Minimally Invasive Weight Loss Surgery in Delaware
Weight loss – or bariatric – surgery has been recognized as a safe and effective treatment for morbid obesity and weight-related health conditions, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. However, bariatric surgery is not for everyone. You may qualify for bariatric surgery if:
- You are at least 18 years old.
- You are at least 100 pounds overweight or your Body Mass Index (BMI) is 40 or higher (or at least 35 if you have one or more weight-related health conditions).
- You have been overweight for at least 5 years.
- You have made serious weight loss attempts with other methods but only had short-term success.
At CHRIAS, Drs. Irgau, Wynn and Peters perform laparoscopic weight loss surgery using minimally invasive techniques. During a laparoscopic procedure, surgeons make several small incisions, approximately 5 mm to l.5 cm in size, rather than one large incision. Surgeons also use long, thin surgical instruments and insert a narrow video camera through one of the small incisions to view the operative site on a nearby video monitor. Laparoscopic approach to surgery results in minimal skin cutting, rapid healing, faster recovery, and less postoperative pain than the traditional surgery. However, it is still major surgery and requires general anesthesia.
In a small number of patients the laparoscopic method cannot be performed. The likelihood of choosing or converting to the "open" procedure may be increased by a history of prior abdominal surgery, inability to visualize organs or bleeding problems during the operation. The decision to perform the open procedure may be made by your surgeon either before or during the actual operation. When the surgeon feels that it is safest to convert the laparoscopic procedure to an open one, this is not a complication, but rather sound surgical judgment strictly based on patient safety.
Delaware Bariatric Surgery Options
Drs. Irgau, Wynn and Peters perform safe and effective laparoscopic bariatric procedures that reduce the size of the stomach and restrict how much the patient can eat at one time:
- Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAP-BAND® and REALIZE™ Band)
- Laparoscopic gastric bypass
- Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (gastric sleeve)
There are other weight loss operations currently being performed at other centers nationally; however, our surgeons do not perform the vertical banded gastroplasty, biliopancreatic switch, Fobi pouch, or jejunoileal bypass.
Choosing between the different operative procedures involves the surgeon’s preference and consideration of the patient’s eating habits.
Comprehensive Bariatric Program and Support
The CHRIAS team is committed to the highest standards of surgical care of patients suffering from morbid obesity. We firmly believe that the surgical procedure is only one component of a comprehensive bariatric program and they attribute their excellent results not only to their surgical expertise, but to the multidisciplinary approach they have adopted in their patient care.
The CHRIAS weight loss surgeons work in close cooperation with a multidisciplinary team, which includes an endocrinologist, a psychologist, a nutritionist and an exercise physiologist. These teams also offer support group meetings at their facilities.
If you are interested in a consultation for weight loss surgery, please contact our office for an appointment. Your initial consultation will be done through Christiana Institute of Advanced Surgery. If you are a candidate for surgery, your procedure will be done by our physicians through Christiana Institute of Advanced Surgery.