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Surgical Solutions Dr. Daniel Smith leads the bariatric surgery team at CHI St. Joseph's Health Weight Management Center, offering patients the following minimally invasive weight-loss surgery options: Gastric bypass—This surgery makes the stomach smaller. It also reduces the amount of food a person needs to feel satisfied at each meal and minimize the calories absorbed during digestion. To perform the procedure, a surgeon seals off a portion of the stomach, creating a smaller pouch for food. This pouch is then directly routed to the middle portion of the small intestine. Changing the digestion route alters hormones in the gut that help a person feel full and suppress hunger. Sleeve gastrectomy—This bariatric procedure is designed to make the stomach smaller and reduce the amount of food a person needs to feel full. A surgeon removes a large portion of the stomach to achieve this goal. Revision surgeries—Some people who have had previous weight-loss surgeries may need a revision to their surgery. The surgeon and physician assistant can best advise patients on whether or not they need a revision procedure and what that procedure should be for optimum health benefit and safety. Post-Surgery Support "Our surgeons have a passion for bariatric surgery in combination with options to help support a healthier lifestyle post-surgery," says Leah Walters, RDN, LD, CDE, CHI St. Joseph's Health Weight Management Center Bariatric Director. "This is truly a specialty clinic. Everyone has a heart to care for and listen to our patients, walking with them and motivating them every step of the way." Weight-loss surgery is an effective option for individuals living with medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, infertility, joint pain, sleep apnea, or reflux disease. "We don't write off excess weight as being caused by laziness or lack of willpower, and overcoming the challenge may require more than prescribing a diet and exercise plan," Walters says. "So many different conditions and illnesses may impact a person's weight." To determine and address the specific reason for a person's weight gain, a multidisciplinary team, which may include a dietitian, a health coach, an exercise specialist, nurse, mental health professional, primary care providers, physician assistant, and a surgeon, will collaborate with each patient to sketch out a weight- loss strategy. This plan may include medication management, minimally invasive weight-loss surgical options, and lifestyle adjustments. Each plan is implemented gradually to encourage sustainable change. "Not everyone is prepared to make big changes all at once, and that's okay," Walters says. "Our team is here to help each person make realistic changes that will last." To learn more about how the CHI St. Joseph's Health Weight Management Center team can help you or a loved one live a healthier life, call 218.237.5757. Our program is about more than weight management. When people achieve their goals, they typically nd a renewed sense of self-worth. Watching each individual embrace the gifts they have been given and run with them is atrue joy. LEAH WALTERS, RDN, LD, CDE, CHI ST. JOSEPH'S HEALTH WEIGHT MANAGEMENT CENTER BARIATRIC DIRECTOR www.CHISJH.org | CHI St. Joseph's Health 9