Life-changing weight loss

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Call us at 310-582-7329 or request a consultation with our expert care team.

Bariatric Surgery and Metabolic Weight Loss Center

2284.2 miles away
310-582-7329
Mon - Fri: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Bariatric Surgery and Metabolic Weight Loss Center

Mon - Fri: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

More energy. Better health. Greater well-being. There’s so much to gain from losing the weight. We can help you get there.

The Bariatric Surgery and Metabolic Weight Loss Center at Providence Saint John's offers comprehensive surgical and non-surgical weight loss programs tailored to your personal health, goals and preferences. Our positive approach to weight loss is holistic, which means that we provide ongoing physical, nutritional, emotional and spiritual support to help you realize the health gains you deserve. We also rely on minimally-invasive techniques and robotic technology to perform precise procedures and speed up recovery times.

There are many causes for obesity. In truth, eating too many calories is not everyone’s problem. Many individuals that are struggling with obesity have a “metabolic disorder,” meaning that their bodies are accustomed to functioning by burning only a few calories every day. As a result, losing weight and keeping the weight off becomes very challenging. Oftentimes, the extra weight and fat on the body can lead to other health conditions such as heart disease, chronic back pain and sleep apnea, among others. 

Fortunately, there are safe and effective interventions to help those who are combating obesity. Providence Saint John’s can help. We offer::

  • Nationally recognized, board-certified surgeons that thrive on physician-patient relationships and personal connection
  • Cutting-edge robotic procedures that address various gastrointestinal disorders and obesity-related conditions
  • Minimally invasive techniques that lead to reduced pain, faster recoveries and improved patient outcomes
  • A multidisciplinary support team of specialty trained dietitians, psychologists and staff 
  • Treatment for obesity-associated conditions to improve patients’ overall health and wellness
  • A seamless process that includes extensive education, support and care before and after surgery
  • Free support groups
Ready to take the next step? 
  1. Register for a seminar or access our on-demand webinar.
  2. After you watch the webinar or attend a virtual seminar, check your insurance plan to ensure your policy covers weight loss surgery at Providence hospitals. While many insurance plans cover weight loss surgery, it’s important to understand your benefits – and how to receive them. 
  3. Call us at 310-582-7329 or request a consultation with our expert care team.

Today there are more options than ever for weight loss. At Providence Saint John’s we offer several surgical and non-surgical procedures to help you achieve excellent results and improve your overall health.

Bariatric procedures 

Gastric bypass surgery is a procedure that resizes the stomach and resets the metabolism. The technique involves dividing the stomach into a small upper pouch and larger lower “remnant” pouch, with the small intestine rearranged to connect to both. 

The gastric bypass is the oldest bariatric surgery still done today and is considered the “gold standard” in weight loss surgery, offering a combination of weight loss and health benefits for most patients. 

How does it work?
  • Restricts the amount of food that the stomach can hold
  • Limits the number of calories that the small intestine can absorb
  • Changes gut hormones to feel fuller for longer periods of time
  • Allows the body to reach short-term and long-term weight loss results
What are the advantages?
  • Most patients lose 60-80% of their excess weight
  • The procedure improves or eliminates obesity-related co-morbidities, such as reflux and Diabetes
What should I be aware of?
  • It’s a more complex surgery compared to other options, which slightly increases the possibility of complications
  • Can lead to marginal ulcers, especially in patients who smoke, drink excessively, or take NSAIDS frequently (3-7%) 
  • A small percentage of patients experience bowel obstruction (<1%)
 

In recent years the sleeve gastrectomy, or gastric sleeve, is the most popular and most requested weight loss surgery in the U.S. The surgical procedure induces weight loss by restricting food intake and removing ghrelin, the “hunger hormone.” The minimally invasive procedure is usually performed laparoscopically with the surgeon removing up to 80% of the stomach. This results in the stomach taking on the shape of a tube or “sleeve,” which holds much less food. 

How does it work?
  • Restricts the amount of food that the stomach can hold
  • Changes gut hormones to feel less hungry and fuller for longer periods of time
  • Gives patients the opportunity to lose up to 70% of their excess weight in about one year
What are the advantages?
  • Great weight loss: On average, patients lose 60-70% of their excess weight
  • Less side effects compared to gastric bypass
  • The procedure improves or eliminates obesity-related comorbidities
What should I be aware of?
  • Some patients (10-15%) may experience gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) following surgery
  • 1-2% of patients may require an intervention due to GERD over time

The duodenal switch procedure is a complex surgery that is a combination of the two most common weight loss surgeries, gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy. The procedure—also called the single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass (SADI-S) or stomach intestinal pylorus sparing (SIPS)—creates a sleeve stomach and an intestinal bypass to promote weight loss.

The treatment is performed in two steps. First a patient undergoes a sleeve gastrectomy, in which the stomach is reduced by up to 80% through a minimally invasive procedure. Then a patient undergoes an intestinal bypass, where the small intestine is divided and reconnected near the end of the small intestine at the duodenum. The surgery can be very effective at accelerating weight loss; however, it is a more complex procedure with higher risk of complications.

How does it work?
  • Creates a small stomach and restricts the amount of food the stomach can hold
  • Limits the number of calories that the small intestine can absorb
  • Changes gut hormones to feel fuller for longer periods of time
  • Maintains weight loss over several years

Intragastric balloons offer an effective, minimally invasive way to lose weight and stay full over time. The non-surgical procedure involves inserting the intragastric balloon through the esophagus and then inflating the device using a sterilized liquid. The procedure takes about 30 minutes to complete and can give many patients the chance to create better eating habits. Patients have the option of choosing a six-month or 12-month program.

How does it work?
  • Teaches portion control and promotes healthier diets
  • Reduces hunger and helps patients feel fuller longer
  • Slows digestion to create a higher success for weight loss
  • Gives patients an edge when making changes to their lifestyle and diets
Revisions

The need for revisions for bariatric surgery can vary based on the patient’s personal outcomes and the initial bariatric procedures. Sometimes patients need a revision to better meet their weight loss goals or to address complications from a procedure. Revisional procedures include:

The most common revisional procedure for patients who either wish or need to have their gastric lap band removed is a revision to gastric bypass.

The procedure is done laparoscopically, and most cases are now completed as a one stage procedure, meaning the band will be removed and the bypass done at the same time. Please note, your surgical expert will base this decision on each specific case. 

Another revisional procedure for patients who either wish or need to have their gastric band removed is a revision to sleeve gastrectomy. 

Like Band-to-Bypass, the procedure is done laparoscopically, and most cases are now completed as a one stage procedure where the band is removed, and the sleeve is done at the same time depending on your situation.

There are some patients who may require additional surgery to achieve their health and weight loss goals. A common revision is the gastric sleeve to bypass, which is performed after a patient undergoes a gastric sleeve procedure.

The combination of bariatric treatments reduces the calories absorbed, shrinks the stomach and addresses the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Like the sleeve-to-bypass revision, the sleeve-to-SIPS/SADI procedure is a combination of two bariatric treatments. The procedure involves adding a loop duodenal switch, which divides the small intestines and reconnects them to the stomach. 

The surgery restricts the amount of fat and calories absorbed by the body, and promotes weight loss for patients. 

During gastric bypass surgery, a small stomach pouch is formed to limit the amount of food a patient can eat at a time. Sometimes, patients may want to reduce the size of this pouch to feel full longer and to assist with their weight loss efforts.

A pouch reduction revision is often performed through a minimally invasive, laparoscopic procedure.

One rare complication from gastric bypass surgery is called “candy cane syndrome,” a condition that creates discomfort for patients.

To relieve symptoms, a part of the gastrointestinal tract is resected, or removed. The procedure is often performed using minimally invasive techniques to reduce risks and speed up recovery times. 

Sometimes patients struggle to lose enough weight following their bariatric surgeries. The gastric bypass distalization and the gastric bypass Jejunojejunal (JJ) revision offer minimally invasive ways to reset the hunger hormones and promote weight loss.

Both procedures are minimally invasive and are often performed laparoscopically. Distalization involves lengthening the end of the small intestine, known as the biliopancreatic (BP) limb, and shortening the common channel (CC), where food and digestive juices mix. The JJ revision, on the other hand, lengthens the “Y” limbs that extend from the stomach to the small intestine. 

According to guidelines established by the National Institutes of Health, you may be a candidate for bariatric surgery if at least one of the following applies to you:

  • You weigh 100 or more pounds over ideal body weight
  • Your body mass index (BMI) is greater than 40, or greater than 35 if you also have a serious weight-related health condition such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea or hypertension
  • You have weight-related problems and restrictions in mobility, work and performance of family responsibilities
Surgical prerequisites

Providence Saint John’s Bariatric Surgery and Metabolic Weight Loss Center’s surgical prerequisites also include the following:

  • You must be between 18 and 65 years old
  • You must have no history of drug or alcohol abuse within the past three years
  • You must be a non-smoker
  • You must undergo a medical evaluation and workup to ensure that you are in the best possible condition prior to surgery
  • You must undergo a psychiatric evaluation for stability and demonstrate a clear understanding of the procedure, responsibilities, reasonable outcomes and post-surgical expectations and guidelines
  • You must undergo a series of dietary education classes and complete all classes prior to your surgery date
  • You must demonstrate a commitment and readiness for a lifestyle change before surgery by modifying behavior and eating habits to ensure successful, long-term weight loss
  • You must be willing to participate fully in our multidisciplinary bariatric program
  • You must agree to long-term follow up with your bariatric surgeon after your weight loss surgery

One of the most successful treatments for obesity is weight-loss surgery or bariatric surgery. However, bariatric surgery is not the right choice for everyone. In general, these surgeries are offered to people who have tried to lose weight and keep the weight off but have not succeeded. A strong commitment to change in lifestyle is also necessary to have long term success after bariatric surgery. 

Making the choice 

Watch our video series or attend a seminar to see if surgery is right for you.

Schedule your consultation 

If you’ve already attended a seminar or watched the video series and would like to learn more, schedule your consultation today. During the appointment, you will have the chance to meet our board-certified bariatric surgeons and ask questions.

Road to surgery 

Once your surgery date is scheduled, there are a few steps that happen in parallel. This includes:

  • Meeting with our expert dietician and beginning a supervised diet program. During this program, you will learn to build healthy food habits to aid your weight loss.
  • A readiness assessment is conducted when you meet with one of our psychologists, who will make sure you are mentally ready to move forward with the surgery and ensure you have a support system in place.
  • Attend a support group
  • Schedule an endoscopy, a nonsurgical procedure used to examine a person's digestive tract. Using an endoscope, a flexible tube with a light and camera attached to it, your surgeon will be able to view pictures of your digestive tract on a color TV monitor. This helps your surgeon develop a game plan tailored to your specific needs.
Surgery day

Depending on the type of procedure you and your surgeon have selected, your surgery will take between one and three hours. We help you through the first days of recovery, encouraging you to get up and walk as soon as possible.

You can expect to follow a liquid diet. Most patients stay in the hospital for one to two days, depending on their procedure and recovery.

Following up 

Following up with our team is essential to your safety and long-term success. You will have several follow-up appointments with your surgeon in the first year, and lifelong appointments once a year thereafter. You will also continue to meet with your support group regularly and connect with your dietician once or twice a year. 

stjohns-bariatric-staff

Each of the bariatric professionals and specialists on your team understands the challenges of weight loss. We work with you to make sure your weight loss program is comfortable, efficient and tailored to your needs.

Our core team includes:

  • Bariatric surgical specialists
  • Dietician
  • Psychologist
  • Registered Nurses
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Physician Assistants
  • Bariatric Patient Navigator
  • Bariatric Program Coordinator

Team members pictured (from left to right): Olga Belik, Ph.D. (Clinical Psychologist); Cecilia Boveda Pearse, MSN, RN, FNP-BC (Bariatric Program Coordinator); Lydia Kim, Psy.D. (Clinical Psychologist); Anabelle Ahdoot, MS, RD, CDE (Registered Dietician)

Attending a support group helps provide insight and real-world experiences from others like you. Our support groups are specifically designed for patients at any stage of the bariatric surgery process, including those who are still considering surgery or are post-operative. Bringing loved ones to support group builds understanding of your journey.

Bariatric support groups are held on the last Thursday of each month

Sign up for support at Providence Saint John’s by calling 310-582-7329, sending an email or talking to your patient navigator to find an option that works for you.

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