Combating Obesity with Surgery

There will never be a shortage of fad diets, weight loss strategies, or exercise programs advertised in the media. Perhaps you have even tried some of the recent ones like the Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet, NutriSystem, or the Cleanse Diet. If you have a real problem with obesity, chances are you’ve probably already tried to lose weight through diet and exercise, but still haven’t been able to get to a healthy BMI.

You want to be healthier so you can do the everyday things you want to do, like running around with your kids or playing sports, but it seems impossible to lose weight on your own. If this sounds like you, it may be time to consider bariatric weight loss surgery to combat obesity and finally live the life you want to live.

Weight Loss Surgery for When Dieting Isn’t Enough

Healthy, nutritious eating habits combined with plenty of vigorous exercise is a great way to lose weight. However, if you are already at a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 or more, you have likely developed some bad habits that seem impossible to break. Bariatric surgery with our board-certified bariatric surgeon Dr. Shyam Dahiya offers the chance to take back control of your eating habits and begin your journey toward a healthier, happier life.

If you have ever watched The Biggest Loser, you know that a real change has to take place in your mindset before you can be successful at losing weight. You have to recognize that obesity is endangering your health and even your life, and you have to be determined to make a complete and lasting change in your lifestyle. Once you’ve made up your mind to finally take on the root causes of obesity, bariatric surgery can help you achieve your weight loss goals, but only if you are truly committed.

Bariatric Surgery Requires a Serious Commitment

Dr. Dahiya uses the latest technology, including the SPIDER® Surgical System for Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS), to make bariatric surgery as minimally invasive as possible. Nonetheless, bariatric surgery is still a major surgical operation and should not be taken likely. Weight loss surgery is only for those who have made a serious commitment to a healthy lifestyle, including proper nutrition and exercise.

Weight loss surgeries like gastric bypass surgery and LAP-BAND® surgery are designed to shrink the size of your stomach so that you feel full after eating only a small amount of food. This goes a long way toward helping you eat less and control your portion size, but bariatric surgery is by no means a quick fix or a weight loss solution that requires no effort.

In fact, bariatric surgery patients who do not follow their post-operative diet and exercise plans with determination can end up reversing all of their weight loss gains. Without strict portion control after surgery, the smaller stomach pouch created by your bariatric surgery can stretch to allow you to eat more and more, defeating the purpose of your operation.

Nutrition Counseling and Follow-Up Care to Help You Succeed

To help you stick to you succeed after bariatric surgery, our nutrition expert Dr. Jose Mari-Elacion will work with you as you make the transition to a healthier lifestyle with our post-surgery weight loss program. We will have you come back to our office every month for a year after your surgery to reinforce your commitment to your weight loss plan and to check in on your progress. We care deeply about your health, so we stay with you until your weight loss journey is complete.

To learn more about combating obesity with bariatric weight loss surgery in Los Angeles, please contact our board-certified bariatric surgeon Dr. Shyam Dahiya to schedule your consultation at our office in Lakewood, California.