Surgical Weight Loss in North Pinellas

There are specific criteria for bariatric surgery. You may be a candidate if you:

• Are age 18 or older
• Are not dependent on drugs or alcohol
• Are ready and willing to commit to a new lifestyle
• Have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above
• Have a weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, heart disease or sleep apnea
• Have tried to lose weight through other means, such as diet and exercise

When you meet with your bariatric surgeon for a consultation, you’ll discuss each surgery option. Then, together, you can decide which weight-loss procedure is best for you. You’ll consider various factors, like:

• Any health conditions (like diabetes or GERD)
• Any previous attempts at weight loss
• Your BMI
• Your health history overall

The coverage related to bariatric surgery depends on the type of coverage your insurance plan provides. Our care coordinators will help you communicate with your insurance company to understand what coverage your plan requires and provides.

Click here to view a full list of insurance plans accepted at AdventHealth North Pinellas.

All surgical procedures come with risks, but for most patients, the lasting benefits of bariatric surgery outweigh the risks, some of which include:

• Acid reflux
• Anesthesia-related risks
• Chronic nausea and vomiting
• Dilation of esophagus
• Inability to eat certain foods
• Infection
• Obstruction of the stomach
• Weight regain

Other risks may include:

• Dumping syndrome is actually an adrenaline rush caused by too many carbohydrates entering the intestine too quickly. Symptoms are palpitations, sweating and a weak-in-the-knees feeling. About 25% of patients who receive a gastric bypass will experience this. Dumping syndrome is, however, unusual for patients who’ve had a gastric sleeve procedure.
• Blood clots are a rare complication after weight-loss surgery. In fact, less than 1% of all surgical patients in the U.S. encounter this issue. Still, rest assured that our bariatric team takes every measure to keep you safe and to prevent blood clots, including making sure you’re given blood thinners during surgery and after, as well as using a compression device to ambulate every two hours while in the hospital and at home.

The bariatric surgery process and average procedure time vary on multiple factors, like the type of surgery. For example, a gastric bypass procedure usually takes about two hours, and a gastric sleeve procedure may take an hour and a half.

Before your surgery, your care team will go over all the details of your procedure, including how long you'll be in the operating room, so you get answers to your specific questions.

Weight-loss surgery can be life-changing, and post-bariatric surgery results are excellent for many people. Most patients will lose about 65% of their excess weight in 18 months (one and a half years), and most of the weight comes off in the first year. About 75% of people can successfully lose weight and keep it off long-term.

It varies, but most patients who experience substantial weight loss will have some extra skin. Exercising to tone muscles will help to some degree. Some insurance plans consider removing excess skin cosmetic, and coverage depends on your insurance policy. We recommend you first reach your weight-loss goal and then undergo surgery to remove your excess skin if desired.