuesday of each month at Wesley Medical Center. Upcoming dates are November 5, 10 and 19, and December 3 and 8. They will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Jayhawk Meeting Room. Please preregister by calling Wesley’s weight-loss coordinator at (316) 962-2066.

Why have surgery to help lose weight?

Morbid obesity seriously affects the health of millions of Americans. Obesity can lead to long-term health problems including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, gallbladder and liver disease. The latest research has even demonstrated a strong association between obesity and cancers of the breast, uterus, and colon.

We know that losing weight is not easy. Many factors contribute to obesity, such as genetics, lifestyle, medical problems and psychological factors. Effective treatment of obesity can also require multiple factors, including psychological and nutrition counseling, exercise, support groups, and, in some cases, surgery.

Bariatric surgery is now considered the best treatment option for the morbidly obese who have been unsuccessful in achieving persistent weight loss through traditional non-operative strategies.

Who performs the surgery?

Leading Wesley’s bariatric surgery team is Ian Villanueva, M.D., the first fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon in Wichita. A Chicago native, Dr. Villanueva graduated from the University of Texas—Houston Medical School, completed his general surgery residency training at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago, and a fellowship in laparoscopic bariatric and advanced gastrointestinal surgery at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

What does bariatric surgery involve?

The Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (LRYGB) and the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band (LAGB or "lap band") are now considered the gold standards in bariatric surgery. Both are now available at Wesley Medical Center.

Roux-en-Y

Roux-en-Y divides the stomach with state-of-the-art surgical stapling devices to create a smaller gastric pouch and a larger gastric remnant. The gastric pouch, about the size of an egg, holds a small amount of food that travels through a newly created connection with the small intestine. The larger gastric remnant maintains its natural connection with the small intestine to deliver necessary digestive juices, but it no longer stores ingested food.

Gastric band

Gastric band surgery does not alter gastrointestinal anatomy. Instead, an adjustable band is placed near the entrance of the stomach to create a virtual gastric pouch about the size of an egg. Digestion is exactly the same after surgery as before the surgery. The band is connected to an adjustment port hidden deep within the skin of the abdomen. This port is accessed in the surgeon’s office to adjust the degree of restriction required to aid weight loss.

Both operations are performed at Wesley using the most advanced laparoscopic techniques and technology available. Incisions are usually no larger than two or three inches. The hospital stay for Roux-en-Y averages two to three days. The gastric band surgery is an outpatient procedure.

Which surgery is right for me?

Consultation with the surgeon will help determine the safest surgical option to help you achieve your weight-loss goal. In general, approximately 60 to 70 percent excess body weight is lost in the first year following Roux-en-Y surgery. Weight loss with gastric band surgery is slower, with approximately 30 percent excess weight loss after the first year, 40 to 50 percent weight loss after the second year, and up to 60 percent after the third year.

Neither surgery is considered a cure for obesity; rather, surgery is the first step toward healthier lifestyle choices. Follow-up nutrition counseling, exercise programs, and peer support are essential to achieving the best weight loss results.

What are the risks of surgery?

General risks associated with both surgeries include bleeding, infection, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or even heart attack in the highest-risk patients. With Roux-en-Y, there is a small risk of gastric pouch leakage that may require a repeat surgery to repair. In gastric band, there is a small risk of band slippage or band erosion that also may require repeat surgery to repair.

Much of your initial consultation with your surgeon is spent reviewing the risks and benefits of each surgery to find the best option for your individual needs.

Who qualifies for bariatric surgery?

Generally, the following criteria must be met to qualify for bariatric surgery:

Body mass index (BMI) greater than 40, or greater than 35 with obesity-related health problems.
Documented history of prior supervised weight loss programs;
Comprehensive medical, nutritional, and psychological evaluation prior to surgery.

Due to the higher risk of operative complications in patients who have a BMI over 55, a medically supervised preoperative weight-loss program may be required prior to surgery.

Does insurance cover it?

Some health insurance policies cover weight-loss surgery, while others do not. Please check with your insurance provider.

How do I get started?

For more information about weight-loss surgery at Wesley, call Amanda Sill, R.N., coordinator of the program, at (316) 962-2066, or email her at amanda.sill@wesleymc.com.

For general information about obesity and weight loss surgery, log on to the American Society for Bariatric Surgery at www.asbs.org or the American Obesity Association at www.obesity.org.

For information about financing weight loss surgery, go to bliscompany.