When diet, exercise, and medication aren’t working, weight loss surgery can help you achieve your weight loss goals and live a healthier life. At the University of Kansas Health System, we understand that bariatric surgery is a big decision. Our doctors are here to help answer any questions you may have about weight loss surgery, including whether it may be right for you. We offer pre-surgery counseling, post-surgery support, and a wide range of resources to help you live a healthier, more active life.
Research has shown that weight loss surgery is an effective way to achieve long-term weight loss. It can also improve conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea. Our medical weight loss program provides bariatric surgical treatments to treat a wide range of conditions that affect your ability to maintain a healthy weight.
We offer the following types of weight loss surgery:
Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS)
Revisional surgeries
Roux-en-Y (gastric bypass)
Sleeve gastrectomy
Bariatric surgery may be an option for adults with a BMI of 40 or more, or for patients with serious health conditions like diabetes or heart disease who have a BMI between 35 and 40. Patients with a BMI below 35 do not qualify for bariatric surgery.
If you have additional questions, please contact our bariatric patient navigator by calling (785) 270-7326.
After weight loss surgery
Weight loss surgery is just the first step towards a healthier life. To help you achieve the best results possible, our weight loss program also provides:
Exercise education and wellness classes
Nutrition education and guidance
Regular follow-up appointments
Support groups
Research has shown that patients who attend support groups are more successful in reaching their weight loss goals after surgery. For this reason, we offer free online weight loss support groups to our patients who have had weight loss surgery or are about to have weight loss surgery. The virtual group provides education and encouragement through guided discussions and guest speakers— all from the comfort of your home. Family and support persons are welcome to attend as well.
To learn more about our virtual support groups, please click here.
Schedule an appointment
The decision to have bariatric surgery is best made with lots of information and an equal amount of support, and that’s just what we provide. First, you’ll meet one of our surgeons at a free seminar, where you’ll learn about our process and the surgical options we provide. Then you’ll have a one-on-one appointment to discuss which option is right for you.
There are three steps required for an initial consultation at our weight loss clinic:
Complete the short quiz following the seminar and earn a score of 100.
After you complete the quiz, a member of our support staff will be in contact with you to review insurance coverage and schedule your first consultation.
We plan your personalized treatment together, from surgery through the lifestyle changes that will occur as a result. You’ll have access to post-surgery resources such as support groups, weight loss seminars, nutritional advice, exercise classes — and, of course, our caring team of physicians. With help from one of our specialists, you’ll be on your way to the healthier life you deserve.
Why the University of Kansas Health System?
We are proud to have the most experienced weight loss surgery team in the region, with more than 3,000 bariatric surgeries performed since opening in 2002. In addition to having top surgeons, we provide a multidisciplinary team including a medical weight loss expert, dietitians, nurses and other professionals with expertise in caring for patients before, during and after weight loss surgery.
Since 2007, our bariatrics program has been named an Accredited MBSAQIP (Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accredited Quality Improvement Program) by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the American College of Surgeons (ACS). The MBSAQIP Accreditation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes and low complication rates.
The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus is also recognized as a CIGNA Bariatric Center of Excellence.
For more information, please call us at (785) 232-0444 or email us at bariatricstaff@kutopeka.com. We look forward to working with you and helping you reach your weight-loss goals.
With limited space in our new stomachs, it is important that we are eating enough protein throughout the day as well as other healthy side options. Below you will find some different ideas for food substitutions. By swapping out some of your ingredients, you can help cut out extra calories.
Greek yogurt
You can use this anywhere you would use mayonnaise, sour cream, regular yogurt, cream cheese, whipped cream and some butter. Greek yogurt is a perfect substitute and contains a lot of protein.
Fats that you eat hold both good and bad attributes. It is a macronutrient like carbohydrates and protein. Too much saturated fat in your diet can raise your cholesterol, which increases the risk of heart disease. However, unsaturated fat is good for lowering your cholesterol and helping your body absorb vitamins A, D, E and K.
Feeling the winter blues and not wanting to get outside to get those steps in? Believe it or not, there ARE benefits to winter walking and with the proper planning, it could actually become one of your favorite activities!
Postsurgery hair loss, otherwise known as Telogen Effluvium, can be very alarming, but please understand that it is to be expected and, unless you have an underlying condition or genetic disposition, it is only temporary! Most bariatric surgery patients will experience hair loss at some point during the early part of their honeymoon phase. Your hair can shed between one and six months after surgery (but usually around three to four months) and generally grows back within six months.
Plateaus occur when you stay at a stable weight and are not losing anything for a period of time. As frustrating as plateaus are, they will happen at some point. Plateaus are either a result of not implementing a healthy lifestyle or it happens after subsequent weeks of dramatic weight loss. Wherever you are in your journey, don’t become disillusioned with your weight loss tool. It does work. Some things to try when you find yourself in a rut:
An important aspect of bariatric surgery is continued postoperative follow-up. By staying in contact with our office, we can help keep you healthy and minimize complications.
Bariatric patients need to be followed closely after surgery for the following reasons:
Weight loss surgery is about improving your health and a big part of improving your health is getting proper nutrition. It is hard for anyone to get good nutrition with a normal digestive system and after bariatric surgery, it becomes even more difficult. Because of the surgical changes, your body cannot extract all the nutrients it needs from your meals and therefore, you must take daily supplements for the rest of your life. Supplements are of upmost importance because deficiencies can impact blood, bone, muscle and neurological health.
One of the most common New Year's resolutions is to lose weight.
If you are just beginning your journey, have had a weight loss stall or you are finding some weight creeping back on, now is a great time to set new, achievable goals for yourself.
Some examples of very important daily goals should include, but are not limited to:
The honeymoon period is considered the first 18 months following weight loss surgery when you will find your weight dropping off quickly and, at times, it seems to do so without much hard work. Take advantage of this time to learn your limits and reestablish your relationship with food. This is your time to lose as much weight as you can and to achieve your lowest weight. Being a smaller, healthier you will not change any past struggles. If you are an emotional eater, you will need to monitor your weight to see if you are gaining during challenging times. Appet
Are carbohydrates after weight loss surgery bad? NO! Not all carbohydrates are bad and they are one of the six essential nutrients that make up our diets. Despite their bad reputation, carbs are necessary for survival and are your body’s main source of energy. They fuel your kidneys, heart muscles, brain and central nervous system.
Healthy carbs are things that contain protein (beans, lentils, peas, milk and yogurt) or fiber (beans, whole grains and whole fruits).
