When You Shouldn’t (Or Could) Wait to Have Hernia Surgery

To give you the most comprehensive answers to common questions and topics, this article will explore the nuances of hernia surgery – specifically about when patients can reasonably wait to have hernia surgery or when they should have it as soon as possible. Of course, every situation is unique, and a consultation with a qualified hernia surgeon such as Dr. Tsuda is the first and best course of action.

There are many types of hernia – inguinal, femoral, incisional, umbilical, hiatal, and more – each with unique complexities. The commonality between them is that many of these hernias can start as minor, causing minimal pain and discomfort. The fact that hernias can seem so benign offers a false sense of security. Patients think that since there is little or no pain, the hernia is not a big deal and doesn’t need repair. But by their nature, hernias tend to get worse, and this worsening can be rapid, depending on certain circumstances. As such, surgical repair for a hernia is usually the best course of action for a healthy, suitable patient. Let’s explore the potential complications of an untreated hernia:

Continue reading

Making the Most of Your Wait During the Bariatric Pre-Operative Process

We encourage our patients to start the bariatric process even before their surgery. During this three or six-month wait, if using insurance, there is ample opportunity to prepare for life after surgery and start physical improvements to lower the risk of the surgery itself. This approach can also benefit you psychologically and make the postoperative changes you will experience much more manageable. So, without further delay, let’s jump right into what you can do before surgery to ensure that the procedure is as safe as it can be and that your post-op transition is as smooth as possible.

Continue reading

How to Approach Weight Loss Medications Like Wegovy & Mounjaro

As discussed in a previous article, there is a significant shortage of weight loss medications in the US and worldwide. Some of you reading this article have started or eventually may start an injection-based weight loss regimen. This can reinforce the results of your bariatric procedure or can be pursued as a part of a standalone medical weight loss program. GLP-1 agonists like Semaglutide (Ozempic® & Wegovy®) have shown promising results in helping diabetic and obese patients, respectively, and are FDA approved for those diagnoses. We have previously discussed how these medications are used and sometimes abused by those who do not qualify for treatment and should probably focus on diet and exercise to lose the relatively small amount of weight they desire. However, there are also considerations to follow if you are approved to take these drugs due to obesity or diabetes.

Continue reading

Do We Reinforce a Sleeve or Bypass Staple Line

When you watch an online seminar and first come in for a consultation, having decided that bariatric surgery may be the right option, you will undoubtedly hear about the potential risk of a staple line leak. This can be a severe complication after a stapled bariatric surgery like the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and duodenal switch. Derivative surgeries, like mini gastric bypass, one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB), or single anastomosis duodeno-ilesostomy (SADI), also have the potential for this complication because they all divide the stomach.

Continue reading

How Quickly Can You Get Bariatric Surgery

It’s common for patients who finally decide that bariatric surgery is the right option for them to want to get bariatric surgery as fast as possible. After all, choosing to have bariatric surgery is not easy, and it’s hard to control the excitement of the prospect of living life without the impediment of excess weight and obesity. However, most patients find that the road to weight loss surgery is relatively long compared to other procedures and may involve impediments.

Continue reading

A Discussion on Non-Surgical “Acid” Reflux Treatment

When our patients discuss their chronic reflux or GERD, a condition that affects more and more people every year as we continue to struggle with the obesity epidemic, we often add the word “acid.” To some degree, this makes sense as the stomach produces acid, which has a known adverse effect when refluxing onto the sensitive lining of the esophagus. But does including the word acid miss the point of reflux therapies? And is treating the acid alone enough to neutralize the damaging effects of reflux? The answer is a resounding no, and there are a few reasons.

Continue reading

Telling Causes of The Ozempic® / Wegovy® Shortages

If you haven’t heard, there is a significant shortage of a diabetes drug marketed as Ozempic® along with another semaglutide formulation, known as Wegovy®, FDA-approved for obesity. Semaglutides are a very effective therapy for those with sugar control issues as they stimulate insulin production in the body. However, this class of drugs has also shown significant weight loss potential by reducing hunger. While the drug is not approved as a therapy for casual weight loss, many people who only wish to lose a few pounds have received it via off-label prescription from their doctors. The result has been an overwhelming demand for the drugs and a shortage for those who genuinely need them for diabetes and obesity control.

Continue reading

Can You Stretch Your Stomach Pouch After a Gastric Sleeve or Bypass

The gastric sleeve and gastric bypass comprise most of the bariatric surgeries performed in the United States and worldwide. There’s a good reason for this, as these two procedures safely and effectively address the obesity and excess weight concerns of most patients that qualify for bariatric surgery. Both procedures also cut away a significant portion of the stomach, leaving only a fraction of the original stomach volume (though the sleeve involves removing stomach tissue while the bypass does not). As such, there is concern from most patients, quite rightly, that they could stretch their gastric pouch at some point in the future.

If you’re asking whether it is possible to stretch your gastric pouch, the answer is yes. The answer is more nuanced if you’re asking whether it’s easy to do so. In short, stretching your gastric pouch requires consistently straying from your postoperative diet program for months, if not years.

Continue reading

Do We Remove the Gallbladder During a Bariatric Procedure

You may have heard of a dual procedure, single anesthesia surgery, where a friend or family member had their gallbladder removed at the same time as their bariatric procedure. You may be wondering if the same will happen during your bariatric surgery. Of course, it depends.

One of the most significant risks of gallstones and consequent gallbladder disease is obesity, and many obese patients also experience gallbladder problems. Some will already have had their gallbladder removed, while others may be experiencing gallbladder pain at the time of their surgical procedure.

Continue reading

It’s Time for Some Me Time

We all need some “me” time, but that time becomes even more critical in the bariatric surgery world. Spending time to reflect on the opportunities and challenges we face as bariatric patients can be very calming, help us regroup, and ultimately help us take on the day.

Our hectic schedules sometimes cause us to forget our responsibilities after surgery, which, if left ignored, can spiral into bad days. When we don’t stick to our post-surgical commitments, we may struggle with the physical implications and mental and emotional setbacks. Sometimes this can, in turn, lead to discouragement and less-than-ideal weight loss results.

Continue reading