FAQ
General Questions
Does Dr. Thomas take out of the area or out of state patients?
General Questions
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You can get started by calling to schedule a consultation appointment or by attending any of our free seminars. Our seminars are designed to enlighten all those interested in weight loss surgery. This will help you decide if you should proceed with surgery or if you should take other steps to be fully prepared for surgery. You can make a consultation appointment at any seminar.
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How long does the surgery take?
The gastric bypass takes about 2 hours ,the gastric band 45 minutes, and the gastric sleeve about an hour of acutual operating time. This can be quite variable and depends upon a patient’s anatomy and whether they have adhesions inside the abdomen and whether there has been previous surgery.
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How long am I in the hospital?
Most gastric bypass patients and sleeve gastrectomy patients go home the morning after surgery. Most adjustable gastric banding patients are discharged on the same day as their surgery. If there are circumstances that require continued monitoring or therapy the stay can be prolonged. Some patients are ready to leave the first post-operative day but this is relatively rare. You are required to remain in the area for five days to a week after your surgery.
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Weight loss results vary from patient to patient, and the amount of weight you may lose depends on several things. Primarily, you need to be committed to your new lifestyle and eating habits. Obesity surgery is a tool for weight loss. Our program will help you determine reasonable goals for your weight loss. A weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds a week in the first year after the operation is common. This translates to 50 to 100 pounds in the first year, although patients can lose more. Remember that you should lose weight gradually. Losing weight too fast creates a health risk and can lead to a number of problems. Your main goal is to have weight loss that prevents, improves, or resolves health problems connected with severe obesity.
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Does the procedure ever fail? Is there a chance I will gain back my weight?
Most people lose weight after bariatric surgery. But, it is possible in years after the surgery to gain some weight back. How you diet and exercise will have a large effect on how much weight you will lose and for how long. Remember, these procedures are ‘tools’ and not ‘cures’. You must follow your body’s needs.