Procedures
Surgical Solutions
 All surgical procedures for obesity have one common goal - to reduce the amount of energy (calories) that end up being stored in the body as fat.
There are two ways in which the surgery can accomplish this:
- By decreasing the intake of food, referred to as restriction.
- By causing some of the food to be incompletely absorbed.
This is referred to as malabsorption.
Weight control surgeries incorporate one or both of these techniques to cause weight loss. Depending on which type of procedure is performed will determine to what extentthe digestive process is altered.
Roux-En-Y
 Restrictive / Absorptive Procedures are commonly known as gastric bypass surgery. Rather than merely restricting food intake, with a gastric bypass operation the digestive and absorption process is changed which ultimately leads to greater weight loss. These operations also reduce the size of the stomach's capacity, either by bypassing a large part of the stomach, or by stapling it to create the pouch. The difference is that the small intestine is changed to decrease overall absorbtion in the intestine and, thus, allows for greater weight reduction.
The most common gastric bypass procedure performed in the United States today is the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. This procedure provides restriction like the lap band or vertical banded gastroplastie,but rather than the pouch opening into the rest of the stomach, it opens directly into the intestine. This causes a delay in the mixing of food with bile and pancreatic juice. These two fluids are integral for the absorption of fats. By delaying this mixing, the absorption of calories is reduced. This is accomplished by dividing the small intestine, bringing one end up to the pouch and constructing a connection.
Then the other open end is sewn back into the side of the previously created Roux limb and creates a Y shape. The result of this procedure is greater weight loss than from that of a purely restrictive operation.
Lap-Band®
 Gastric Restriction Operations include two types of procedures. The first is referred to as the lap band. In this operation a synthetic band is placed around the upper end of the stomach. This band creates a small pouch and narrows the passage of food into the remaining portion of the stomach. This procedure does not change the order of digestion, nor does it alter food absorbtion, but merely reduces the patient's stomach capacity.
Commitment
Most patients recover quickly after surgery. typically patients are in the hospital for three days, including the day of surgery and back to work in approximately 2 weeks. Some patients have returned to work immediately.
New patients will be consulted on what foods they can eat throughout their journey. Health and weight management goals will be set and periodic check ups will be vital to a patient's progress. This is a partnership between the patient and physician.
Results of the surgery are measured in terms of weight loss as well as the improved quality of life experienced by patients.
Most patients enjoy an average of a 60% weight loss within the first two years with at least a 50% loss maintained long-term. Dr. McClellan has succeeded in getting many patients to their ideal body weight. Most patients lose 100 pounds in the first six months.
Obesity co-morbidities dramatically improve following surgery. Up to 95% of obesity surgery patients realize an improvement or complete resolution of hypertension, and cardiac dysfunction. Up to 99 to 100% of patients find respiratory problems, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels have improved or been eliminated. Patients enjoy less stress on bones, muscles, and joints resulting in less pain in these areas.
Patient compliance greatly impacts the outcome of success. By utilizing dietary and psychological support available to patients through their Bariatric surgery center, the improvement of serious medical conditions and a dramatically improved quality of life can be a reality!
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