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If you do and you’re daunted by the very real challenge of losing weight, then weight loss surgery at Queen’s might be the right solution for you. Our experienced and compassionate team is here to guide you towards the best option for your unique situation.
If diet and exercise just aren’t enough and you’re experiencing severe weight-related health issues, or have a BMI of 40 or higher, then bariatric surgery could be your road back to good health. Every day on the news, we hear that excess weight carries risks, from Type 2 Diabetes to heart disease and even cancer. These are not just scare tactics; there are numerous studies that back it up.
So how does bariatric surgery work? It alters your digestive system, thereby limiting your food intake, and in some cases, decreasing calorie absorption.
When you come to Queen’s for an assessment, we’ll help determine if you’re a good candidate for surgical weight loss and we will guide you in finding the right surgical approach for your body.
Frank Gouveia Jr. Success Story
“Undergoing surgery was transformative for me. It not only resolved my sleep apnea and greatly improved my heart health, but it also gave me a new lease on life, boosting my confidence and social interactions.”
You may know that stomach surgery for weight loss restricts the amount of food you We offer a variety of surgeries, each suited to your individual needs:
This surgery involves creating a small stomach pouch and rerouting the small intestine to this pouch, which significantly reduces food intake and calorie absorption. It’s often used for substantial long-term weight loss and can improve obesity-related health conditions.
With Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (LRYGB) surgery, doctors create a small pouch (roughly the size of a golf ball) in your stomach so food bypasses most of your stomach and part of your small intestine.
This surgery restricts the amount of food you can eat and how many calories your intestines can absorb.
After Gastric Bypass surgery, you can expect to lose 50-80% of your excess body weight (or about 30-35% of your total weight).
Long considered the “Gold Standard” in bariatric weight loss surgery, gastric bypass is sometimes referred to as the “surgical cure” for Type 2 diabetes because it is one of the best and most common ways to surgically treat comorbidities related to obesity.
This is not to say that gastric bypass is for everyone. With any weight loss surgery, you will undergo a screening to determine what medical intervention is right for you.
In this procedure, a large portion of the stomach is removed, leaving a smaller, tube-like stomach, which limits food intake and promotes a feeling of fullness sooner. It’s a permanent, non-reversible surgery that aids in significant weight loss.
Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomies involve removing a part of your stomach. With this surgery, bariatric physicians create a sleeve (or tube) in your stomach about the width of a garden hose.
Sleeve gastrectomies restrict the amount of food you are able to eat. This procedure can be done as a standalone surgery or as the first step for patients who are considered too high risk for other procedures.
After undergoing a sleeve gastrectomy patients can expect to lose 50-70% of their excess body weight.
With any weight loss surgeries, as a patient you must be willing to make significant lifestyle changes following any surgical weight loss procedure. Patients participate in aftercare programs and undergo regular medical evaluations to help them keep the weight off following surgery.
This surgery involves placing a band around the upper part of the stomach to create a small pouch that can hold less food, with the band’s tightness adjustable to control food intake. It’s a reversible procedure that helps reduce food intake and promote weight loss.
Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band procedures place an adjustable band around the upper portion of your stomach.
The Adjustable Gastric Band surgery restricts how much food you can consume at one time. Like Gastric Bypass surgery, it is intended as a standalone procedure for obesity.
Weight loss after the placement of an adjustable gastric band is typically between 40-50% of a patient’s excess body weight.
Gastric Band surgery is rarely performed at Queen’s due to its higher risk of complications compared to Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomies. Gastric Bands also have the lowest predicted weight loss among Queen’s bariatric surgeries.
If you have a very high BMI, it is likely we would recommend another surgical method to maximize weight loss.
Are you caught in a cycle of dieting and regaining weight, or has your weight led to health issues? Answering ‘yes’ might make you a potential candidate for surgical weight loss.
At Queen’s Comprehensive Weight Management Program, we evaluate each patient individually to determine their suitability for weight loss surgery.
A key factor in this assessment is your Body Mass Index (BMI); typically, a BMI of 40 or higher, or over 35 with serious health problems, indicates eligibility for surgery.
For detailed eligibility criteria, refer to the “Do I Qualify for Weight Loss Surgery?” section under our FAQ.
Our experts at Queen’s Weight Management Program will guide you through a comprehensive pre-surgery process, ensuring you’re fully prepared. This includes medical, nutritional, and psychological evaluations, along with a customized pre-op treatment plan and medically supervised exercise program. Your medical provider will collaborate with you to address obesity-related health concerns and prepare you for the surgery and anesthesia.
The following tests and standard criteria guidelines may be used to determine an individual patient’s readiness for surgery:
Patients typically see considerable weight loss and improvement in various health conditions post-surgery. Remember, it’s a long-term commitment, requiring lifestyle and dietary changes.
Post-surgery, you can expect significant weight loss and potential improvements in various medical conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea, among others. However, remember that weight loss surgery is not an instant solution; it necessitates ongoing commitment to lifestyle and dietary changes for sustained weight reduction.
Rest assured, the Queen’s Comprehensive Weight Management Program team will support you continuously throughout your weight loss journey, offering guidance and assistance at every stage.
Bariatric surgery has evolved significantly over the years, improving in both safety and effectiveness. Modern surgical techniques have reduced the risk of complications and shortened recovery times.
However, like all surgical procedures, weight loss surgery carries certain risks. These may include infection, bleeding, and adverse reactions to anesthesia, as well as long-term risks such as nutrient deficiencies or gallstones. The safety of the procedure largely depends on the patient’s overall health, the type of surgery performed, and the expertise of the surgical team.
The effectiveness of the surgery depends on the patient’s commitment to a healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise, post-surgery.
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Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
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