What is Obesity?
Obesity is a chronic, debilitating and lifelong disease. Apart from affecting the quality of life Obesity associates with many other medical conditions that greatly reduces the average life span and increases mortality.
NMC prepares you to fight the battle of bulge by helping you to understand your body and moving towards a healthier future for you and your family.
Why Bariatric Surgery?
Many obese individuals have made serious attempts to lose weight through diet, exercise and medically supervised weight loss programs but have failed. In these cases, bariatric surgery is performed as a last resort treatment option. Bariatric surgery is rapidly gaining popularity as a safe and effective way to reduce weight in the severely obese.
For women of childbearing years there are special benefits and considerations for bariatric surgery. For many women, obesity plays a significant role in infertility. Bariatric operations not only increase the general health of these patients but have shown to improve their chances of getting pregnant.
Who is an ideal candidate for Bariatric surgery?
Patients with these characteristics are typically the best candidates for bariatric weight loss surgery:
- BMI over 40 or BMI over 35 with obesity-related conditions such as diabetes, , high blood pressure, reflux disease or sleep apnea
- At least 60 - 100 pounds above estimated ideal weight
- Age 18 or older
- Tried non-surgical weight loss methods without success
- Committed to long-term lifestyle changes, including dietary, exercise and medical requirements
Who is not fit for Bariatric surgery?
Bariatric surgery is not suitable for patients with certain medical conditions, including gastrointestinal disorders, severe pulmonary or cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease and increased risk of bleeding or mental disorders.
How long does the surgery take?
Between 60 to 90 minutes and the operation always recorded on DVD, the patient get a copy.
What type of technology used?
All surgeries are done using a Full HD laparoscopy through 4 - 5 small incisions between 5mm to 10mm.
Will the patient be in a lot of pain after surgery and what will be done to relieve the pain?
We offer pain free surgery and 99% of patients recover without pain.
How many days dose the patient stays in hospital?
Patients stay for 2-3 nights and are usually discharge with the ability to drive and manage usual daily activity.
Preoperative tests and medications before bariatric surgery.
- Blood tests for liver & renal function
- Tests for blood sugar, lipid, thyroid functions and ECG
- Radiological tests for chest and scanning of the abdomen
- Cardiologist and endocrinologist consultations
- If patient has history of gastric disease or acidity, we recommend him for endoscopy to avoid postoperative stomach pain or acidity.
We like to prepare our patients a couples of days before surgery with antacid medicine, light liquid fat free diet with regular bowel habits.
What does the patient do on the day of surgery?
We prefer patient to be admitted the night before surgery and to have all the preparation for surgery and to start anticoagulant medicine to have safe surgery.
At the Hospital
On the day of your surgery, you will check in at the hospital and a staff member will greet you and take you to the Pre-Op unit. Your support person may remain with you there until you are taken to surgery. After surgery, you be closely monitored in a recovery area. When you are recovered enough to be moved to a patient room, your support person may join you.
Most patients remain in the hospital 1 to 3 days but you should expect to be up and walking on the same day of your surgery. Our staff will work with you to minimize any pain and discomfort. You may also receive other tests and procedures to guard against complications.
A dietitian will visit you in the hospital to provide personalized instruction on your short and long term diet restrictions and you will also be scheduled for follow-up nutrition classes after discharge.
How long does it take to recover from Bariatric surgery?
Patient takes about 2 to 3 days to return to normal life but will be instructed not to carry or push heavy weights.
How much food and how often will the patient be able to eat following surgery?
Patients are given weekly program of food plan: what types of food, when and how to eat are given in a small booklet to the patient at time of discharge.
Usually patient are advised to start with a fluid diets for 2 days after surgery followed by a soft diet for another 1 week and soft to regular diet for another 1 week.
How often are the follow up visits after surgery?
Our program for weight loss surgery include a follow up after 1 week than again after 2 weeks. Thereafter after 1 month and finally followed by regular visits every 3 months up to 1 year after surgery.
Types of surgeries for obesity we are offering:
How obesity surgeries control diabetes?
It is now clear that Intestinal Hormone GLP1 levels can regulate the insulin release from pancreas. Hence by increasing GLP1 levels in the gut the diabetes get controlled. Key hole surgeries like Sleeve gastrectomy and Gastric Bypass are found to stimulate GLP1 secretion and give long standing (permanent) cure of diabetes.
These procedures are having much better result in those with more than ideal weight and in those with diabetes of shorted duration (First 10-15 years).
In addition to diabetic control the other benefits are like control of cholesterol, sleep apnoea, acidity, joint pains, cardiac disease and kidney disorders .Very good improvement in infertility treatment is also a welcome thing for those who are affected.
Life after weight loss surgery
People who have had weight loss surgery will need to stick to a rigorous and lifelong plan afterwards to avoid putting weight back on. Their plan should include a carefully controlled diet and regular exercise.
How will my diet change after the surgery?
The goal is to limit the amount of calories you consume, while providing balanced meals that help prevent nutrient deficiencies and preserve muscle tissue. It is very important to follow the nutritional guidelines to prevent weight gain, deficiencies and complications.
After the surgery, you will have to go on a liquid diet for the first two weeks, gradually changing to pureed diet after week 2, and finally moving on to eating solids after week 4. Protein supplements and different vitamins and minerals might be necessary to help with the healing process.
The general guidelines that you need to follow are:
- Always eat slowly
- Chew your food thoroughly
- Only eat small portions of food at a time
- Do not eat and drink at the same time
- Eat a balanced healthy diet that contains the recommended amounts of protein and other nutrients
- Exercise regularly
The success of the surgery is very much dependent on changing your lifestyle and eating habits. With time, the new habits will become easier and the results that you get from the surgery and the new lifestyle are very rewarding and the positive effects on your health and your body are very worthwhile.
If you want to compare your weight status to others, BMI is a great method of analysis.
To be a candidate for obesity surgery, you must have the following criteria
- Your BMI is 40 or higher
- You weigh at least 60 pounds more than your ideal body weight
- Your BMI is over 35 and you have other serious health issues
- Your age is above18 years
- You have a history of being overweight
- Your earlier efforts to lose weight provided minimal results or short-term success
- You do not have any other disease that may have caused your obesity, and you do not drink alcohol in excess
Other Minimal Invasive & Laparoscopic surgeries we are offering are:
- Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
- Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy
- Laparoscopic Hernioplasty
- Laparoscopic antireflux surgeries (Fundoplication)
- Laparoscopic Colorectal surgeries
- Laparoscopic gastric surgeries
Featured Hospitals
NMC Royal Hospital, Khalifa City
Location: 16th St., Khalifa City - A, PO Box 35233, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Phone No: +971 2 203 5000
NMC Royal Hospital, DIP
Location: Plot # 598/122, Dubai Investments Park 1, Behind Falcon house, P.O.Box: 7832, Dubai - Unit... Phone No: +971 4 810 8800
The American Surgecenter
Location: Villa No. 587, Mubarak Bin Mohammed Street, Al Rowdah, Near Embassy of Japan, P.O.Box: 938... Phone No: +971 2 443 0909
NMC Specialty Hospital
Location: Opposite Baladiya Park, Shakhboot Bin Sultan Street, Near Ayla hotel, Al Ain, P.O. Box: 84... Phone No: +971 3 703 0300