Not sure if you guys heard the news last week, but some exciting reports got a lot of attention. Baically, two well designed studies from the US compared individuals with diabetes who had either undergone Gastric Bypass surgery versus the best available medical treatment. Not surprisingly, the surgery group of patients did remarkabley well in acheiving high rates of diabetes remision. We’ve all known how good the Bypass is in having patients get off their diabetic medication, but these studies were a big support in proving to all health care providers the benefits of bariatric surgery. News of the reports were seen on CBS news and also the local paper. It is going to be an exciting time for bariatric surgery, with a greater acceptance of these procedures causing positive metabolic effects like diabetes improvement.
Here are the two articles if interested:
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For all you patients who underwent the LapBand procedure over the last year, I want to thank you for your great work! As you know, in November of 2009, we started doing Single Incison Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS) Lap Bands. This is where the operation is done through a cut in the belly button, thereby creating less scarring. The lack of any visible scar is so good, that I have some patients where you can’t even tell they had an operation.
I went to Hokkaido, Japan in February to present our data on this procedure to the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity (IFSO). It was an honor to share our data on the excellent results our patients are having. Yes, we missed the earthquake by a week, and my heart goes out to all the people suffering from this incredible natural disaster.
It is my feeling that the SILS LapBand, when done safely, provides an excellent result with high patient satisfaction. I think that this “new technique” will eventually catch on with other surgeons as they see the positive results.
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Dr. Fowler Offers First Single Incision Weight Loss Procedure in Hawaii
At his Honolulu, HI bariatric surgery practice, Dr. Steven Fowler is the first surgeon to offer single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS). While Dr. Fowler says his first priority is patient safety, he believes the ability to decrease the aesthetic impact of weight loss surgery and perform the LAP-BAND Surgery® for weight loss through a smaller incision is also important to his patients.
Dr. Steven Fowler, a board-certified bariatric surgeon in Honolulu, is the only surgeon to use an innovative technique which allows for a smaller incision when performing the popular LAP-BAND Surgery in Hawaii. Dr. Fowler says patient safety is the top priority for any weight loss procedure, and patient satisfaction also plays an integral role in the overall success of treatment, which is why utilizing the latest technological advancement in bariatric surgery – known as SILS, or single incision laparoscopic surgery – is a top priority for him as well.
While Dr. Fowler admits safe weight loss and a healthy transformation remain the top priorities for any weight loss procedure, whether that be the LAP-BAND System® or a gastric bypass, patients often express concern over the size and shape of the scar. From the initial consultation, Dr. Fowler says he carefully explains the various weight loss surgery options available, while addressing each step of the process from pre-operative responsibilities to recovery, which includes the aesthetic appearance once all is said and done. “A true benchmark of a surgeon’s performance is safety. But in addition, if an incision can made smaller, why wouldn’t a patient consider that procedure.”
Whether Dr. Fowler is performing a procedure using the SILS method, or another recent innovation in the field of bariatric surgery known as the gastric sleeve, he says he always remains conscious of the overall aesthetic impact of each procedure. As the first surgeon in Hawaii to offer this cutting-edge approach to the LAP-BAND System®, he adds he still enjoys the general surprise patients express at the lack of scarring. “I’ve had patients tell me that their friends couldn’t find the scar left behind by their weight loss procedure.”
About Dr. Fowler
Dr. Steven Fowler earned his medical degree from the Boston University School of Medicine, and then completed his surgical residency at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, CA. He is the acting medical director at Castle Medical Center, which was designated as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence® by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
Aloha Surgery is located at 928 Nuuanu Ave. #400 in Honolulu, HI 96813, and can be reached at (808) 521-1300, or found online at alohasurgery.com or the Aloha Surgery – Dr. Steven Fowler Facebook page.
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On a fairly surprising note, the FDA adjusted its criteria for LapBand surgery. The old FDA recommendations were for LapBand placement in adults with a BMI of greater than 40, or a BMI 35-40 with a serious medical condition related to obesity. The new criteria have dropped the BMI level to 30-35 with a serious medical condition. What’s a serious medical condition? This will include diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, and heart disease. This is a big step in realizing surgical weight loss as the best tool in conjunction with a comprehensive weight loss program, to improve an individual’ health.
Even though the FDA now approves this lower BMI rating, I doubt the local insurances will rush to alter their surgical weight loss policy criteria. So, for now, if one falls within this category, they will most likely have to pursue surgery on a cash pay basis.
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Have you guys heard about the buzz regarding multivitamins linked to increased death rates? This month in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers found a slightly increased death rate in individuals who consume multivitamins on a regular basis over a 19 year period. The study gets respect interms of the amount of patinets studied (about 40 thousand women), and the extended follow up period, but needs some serious perspective in stating its results:
-This sudy merely shows and association. It does not prove cause and effect… meaning it doesn’t show that the multivitamins increase your risk.
-It does not address nutritional needs of post surgical weight loss patients. It is clearly shown that bariatric patients need some type of nutritional supplement to prevent vitamin defficiencies.
-It fails to discuss the real issue of overall decreased nutrition of Americsns. Our generation eats greater amounts of simple sugars, modified fats, and highly processed foods with decreased nutritional content. A multivitamin can help offset this poor diet, and it’s certainly better than nothing…. but the real message should be centered on educating and supporting a society towards good nutritional food consumption.
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