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	> Success Stories > What is Obesity? > Our Surgeons > Classes & Seminars > Complications > Treatments   > Gastric Bypass   > Lap-Band > The Process > FAQ Phone: 738.5617 Check our Class Schedule for additional information

Treatments for Clinically Severe Obesity
Conventional Therapies that are used to treat Clinically Severe Obesity include:

• Diet
• Exercise
• Behavioral Modifications
• Pharmaceuticals

However, with these therapies, only 3% to 5% of patients lose an appreciable amount of weight. Few keep the weight off.

Do I Qualify for Weight Loss Surgery?
Weight Loss Surgery is only used once a person meets the necessary guidelines and has tried alternative methods of weight loss. Our staff will work with you to decide if you are a candidate for Methodist Center for Weight Loss Surgery.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the following guidelines should be met:

• Person should be morbidly obese

• 100 pounds or 100% over their ideal body weight (Body Mass Index of 40 or >)

• Should have a measurable complication from their obesity (physical, psychological, social, or economic)

• Should be of sound mind to understand the risks and commitment to the surgery

• Attempted conventional weight loss programs without success

• Be free from drugs, alcohol, and tobacco

Surgical Options and Their Outcomes
The goal of weight loss surgery is to improve health, improve quality of life and to increase lifespan. Methodist Hospitals Center for Weight Loss Surgery offers three surgical options for weight loss.

Roux-en-y Gastric Bypass – Open and Laproscopic
Methodist Hospitals offers both open and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery. This procedure has the best long-term success for weight loss and is the golden standard for weight loss surgery in the United States.

In this procedure, the surgeon forms a small stomach pouch of 1 ounce and connects the pouch to the small intestines. The pouch initially holds about 1 ounce of food. The pouch's outlet usually has a diameter of about 1/2-inch. The small outlet delays the emptying of food from the pouch and causes a feeling of fullness. The surgery bypasses a section of the small intestine with leads to decreased calorie absorption.

After an operation, the person usually can eat only 5 to 10 bites of food before feeling full. With time, the capacity may increase to half to a whole cup of food that may be consumed without discomfort or nausea. Food has to be well chewed. For most people, the ability to eat a large amount of food at one time is lost, but some patients do return to eating modest amounts of food without feeling hungry.

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LAP- BAND
Lap-Band Cash Price $14,100

$14,100 Lap-Band cash price only applies to outpatient surgeries performed at Merrillville Surgery Center. The Merrillville Surgery Center is located at the Outpatient Pavilion adjacent to the main entrance of our Southlake Campus in Merrillville. The price does not apply to any inpatient surgeries performed at the hospital. For more information please call 219.738.5617 or download the flyer for more details.

The LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Band is the only adjustable surgical treatment for clinically severe obesity in the United States. Methodist Hospitals ReStart Center offers this procedure, which is less invasive than traditional weight loss surgery, such as gastric bypass.

The procedure is performed through small incisions as laparoscopic devices guide the placement of an adjustable silicone band. The band is fastened around the upper stomach to create a small pouch that limits the amount of food one can eat. Patients experience a feeling of fullness earlier and are more easily satisfied with small amounts of food.

The LAP-BAND is considered the least traumatic of all weight loss surgeries because there is no cutting, stapling or intestinal re-routing. Because there are no large incisions, pain is reduced, the hospital stay is shorter and recovery is quicker. The procedure is also completely reversible.

As time goes on, the LAP-BAND may be adjusted according to the individual needs of the patient. If weight loss slows down, the band can be tightened, making the opening between the pouch and the rest of the stomach smaller, resulting in a longer lasting feeling of fullness after eating. The adjustment is made using a port that is implanted under the skin in the abdomen. By adding saline, the band is tightened. Most patients require 4-6 adjustments the first year.

How Much Weight Do Methodist Hospitals ReStart Center Patients Lose?
No one can predict how much weight you will lose. However, a typical person who has had Gastric Bypass can expect to lose 66 – 88% of their excess body weight within the first 2 years after surgery.

A LAP-BAND patient can lose 50 – 60% of their excess body weight within the first 2 years after surgery.

It's not just the weight you lose; it's the new life you can begin to live. You will feel better, be more active, and healthier! And that is the most important result of Bariatric Surgery! Once you shed those excess pounds, you may also find that you are relieved of the chronic ailments that you experienced before joining our program.

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