Am I a Candidate for Weight Loss Surgery?
At Cape Fear Valley Health, eligible candidates for bariatric surgery must meet the following criteria:
Body Mass Index (BMI)
You must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater, or you must be 100 pounds or more overweight. Calculate your BMI using the BMI Calculator below.
Emotional State
You should not have any severe psycho-emotional or medical problems that would make surgery unnecessarily risky.
Smoking
No smoking.
Drug and alcohol dependency
No drug or alcohol dependency. If you have a drug or alcohol use disorder, you must have shown progress in a qualified treatment program. You should have at least one year of sobriety.
Commit to the process
You must have a personal ongoing commitment to follow the nutrition, exercise, medication, and laboratory protocols provided.
Attend Support Groups
You must have a personal ongoing commitment to attend support group meetings on a regular basis.
Follow ups
You must have a personal ongoing commitment to return to the office for follow-up appointments.
Types of Weight Loss Surgery at Cape Fear Valley Health
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery
The most common bariatric procedure in the U.S. Often simply called "gastric bypass," this surgery is a combination method.
A small pouch at the top of the stomach is created and adds a bypass around a segment of the small intestine . This redirects food intake, bypassing most of the stomach and the first section of the small intestine, called the duodenum.
Instead, food enters directly into the second part of the small intestine, called the jejunum. The procedure limits the patient's ability to absorb calories.
Sleeve gastrectomy
Gastric sleeve surgery has become the fastest growing weight loss surgery in the U.S. The surgeon removes a large section of the stomach, along the greater curve. What is left is a narrow tube-like canal or "sleeve" that holds just 15% of the original stomach capacity.
Patients feel fuller with smaller meal portions as a result. The stomach section responsible for producing the hormone, Ghrelin, is also removed. This hormone stimulates the brain to feel hungry. So patients not only eat less, they also feel less hungry.
The remaining stomach section continues to function normally. Patients can continue eating most of their favorite foods without suffering chronic stomach discomfort or "dumping syndrome”.
Patients can expect to lose between 40 to 50% of their excess body fat within two years. Some patients lose half their body weight within 12 months. The surgery is minimally invasive and can be done in about an hour under general anesthesia.
Our Approach to Weight Loss Services
National and medical societies recognize obesity as a chronic disease. Weight gain is caused by multiple factors beyond exercise and diet. It’s a medical issue, not a lack of willpower.
When a patient with severe obesity has tried to treat this disease on their own, they often struggle. Some people have success, but it’s short-lived. They regain the weight and put on more pounds. Then they try again. The cycle of yo-yo dieting continues.
Ready to learn a more effective approach?
If you are more than 100 pounds overweight, or have a BMI over 35, bariatric surgery may be an option for you. Weight loss surgery doesn’t just treat morbid obesity. It also cuts the risk of life-threatening health conditions, such as:
- Acid reflux
- Cancer
- Hypertension
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Osteoarthritis
- Type 2 diabetes
How your journey with us begins
At Cape Fear Valley Health, you can get the help you need to reach your long-term weight loss goals. The first step is to view our online educational seminar to completion. Register for the video here. Then, you’ll be contacted to schedule your first appointment. Allow two to four weeks if you prefer to meet with a specific surgeon. Otherwise, you can ask to be scheduled with the first appointment available.
How long does the process take?
The process may take three to six months, depending on several factors. Different insurance carriers have distinct mandatory requirements prior to surgical intervention.
Patients need to allow time between referrals and follow-up appointments with specialists. Allow one to two weeks following each subsequent specialist appointment. This timeline ensures surgeons have adequate time to receive and review the specialists’ documentation.
How soon can you return to work?
Depending on the occupation, you may return to work two to three weeks after laparoscopic surgery and three to six weeks after open surgery.
Your care team
You’ll have a team of multidisciplinary specialists working together to ensure you reach your healthy weight goals. Your care team may include:
- Bariatric surgeons
- Behavioral health specialists
- Dietitians
- Nurse practitioners
- Nutritionists
- Psychologists
- Therapists
At Cape Fear Valley Health, we cover every aspect of your health, not just your numbers on a scale. This holistic approach means you’re more likely to live a longer, healthier life.
Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery
For patients with severe obesity, bariatric surgery can provide many health benefits. Some benefits include:
- Easier to lose weight
- More manageable to keep weight off long-term
- May lower risk of death from chronic diseases, such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease
- May decrease joint pain
- Feel more energetic
- More enthusiastic to do activities you haven’t done in years
- Improve your overall health and well-being
Ovie Appresai, MD, FACS
- General Surgery
Ijeoma Acholonu Ejeh, MD, FACS
- General Surgery
Daniel McCullough, MD, FACS, FASMBS
- General Surgery
