Recidivism Is Not A Failure

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I just read a very good, inspirational article about human history of obesity. it specifically speaks to recidivism of it, but also compares it to other common, deadly diseases, such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular and its recidivism.

Not surprising to me, nobody shames medical doctors or surgeons for failure to control diabetes or cancer or cardiovascular diseases, but when it comes to Obesity and surgery for it, we or the patient get blamed for recidivism? Totally wrong and unfair. I think the opposite is true.

When we, bariatric surgeons, perform gastric sleeve or gastric bypass, or even bariatric revision surgery, and our respective patients diabetes, or sleep apnea or hypertension goes away or its management is improved for many years to come, we contribute not just to the obesity treatment of human race, but to other conditions and should not be discriminated against, but instead rewarded or applaud for it.

We at Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeons of Morris have been doing it for 2 decades and proudly helped thousands of patients!

Click here to read the article.

Pain and Nausea Protocols After Bariatric Surgery

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Recently I read the article from ACS (American College of Surgeons), describing a protocol to reduce postoperative pain, nausea and re-admissions after gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy. It shows that with good patients education, proper pre, post and intraoperative management patients can be safely discharged in 1 day.

To my satisfaction and to the benefit of our patients I must say, that everything that is described in the article has been in use by my practice at Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeons of Morris, LLC, for many years.

So our patients, who undergo gastric sleeve surgery or gastric bypass can be rest assured that they are getting the best care and have been for many years.

Click here to read to full article.

Long Term Outcomes Comparing Bariatric Surgery to No Surgery in Diabetic Patients with BMI 30-35

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I read an article recently, which compared results between bariatric surgery and medical weight loss for patients with diabetes with BMI between 30-35 – category currently excluded from bariatric surgery coverage through insurance.

The study clearly shows that surgeries, such as gastric sleeve and/or gastric bypass are superior for resolution or improvement in management of diabetes, amount of weight loss and maintained in 5 years, which is a long time, when it comes to statistical accuracy.

Overall it proves what we at Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeons of Morris have known for a long time,- gastric sleeve and gastric bypass are safe and work better for diabetic patients, than medical management, and more patients should be referred and considering it, even if insurance doesn’t cover it, because diabetes is a deadly disease and people shouldn’t be playing with their lives, when it comes to it.

We offer very reasonably priced self-pay packages, when insurance doesn’t cover surgery, and it is tax-deductible and “pays for itself” in less than 2 years, when you compare cost of medications, sick days, etc.

To read the full article, click here to download.

Incidence and Prognosis of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis in Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

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I came across an interesting article today about improvements in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis with weight loss surgery. I am proud to say that we at Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeons of Morris have known for many years about benefits of metabolic surgeries, such as gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy in the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, as well as the fact that gastric banding really doesn’t have a positive impact on these conditions.

And now one of the most reputable medical journals – JAMA, published an article, which confirms what we already know and have been advocating – we give patients an excellent tool, be it sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass, and combined with healthy diet, rich in protein and fiber, as well as plenty of water, they are looking to have improvement or even resolution of these conditions and much better quality of life.

Please click here to read the full article.

RMR Testing

Can You Change Your Metabolism?

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I came across an interesting article recently about the use of Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) testing to facilitate dieting or changing your metabolic rate.

I am proud to say that we at Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeons of Morris have been using this technology for many years prior to weight loss surgeries, such as sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass, to name a few, as well as after, so we can keep our patients on track to reach their goals.

The article confirms what we already know – we give patients an excellent tool, be it sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass, and combined with healthy diet, rich in protein and fiber, as well as plenty of water, they are empowered to succeed.

Click here to read the full article from the Washington Post.

The Irony of Medically Supervised Weight Loss Before Surgery

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Insurance-required medically supervised weight loss before surgery is literally killing some patients before they can get life-saving weight loss surgery.

Gastric Sleeve Resection as Day-Case Surgery: What Affects the Discharge Time?

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A lot of patients ask me during the consultation, if they can go home on a same day of Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery, or they will have to stay in the hospital. I usually answer that majority of the patient elect to stay for variety of reasons – nausea, pain, fear of going home, etc.

But, as early as in 2011, we at Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeons of Morris, were doing Sleeve Gastrectomy at the Surgery Center as a outpatient procedure! So, when I came across the article about the feasibility of surgery as a Same Day Procedure, it confirmed what I already know and now I would like to share that we you, our current or prospective patients.

Click here to read the full article

Effectiveness of Sleeve Gastrectomy and Gastric Bypass in the Resolution of Diabetes

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We at ALSOM wish everyone a healthy and happy New Year.

As the country struggles with diabetes and the obesity epidemic, projected to only get worse, the attached article showcases effectiveness of both sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass in the resolution of diabetes, as well as excellent weight loss results.

Click here to download the study.

 

Half of the U.S. Population Will Be Obese by 2030

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Obesity remains a serious and growing health problem in the United States, contributing to heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnea and even certain types of cancer. And according to the latest data, half of the U.S. population will be obese by 2030 – more than ever recorded.

In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers led by Zachary Ward at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health analyzed body mass index (BMI) data reported by more than 6.2 million adults who answered questions for the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey (BRFSS).

The findings from their approach suggest with high predictive accuracy that by 2030 nearly 1 in 2 adults will have obesity (48.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 47.7 to 50.1), and the prevalence will be higher than 50% in 29 states and not below 35% in any state. Nearly 1 in 4 adults is projected to have severe obesity by 2030 (24.2%; 95% CI, 22.9 to 25.5), and the prevalence will be higher than 25% in 25 states. We predict that, nationally, severe obesity is likely to become the most common BMI category among women (27.6%; 95% CI, 26.1 to 29.2), non-Hispanic black adults (31.7%; 95% CI, 29.9 to 33.4), and low-income adults (31.7%; 95% CI, 30.2 to 33.2).

Contact us today to learn if bariatric surgery is right for you.

 

How can you escape type 2 diabetes?

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I recently reviewed the new website, created by American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), called EscapeDiabetes.org. It provides amazing, powerful information and tools for people suffering from diabetes and obesity, to make scientifically sound decisions about their health and choices, such as Bariatric surgery, gastric sleeve, gastric bypass or medically managing the disease.

You can login, input your data, your medical issues, medications and it will tell you what your risks are for complications with or without surgery, how surgery can definitely reduce complications from diabetes and prolong your life.

It is VERY POWERFUL and compelling and I hope that those of you, who are reading this post, and pondering gastric sleeve or gastric bypass, will be able to move forward with surgery, knowing that it can SAVE YOUR LIFE.

Please click the link below for the website.
https://asmbs.org/escape-diabetes

Dr. Alexander Abkin, MD, FACS, FASMBS.