Meet Danielle, who benefited from bariatric surgery when she learned that her diabetes could cause life-threatening complications. Here, you’ll learn about:
Long-term effects of bariatric surgery, including weight maintenance and other health benefits
“Tummy-tuck” procedures post-surgery
Post-surgery meal plans
Specifics on how bariatric surgery can improve or even reverse diabetes
Recently, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a study co-authored by Dr. Anita Courcoulas, Director of Minimally Invasive Bariatric and General Surgery at UPMC that is showing the positive effects of weight loss surgery even after an extended amount of time. Most patients have seen a significant improvement in weight loss, keeping the weight off, as well as improvement in diabetes, lipids, and blood pressure at the three year mark.
Bariatric Surgery Centers at UPMC
Each of UPMC’s four bariatric surgery centers has been named a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Our multidisciplinary approach to weight loss through both surgery and lifestyle changes is available at:
UPMC Hamot: For more information, call 814-877-6997.
UPMC Horizon: For more information, call 724-588-6660.
UPMC St. Margaret: For more information, click here or call 412-784-5900.
Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC: For more information, click here or call 412-641-3632.
Each center offers free monthly information sessions. Visit our website to learn more about bariatric surgery, or to find out if you’re a candidate."
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string(243) "Studies have shown that most patients who have undergone bariatric surgery have seen a significant improvement in weight loss, keeping the weight off, as well as improvement in diabetes, lipids, and blood pressure, even at the three year mark."
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Studies have shown that most patients who have undergone bariatric surgery have seen a significant improvement in weight loss, keeping the weight off, as well as improvement in diabetes, lipids, and blood pressure, even at the three year mark.Read More
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string(4102) "A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure that is designed to remove excess skin and fat tissue and tightens the muscle and fascia of the abdominal wall. It also can remove bulging muscle in the abdomen due to pregnancy, weight fluctuations, and genetics. Tummy tucks are suitable for both men and women who are in good health. For those interested in the abdominoplasty surgery, it's important to choose a trusted surgeon that will have your best goals in mind. Tummy tucks do vary in scope and are often sub-divided into categories.
To help get a better understanding about this procedure, Jeffrey Gusenoff, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon at UPMC, answers some frequently asked questions.
Q: Who Is a Candidate?
A: Anyone, male or female, who has some loose skin of the abdomen that desires to have a smoother, flatter, tighter contour would be a good candidate. Many people have been successful at weight loss, either by diet and exercise or bariatric procedures, or are post-pregnancy and desire an improvement in how they look. Smokers and people with higher BMIs are not good candidates for a tummy tuck, but can be if they reduce their risk factors, such as quitting smoking or losing some weight.
Q: What Type of Results Can I Expect After My Tummy Tuck?
A: Typical results include a flat abdomen with removal of any skin rolls. The results of a tummy tuck are very long lasting, as long as there aren't huge fluctuations in weight due to dieting or pregnancy.
Q: What Are the Risks and Complications Associated with this Procedure?
A: Most of the risks are minor, such as wound healing issues, scar asymmetry, numbness, or some fluid buildup. More severe, but less common risks include blood clots to the legs or lungs, bleeding, or infection.
Q: How Long of a Recovery Period Can I Expect, and What Kind of Help Will I Need During my Recovery?
A: It's always good to have someone help you at home for the first few days. You can expect to be bent over about 30 degrees for the first week, and then upright after that. No heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for 4-6 weeks. People can often return to desk work 2-3 weeks after surgery.
Q: What Will be Expected of Me to Get the Best Results Following the Procedure?
A: Making sure you maintain a healthy lifestyle is the best way to maintain and achieve the best results after body contouring procedures.
Q: What Should You Look for When Selecting a Plastic Surgeon?
A: Always look for a plastic surgeon that is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. You can search on their websites to see if your surgeon has the correct credentials. You can also ask to see before and after pictures, or ask to speak to patients willing to talk to other patients about their experiences. Patients should do their homework before selecting a surgeon!
Taking the overall health of the patient into consideration, tummy tuck procedures can be life altering in very positive ways. Because abdominoplasty is a major surgery, it does require extensive research and understanding before consulting the proper surgeon to perform the procedure. Whether you're looking to continue on a healthy trajectory or make a life change with an abdominoplasty, UPMC is always interested in helping you achieve your goals.
If you would like to learn more about tummy tuck procedures as well as our other innovative surgical techniques following massive weight loss visit the Life After Weight Loss Program website.
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string(184) "Tummy tucks, also known as abdominoplasties, are common among bariatric surgery patients to remove excess skin and fat tissue. Our experts share what you can expect from the procedure."
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Tummy tucks, also known as abdominoplasties, are common among bariatric surgery patients to remove excess skin and fat tissue. Our experts share what you can expect from the procedure.Read More
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string(958) "Bariatric surgery is a huge step in the direction towards a healthy life – but it doesn't happen all at once. Recovery from bariatric surgery happens one notch at a time, which can be discouraging if you don't have a plan in front of you. From clear liquid to pureed diet, all the way to stabilization, our infographic outlines a diet plan for each of the five steps on your bariatric recovery. Read more to help your body adapt to healthier eating habits and find recipes to inspire your healthy eating habits on UPMC's Bariatric Diet Resource for Recovery:
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string(42) "Infographic: Bariatric Recovery Meal Plans"
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Recovery from bariatric surgery happens one notch at a time, which can be a difficult obstacle if you don’t have a plan. From clear liquid to pureed diet, all the way to stabilization, our infographic outlines a diet plan for each of the five steps on your bariatric recovery. Check out our infographic for a guide on each of the steps on the bariatric journey.View Infographic
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string(4326) "It's clear that bariatric surgery can be a useful tool for people who need to lose 100 pounds or more: It may help you achieve long-term weight loss, reduce or eliminate life-threatening weight-related conditions, increase longevity, and improve your quality of life. But can bariatric surgery also control or even help reverse type 2 diabetes?
A Look at the Diabetes and Bariatric Research
It's quite possible, according to some research, including studies conducted at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). For instance, researchers looked at data from male and female patients at 10 different hospitals who had undergone either gastric bypass surgery or laparoscopic gastric banding. After three years, the researchers found that, of the people who had specific obesity-related health problems prior to surgery, 67 percent experienced partial remission from diabetes. These findings were published in 2013 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
More recently, investigators at UPMC randomly assigned 61 people to one of three groups: gastric bypass surgery, laparoscopic gastric banding, or a nonsurgical intensive weight-loss program. All of the patients also followed lifestyle approaches. After three years, 40 percent of the first group and 29 percent of the second group had partial or full remission of diabetes, compared to none of those in the third group. In addition, that remission lasted at least two years in 45 percent of first group and 29 percent of the second group. This study, which was published online in JAMA Surgery, is one of just a few to look at the long-term effects of bariatric surgery on diabetes.
Bariatric Surgery and Procedure Options
There are several different types of bariatric surgery, but the two that have been best studied for their effect on diabetes are gastric bypass surgery and laparoscopic gastric banding.
What is gastric bypass surgery?
Also called the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure, the former is the most common form of weight loss surgery performed in the United States today. In this surgical procedure, your surgeon will create a small pouch that bypasses the stomach and attaches to the intestine. This pouch will act as your new stomach and can only hold about one cup of food, compared to four to six cups in a normal stomach.
What is laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery?
Also known as adjustable gastric banding, laparoscopic gastric banding involves the insertion of a thin, inflatable ring called a gastric band to create a new, smaller stomach pouch so you feel full sooner. Unlike traditional gastric bypass surgery, lap band surgery is minimally invasive and reversible.
Both types of bariatric surgery may help control type 2 diabetes by reducing visceral fat — the kind of fat around internal organs, which contributes to problems with blood sugar. Bariatric surgery may also improve blood sugar control by altering levels of gut hormones, as well as by speeding up weight loss and encouraging you to follow lifestyle measures such as eating well and exercising regularly.
For more information on bariatric surgery, and to find out if you're a candidate, visit the UPMC Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence website or contact us to attend an information session.
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string(378) "It's clear that bariatric surgery can be a useful tool for people who need to lose 100 pounds or more. But can bariatric surgery also control or even help reverse type 2 diabetes? According to studies conducted at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, it’s quite possible. Read more to discover how bariatric surgery can improve quality of life for those with diabetes."
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It’s clear that bariatric surgery can be a useful tool for people who need to lose 100 pounds or more. But can bariatric surgery also control or even help reverse type 2 diabetes? According to studies conducted at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, it’s quite possible. Read more to discover how bariatric surgery can improve quality of life for those with diabetes.Read More
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