Weight Loss Aside, Bariatric Surgery Can Result in Dramatic Health Gains on Arkansas Medical News Inc.

Weight Loss Aside, Bariatric Surgery Can Result in Dramatic Health Gains

By: BECKY GILLETTE

FORT SMITH—In October 2010 Traci Hayes, 5’, 8”, weighed 268 pounds. She had high blood pressure, high glucose levels and a strong prevalence of diabetes in her family. Her mother and her mother’s sisters are diabetics. Traci, 40, who is the mother of three very athletic daughters, knew if she didn’t do something, she might end up like an aunt with diabetes who had both legs amputated.

“I’ve lost and gained weight my whole life,” said Hayes, who works as a receptionist at a doctor’s office. “It has been a struggle. It got bad after high school when I started having kids. It was something I really needed to take control of.”

In October of 2010 Hayes underwent Lap Band bariatric surgery at Cooper Clinic. By Christmas she had already lost enough weight that she was able to go off her medicine for hypertension. By November of 2011, Hayes had lost 115 pounds, weighing in at 148 pounds.

Hayes is a new woman. In fact, sometimes people she hasn’t seen since before she lost the weight don’t even recognize her.

“It has been life changing for me,” Hayes said. “I have benefitted from it medically, physically, and emotionally. I would certainly tell doctors to recommend this to patients who are struggling with being overweight.”

Hayes said the Lap Band is not a cure all, but a tool. It restricts the amount of food you can take in, but you could still eat the wrong kinds of foods if you choose.

“You have to be responsible for what you put in your mouth,” Hayes said. “When you are compliant with what the doctor tells you to do, it works really well. It has opened my eyes to stuff I used to eat that I don’t eat now. I haven’t eaten a piece of pizza in a year. I cannot eat bread. That is a big thing. Bread is bad on you anyway. I don’t drink sugary soft drinks.”

Hayes chose Lap Band over other procedures because she liked having control of how much her stomach would be restricted. And she was able to get the surgery and maintenance done where she lives, rather than having to travel several hours.

Her surgery was done by Stephen Seffense, MD, one of three surgeons at Cooper Clinic. If one is unavailable, she can see one of the others; Darryl Eckes, MD, or Chris Coleman, MD.

Lap Band is the most common form of surgical intervention performed for weight loss today, representing more than 50 percent of total bariatric procedures performed in the U.S.

“While there are other surgical treatments for obesity, the majority of our patients prefer the Lap Band, because it is safe, effective, adjustable, reversible, and has a short recovery time,” Eckes said.

Eckes said the success rate with the Lap Band, as with any other surgical weight loss procedure, is based on the individual needs of each patient. Improvement or complete resolution of obesity related health conditions, and increased quality of life, are two of the main factors that determine whether or not a surgical weight loss procedure is successful.

“From these standpoints, the Lap Band has proven to have an extremely high success rate,” Eckes said. “As far as weight loss is concerned, the Lap Band system allows patients to lose on average 60 percent of their excess weight in two to five years. More importantly, the fact that the Lap Band is adjustable greatly increases the long-term sustainability of the weight loss, which is another key factor when defining success. This long-term success has led to a 94 percent satisfaction rating among patients undergoing the Lap Band surgery. Regardless of the procedure, optimal aftercare and long-term patient follow up are essential for a patient to be successful.”

Eckes said family physicians who see patients struggling with obesity should consider referring them for a consultation with a bariatric surgeon.

“The Lap Band System is an extremely effective patient tool in the battle against obesity, the second most preventable cause of death in our nation today,” Eckes said. “When performed in conjunction with proper patient aftercare, it renders proven weight loss results that have led to the control and often times resolution of type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, GERD, and multiple other obesity related health conditions.”