Have you reached the end of the line in trying to diet and lose weight? It’s time to consider weight loss surgery. Learn more about it and whether it’s right for you.
At Turnquest Surgical Solutions, our board-certified bariatric surgeons, Dexter Turnquest, MD, and Victoria C. Chang, MD, perform a number of effective weight loss surgeries customized to your specific needs and health profile.
If you’ve been obese for some time and are serious about losing weight, a procedure called the duodenal switch may be an optimal choice for you.
We perform two procedures during the operation. First, we remove a significant portion of your stomach. Instead of a round pouch, your stomach will resemble a slender banana.
Shrinking your stomach prevents you from overeating and binging on foods you can’t resist. Your body won’t be able to handle that amount of food anymore.
You normally digest much of your food in the small intestine. The next phase of the surgery involves shortening your small intestine so just a small portion of it is connected to your stomach.
After this procedure, your body will no longer be able to digest and absorb as much food as it did previously, so you eat less.
The surgery improves your metabolism. It also helps suppress your appetite and cravings. You feel full, so you no longer overeat.
Not everyone is a candidate for duodenal switch surgery. We want to ensure your safety.
We consider duodenal switch surgery if your body mass index (BMI) is 40 or higher, a condition termed Class III obesity.
You’re also a preliminary candidate if your BMI is 35 or higher and you have a health condition related to obesity, such as metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis (plaque in your arteries), or kidney disease, among others.
We do a number of tests that include examining your blood and your liver, kidney, thyroid, and urine functions. We also ask for an EKG and possibly a sleep study if you haven’t had one.
We explain the results of the tests and let you know if you’re a good candidate for duodenal switch surgery. If you’re not able to undergo this operation, we discuss alternative procedures that can help you.
Duodenal switch surgery has excellent benefits for obese patients, among them:
Studies show that duodenal switch patients have up to 70% greater weight loss at the five-year mark than patients who undergo other surgeries. That’s a good motivator when you have a significant amount of weight to lose.
You’re exploring weight loss surgery because other measures haven’t worked for you. At this point, trying to lose weight by diet alone would occur in such small increments that you wouldn’t be able to see results for months.
Your weight loss is rapid when you have duodenal switch surgery because your body can only take in and absorb small amounts of food.
If you have a hard time controlling your Type 2 diabetes, duodenal switch surgery may be the optimal surgery for you. Studies show that the duodenal switch procedure is very effective at regulating and even possibly reversing Type 2 diabetes.
Duodenal switch surgery makes it possible for you to make lasting changes in your diet and physical activity. When you make those changes, you reduce your risk for a cardiovascular event, you may have significantly less joint pain, and your chance for a longer life improves.
Weight loss surgery can transform all aspects of your life. Call us at one of our Houston, Texas, locations or request an appointment online today to learn more about surgical weight loss options.
