Surgical Weight Loss

Welcome to Northwest Medical Center's Surgical Weight Loss Program. The decision to undergo surgical weight loss is not an easy one. We want to congratulate you on having the courage to take this important first step.

As you learn more about Northwest Medical Center's Surgical Weight Loss Program, we're sure you will be impressed by our level of compassion, innovation, expertise and the special care we provide our patients. We promise that your dignity and respect will never be compromised.

We are pleased to have been designated a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence® (BSCOE) from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). The ASMBS BSCOE designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery.

Click on any of the links below for more information on our program. You can also download the Surgical Weight Loss Information Packet below or call 888-654-9355 to request a packet by mail.

• Attend a Surgical Weight Loss Informational Seminar
• NMC's Surgical Weight Loss Program
• Meet the Surgeons & Program Coordinator
• Program Requirements
• Surgical Procedures
• What to Expect Before and After Surgery
• What Results Can You Expect?
• Download Surgical Weight Loss Brochure
• Download Surgical Weight Loss Information Packet
• Online resources

All classes are held in Classrooms C & D at Northwest Medical Center, 6200 N. La Cholla Blvd.

To register, click here. Or call 888-654-9355.

[ back to top ]

Surgical Weight Loss is a first step in a lifelong journey toward improved health and a new you. It can result in significant weight loss, reduction of co-morbidities like diabetes and hypertension and provide an increase in both quantity and quality of life. You are making one of the most important decisions of your life and we know that you need a hospital with a proven track record and a program that supports you every step of the way. Northwest Medical Center provides both.

Since May 2003, over 330 weight loss surgeries have been performed at Northwest Medical Center. We're especially proud of the preliminary approval we have received to become a Surgical Weight Loss Center of Excellence. It's one of the highest designations a hospital can achieve and means that we are meeting a strict set of criteria that includes physician expertise, demonstrated quality, leading technology and high customer satisfaction.

As a patient in NMC's Surgical Weight Loss program, you'll have a team of specially trained medical professionals working together to ensure the best possible outcome for you. In addition we have diagnostic equipment, furnishings, wheelchairs and even gowns that accommodate people of all sizes. We also provide weight loss management support for a full year following surgery. We want you to be our latest success story and that is why we provide you all the tools to help you achieve your goals.

[ back to top ]

Dr. Patrick Chiasson migrated to Tucson from Canada. He received his medical education at McGill University, a Master's degree from the Institute for the History of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University, and his general surgical training at Dalhousie University. More recently, he completed his sub-specialty training in advanced laparoscopic surgery at the University of Toronto's highly regarded Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery. He has numerous publications to his credit that address such issues as Minimally Invasive Surgery techniques and outcomes, Health Policy, Medical Ethics and Health Law. His particular surgical interests include the application of advanced laparoscopic techniques to gastro-intestinal cancer, solid organ conditions, and the surgical management of morbid obesity.

Dr. Stephen Burpee is also a native of Canada. He received his medical degree from the University of Western Ontario. His surgical residency was performed at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and his subsequent fellowship in advanced laparoscopic surgery was performed at the University of Toronto. He also obtained additional training in laparoscopic bariatric surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and spent time as a research fellow in the department of Minimally Invasive Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. He has many publications in the area of Minimally Invasive Surgery and has special interest in diseases of the gastroesophageal junction, colorectal disease and the surgical management of morbid obesity.

Gayle Duke is NMC's Surgical Weight Loss Program Coordinator. She is a registered nurse and a successful gastric bypass patient herself. She provides the unique combination of compassionate nursing skills with the intimate knowledge of someone 'who's been there'. She will be your 'rock' throughout the process, from your first encounter with the program to your successful transition to post operative life.

[ back to top ]

The following is only a partial list of the requirements needed for acceptance into NMC's Surgical Weight Loss program. For a complete list, download the Surgical Weight Loss information packet or request a packet be mailed to you by calling 888-654-9355.

• Must meet the National Institutes of Health guidelines for Body Mass Index (BMI) (BMI>40 with no co-morbidity or BMI>35 with significant co-morbidity) - click here for BMI calculator
• Attend free Surgical Weight Loss seminar held twice a month
• Attend meetings of Tucson Weight Loss Surgery Support Group
• Documentation from Primary Care Physician on co-morbidities
• Complete pre-surgical lab tests and evaluations
• Meet with surgeon to discuss whether Surgical Weight Loss is right for you

[ back to top ]

Morbid (severe) obesity is a disease that affects 3- to 6-million people in the United States and is not curable by medical therapy, dieting or medication. Morbid obesity is defined by a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 39 or the equivalent of 100 or more pounds over the Ideal Body Weight. In addition, severely obese people typically have a host of additional health issues called co-morbidities. These co-morbidities can include diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, joint disease, reflux and sleep apena. For anyone who fits into this category, the National Institutes of Health recognizes surgery as the only therapy to have along lasting effects.

Northwest Medical Center is the only hospital in Tucson that offers three different options for Surgical Weight Loss. All of our weight loss surgeries are done laparascopically. This means a smaller incision, less scarring, less pain and a faster recovery time for you.

Here is an overview of the three different weight loss surgeries that are performed at NMC:

• Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy or VSG: This procedure involves reducing the stomach to the size of a ballpoint pen. There is no bypass of the intestines. It is ideal for patients who have very high medical risk, high weight or BMI, complex surgical histories or those who are fearful of potential complications from an intestinal bypass. Patients typically lose 100 pounds in the first year.
• Gastric Bypass: A small pouch, about the size of your thumb, is created at the top of the stomach. A section of the small intestine or bowel is then attached to the pouch allowing food to 'bypass' the larger section of stomach. You will feel full more quickly than when your stomach was its original size, which reduces the amount of food you eat and thus the calories consumed. Bypassing part of the intestine also results in fewer calories being absorbed. This leads to weight loss. Patients typically lose 60- to 80-percent of their excess body weight in 18 months.
• Lap Band: A small pouch is created in the upper part of the stomach with an adjustable band. This procedure essentially creates a 'new stomach' and dramatically limits food intake. The band can be inflated or deflated at any time after the operation to allow the patient to meet their weight loss goals. Patients who undergo the lap band procedure typically lose 50-percent of their excess weight in three years.

[ back to top ]

Once you have been accepted into the Surgical Weight Loss Program, you will undergo several tests to assess your health prior to scheduling your surgical procedure. Some of those tests include:

• A comprehensive health assessment completed by the surgeon
• Blood work and lab tests
• Diagnostic studies that may include a sleep study, endoscopy, chest x-ray, pulmonary function test (PFT), stress test, abdominal ultrasound, upper gastrointestinal series (UGI) and EKG.
• Behavior assessment with psychologist
• Meeting with a dietitian

Once your pre-surgery work is complete, your surgeon will decide whether to move forward with the surgery. There may be certain health issues that require treatment before the surgeon feels you are ready to undergo the procedure.

Surgical weight loss patients typically stay in the hospital approximately two days. You will be encouraged to be up and moving within 4 hours of your surgery, then walking every 2 hours thereafter. You will receive pain medication as needed, either by a nurse or by administering it yourself through a device connected to your intravenous line.

At first you will receive fluids through an IV. After a day or two you will be given clear liquids, such as water, broth or sugar-free gelatin. You will stay on clear liquids along with liquid protein for the first 3 weeks post operatively. Starting on day 21, you will progress to two protein shakes per day and one meal from a list that will be given to you prior to your surgery.

After you are discharged from the hospital, arrangements should be made for a follow-up visit with your physician, roughly seven to ten days after surgery.

Weight loss surgery can be emotionally difficult because you will be adjusting to new dietary habits and a body in the process of change. You may feel especially tired during the first month following surgery.

[ back to top ]

Having weight loss surgery can feel like a new beginning. The amount of weight you lose will depend on the type of surgical procedure you have done and how committed you are to the required lifestyle changes, including exercise and eating habits. Typically patients continue losing weight 18 to 24 months after surgery. In order for you to see optimum results, NMC's Surgical Weight Loss Program recommends patients follow The Four Rules which are explained at length in the Patient Education Handbook.

• Eat protein first at every meal
• Drink at least 64 ounces of water each day
• Exercise 30 to 60 minutes every day.
• Absolutely no snacking

After weight loss surgery, the amount you can eat before feeling full is significantly reduced. You may feel full after just a few bites. Your doctor recommends eating three small meals a day as mentioned above, along with vitamins to ensure you get proper nutrition. Most patients experience some difficulty tolerating red meat and sweets after surgery.

Even if the ideal weight is not reached, co-morbidities are improved in most cases. Many patients find they no longer need medications for diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, arthritis and back pain. Most patients report an increase in self-esteem and self-confidence and an improvement in their overall quality of life.

[ back to top ]

• BMI Calculator
• Southern Arizona Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery & Weight Loss Center - Patrick Chiasson, MD & Stephen Burpee, MD
• American Society for Bariatric Surgery

[ back to top ]