| Frequently
Asked Questions |
|
| |
| Why
Choose Texas Bariatric Specialists? |
Texas Bariatric Specialists (TBS) puts life
back into your life-style! Through customized
bariatric surgery programs, we help people
like yourself successfully
lose weight, reclaim their health, and
live longer, happier lives.
Dr. Nilesh A. Patel
is a fellowship-trained, minimally invasive
surgeon who is nationally
recognized for his extensive
experience in the latest, safest weight-loss
medical procedures. He personally has participated
in over 800 weight-loss procedures, and truly
understands the emotional and physical suffering
associated with severe obesity. That’s
why he has dedicated his outstanding surgical
skills to helping people find permanent relief
from this serious condition.
Dr. Patel and his team of bariatric specialists
perform advanced minimally invasive (laparoscopic)
weight-loss surgeries—including
laparoscopic gastric bypass and laparoscopic
band procedures. Patients appreciate the practice’s
surgical expertise and years of experience,
pre- and post-surgery compassionate care,
and pampering concierge services. More importantly,
they take comfort in the fact TBS consistently
delivers surgical outcomes exceeding national
averages of success.
Dr. Patel’s skills and compassion have
allowed him to serve on the advisory board
for www.ObesityHelp.com,
and be a “beacon of hope” for
patients who have struggled with life-long
obesity.
TBS primarily serves the bariatric needs of
people living in San Antonio, Austin, Corpus
Christi, Laredo and South Texas. However,
patients from around the United States also
are welcome to take advantage of our practice’s
menu of medical services.
There are many reasons why you should
choose Texas Bariatric Specialists to help
you regain your health, and reclaim your life.
We offer you:
|
| • |
Dr. Patel
is nationally
recognized for his surgical expertise
and has performed over 800 (in practice
and in training) weight-loss procedures. |
| • |
Superior
outcomes at rates higher than the
national average. |
| • |
>95%
success rate in performing gastric
bypass surgery laparoscopically. |
| • |
Extensive experience
in revision surgery. |
| • |
No
exclusion policy for any patient
deemed as a candidate for weight-loss
surgery. |
| • |
Personal, private
and pampering concierge
services. |
| • |
Commitment to "evidence-based”
medicine. |
| • |
State-of-the-art
pre- and post-surgery care and consultative
services. |
| • |
A multi-disciplinary
approach for all procedures to increase
the chances of lifelong weight-management
success. We use the services of a private
nutritionist, respiratory therapist, gastroenterologist,
and nurse educator. |
| • |
Priority attention
provided at hospitals selected by our practice
in order to guarantee specialized patient-care
packages, unparalleled nurse-to-patient
ratios, and catered meals. |
| • |
Dedicated team of specialists and attorneys
prepared to assist in insurance
authorization and appeals. |
| • |
Commitment to community
outreach and free
seminars in Austin, Corpus Christi,
Laredo and San Antonio. |
|
| |
| Is
Lap Gastric Bypass Right for Me? |
Laparoscopic gastric bypass is essentially
the “gold standard” for weight-loss
surgery in the United States. Studies show
the average weight loss is higher for patients
who choose this option vs. one simply using
a restrictive device (such as a band). During
this procedure, after the surgeon makes a
small stomach pouch a “bypass”
is created which keeps food from entering
parts of the small intestine. Since the body
can’t absorb as many calories or nutrients
due to the skipping of these small intestine
sections, the patient begins to experience
a new pattern of weight loss.
There are a variety of Internet sites dedicated
to counseling people about the medical requirements
and benefits of lap gastric bypass. The best
source of information can be found through
independent sources, including the
American Society of Bariatric Surgeons
and the
Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic
Surgeons
According to a 2004 bariatrics
article in the Journal of the American Medical
Association, the procedure’s many
advantages include:
|
| • |
83.7% of
Type 2 diabetes cases are resolved, often
within days of surgery. |
| • |
Gastric bypass surgery
successfully resolves more Type 2 diabetes
cases than purely restrictive procedures |
| • |
Substantial weight
reduction: 61.6% of excess weight is lost. |
| • |
96.9% of hyperlipidemia
cases are resolved. |
| • |
87.1% of hypertension
cases are resolved or improved. |
| • |
A substantial improvement
in a patient’s overall quality of
life: excess weight is lost, many weight-related
health problems are resolved, improved
appearance, improved social life, improved
chances to obtain and retain employment.
|
|
| |
So,
is the lap gastric bypass procedure right for
you? The best way to answer this question is
to have an individualized consultation with
an accredited weight-loss surgeon. If you choose
to see the weight-loss surgery specialists at
TBS, you will receive a free 150-page, customized
“survival guide” to weight-loss
surgery. Schedule your consultation today, and
you’re on your way to a new life of increased
health and happiness. |
| |
| What
are Texas Bariatric Specialists Results for Gastric
Bypass? |
Here is a chart showing our practice’s
successful outcomes following laparoscopic
Roux en-Y gastric bypass procedures, based
on our experience in San Antonio.
|
| Outcomes |
Texas Bariatric Specialists |
National Average |
| Death |
<0.5% |
<0.5% to 2% |
| Leak |
<0.5% |
2% to 5% |
| Strictures |
5% to 7% |
7% to 25% |
| Excess weight loss |
65% to 80% |
65% to 80% |
|
| |
| Should
the Procedure be Performed Laparoscopically? |
|
Since laparoscopic gastric bypass is essentially
the “gold standard” for weight-loss
surgery in the United States, it should be your
“first choice for a last-resort treatment.”
To pursue this option, you must choose your
surgeon and hospital very carefully. If a qualified
surgeon and hospital are not available in your
area, the open approach (making a long incision)
is deemed to be safer. In addition to providing
one of the most qualified programs in the South
Texas and Hill Country region, TBS offers a
“no exclusion” policy and the advantages
of laparoscopic surgery to nearly 100% of its
patients. These advantages include:
|
| |
| • |
Less
pain |
| • |
Faster recovery |
| • |
Faster initial weight
loss |
| • |
Lower re-operation
rates |
| • |
Smaller incisions
(cosmetic) |
| • |
Lower chances of a blood clot forming |
| • |
Lower overall mortality
rate
|
|
| |
All
our patients are considered for laparoscopic
surgery. In our experience, only a very few
people are not candidates for this approach.
We encourage all patients who are denied
laparoscopic surgery by other surgeons to seek
our opinion—or a second opinion—before
taking “no” for an answer. |
| |
| How
Does Gastric Bypass "Change" My Metabolism? |
The
lastest research shows that gastric bypass surgery
works by doing more than just losing weight.
Studies have shown that:
- Siginificant hunger supression is achieved
within days of having surgery in a significant
number of patients. This is achieved hormonally
as opposed to mechanically when compared to
the lap band
- Up to 20% of patients may go home without
their diabetes medications before losing a
single pound
- Up to 20% of patients may go home without
their blood pressure medications before losing
a single pound
- Up to 40% of patients will go home without
their cholesterol medications before losing
a single pound
While these reulsts are not gaurenteed, they
strongly suggest that the way that your stomach
is stapled and the way that your intestines
are re-routed, significantly changes your metabolism.
Taken together, this may be why gastric bypass
is superior to the lap band in "curing"
disease realted to obesity.
|
| What
Is the “No Exclusion” Policy? |
Texas Bariatric Specialists has a “no
exclusion” policy, a definite benefit
to many of our patients. What that means is
that we have NO pre-set exclusions based on:
|
| • |
Age…Patients
can be as young as 16, and as old as 80+
years. |
| • |
Body Mass Index/weight… |
| • |
Prior procedures…Some
patients also have had gallbladder, stomach
stapling, gastric band, colon resection
and many other surgical procedures. |
| • |
Insurance…We are
willing to work with any insurance carrier
(including Medicare) that considers weight-loss
surgery a covered benefit. |
| • |
Bloodless weight-loss surgery...Our practice
respects the beliefs of patients who choose
not to accept blood products. If you are
one of those patients, please note that
we have a specialized team available to
help address your needs and counsel you
about your options. |
|
| |
| How
Do I Start on the Road to Wellness Today? |
Trusted, professional help with your weight-management
issues is just one click or one phone call away.
We offer a variety of easy ways to help you
regain your health and improve your quality
of life today:
|
| • |
Call our
toll-free number: 1-877-TX-PATEL |
| • |
|
| • |
|
| • |
|
| • |
We offer convenient
locations throughout San Antonio in addition
to Austin,
Corpus
Christi, Laredo, and other South Texas
locations. |
| |
|
| |
|
|
