Obesity is a serious, chronic disease that is known to reduce a person’s lifespan, increase disabilities and create many co-morbid conditions. A weight problem is more than just appearance: obesity is a health hazard. According to the National Institutes of Health, 66 percent of adults in the United States are either overweight or obese. Obesity not only affects adults, but 25 percent of American children are obese, and obesity is now the leading cause of preventable deaths. Being overweight or obese can cause diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, stroke, hypertension, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and other breathing problems and some forms of cancer.
Obesity also is associated with complications during pregnancy, menstrual irregularities, stress incontinence, psychological disorders, depression and increased mortality.
Even though these statistics are astonishing, hope is available through minimally invasive surgery performed at Self Regional Healthcare.
Self Regional Healthcare offers a thorough, multidisciplinary program involving informational lectures, preoperative and postoperative classes, support groups, nutritional and exercise support, guidance, psychological support and medical support. This program will assist you in your adaptation to the lifestyle expectations necessary for a successful outcome. A fully trained team will provide quality care during your journey to the new you. The goal of weight-loss surgery is to allow people to regain a better quality and healthier life; however, we must emphasize that the surgery itself is just a tool to help you bring this goal to reality.
If you think you would benefit from our program, please contact Bariatric Coordinator Cynthia Iwig, RN,BSN at ciwig@selfregional.org or at (864) 725-7051.
Bariatric surgery reduces the amount of food and calories that can be ingested at each meal, but this procedure involves more than just surgery. It is about changing lifestyles and habits and requires patient dedication to achieve good results. Patients are assisted with this through extensive pre-surgery counseling, support group meetings and post-surgery follow-up.
Before being accepted as a candidate for surgery, patients must meet the following criteria:
In the BMI calculator below, select your gender and then move the red slider handles and select your height and weight. The results of the BMI calculations are displayed below. Note that these are approximate values and are intended to be used only as a rough guide.
If you fit any of these criteria and are interested in Self Regional Healthcare’s Surgical Weight Management Service, please contact Cynthia Iwig, RN, BSN at (864) 725-7051 to register for the monthly informational session about our program.
Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding procedures are purely restrictive procedures and are minimally invasive approaches to weight-loss surgery. Smaller incisions mean less pain, a shorter hospital stay and a quicker recovery.
The operation involves placing a silastic “belt” around the upper part of the stomach, which essentially separates the stomach into two parts: a tiny upper pouch and a larger lower pouch.
The band is connected by tubing to a port that sits below the skin of the abdominal wall, usually near the belly button. The port can’t be seen from the outside. Inside the belt is a balloon that can be filled by placing fluid through the port. As the balloon is filled, it slows the passage of food from the upper pouch into the lower pouch. As the band is progressively filled, patients will feel full with smaller amounts of food. Band patients typically lose one or two pounds per week during the first year.
There are several features that make the adjustable gastric band appealing. There is minimal stress to the body at the time of surgery because the band is almost always done laparoscopically and does not involve cutting the stomach or rerouting the intestines. Most patients can go home the next morning. Recovery from surgery is usually quick and most people return to work within a week or so after surgery.
Patients contemplating gastric banding must be comfortable with the thought of having a “foreign body” in them for life. Although no problems have been reported to date, it is unknown what the effect of having this foreign body will be in 20-30 years. It is also unclear at this point what the long-term (more than 10 years) weight-loss results with this operation will be, although the early data is promising.
After banding, patients need to be available for regular follow-up, especially in the first year after surgery when the band is being “tightened.” If you live several hours from Self Regional, this can be difficult.
Band patients do not suffer adverse effects from eating sugars (dumping syndrome) so they need to be more disciplined in their food choices. Things such as sodas, ice cream, cake and cookies slide through the band easily, but obviously these choices will not lead to the desired goal of significant weight-loss.
Although the band has an excellent safety profile, there are complications that can occur with any weight-loss operation, and the band is no different.
Laparoscopic Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
The Sleeve Gastrectomy is a restrictive procedure. During the sleeve gastrectomy, about 75 to 85 percent of the stomach is removed leaving a narrow gastric tube or “sleeve”. It greatly reduces the size of the stomach and limits the amount of food that can be eaten at one time. It does not cause decreased absorption of nutrients or bypass the intestines. After the surgery, patients feel full after eating very small amounts of food. Sleeve gastrectomy may also cause a decrease in appetite.
The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure combines restrictive and malabsorptive techniques and is currently the most popular technique of weight-loss surgery. During the procedure, stapling and cutting is used to create a small, upper-stomach pouch, which restricts the amount of food able to be consumed. A portion of small bowel is bypassed, which delays food from mixing with digestive juices to avoid complete calorie absorption.
Gastric bypass patients typically lose 60 percent of excess weight in the first year following surgery.
Surgery should not be considered until you and your doctor have evaluated all other options. The proper approach to weight-loss surgery requires careful consideration and discussion of the following with your doctor:
The modifications made to your gastrointestinal tract will require permanent changes in your eating habits that must be adhered to for successful weight loss. Post surgery dietary guidelines will vary by surgeon. You might hear of other patients who are given different guidelines, but it is important to remember that every surgeon does not perform the same weight-loss surgery procedure and that the dietary guidelines will be different for each surgeon and each type of procedure. What is most important is that you adhere strictly to your surgeon’s recommended guidelines.
Following are some of the generally accepted dietary guidelines a weight-loss surgery patient might encounter:
An information session is the first step in the Self Regional Healthcare Surgical Weight Management program. The session offers the opportunity to learn more about the surgical procedures, expected outcomes of weight-loss surgery, necessary lifestyle changes, as well as the risks and benefits associated with both options.
The free sessions are offered monthly. To register, call Cynthia Iwig, bariatric program coordinator, at (864) 725-7051. Space is limited, and participants are encouraged to bring a support person to the session.
Please search our physician directory by clicking here or call (864) 725-6058 for the name of a surgeon in your area.
Laparoscopic Banding Procedure
Special Pricing Program
Below is an overview of the Special Limited Time Pricing Program. For additional information, or to make reservations at an upcoming free informational session, please contact Cynthia Iwig, Self Regional Healthcare Bariatric Coordinator, at 864-725-7051.
About the Special Pricing Program:
Self Regional Healthcare is cooperating with the two local surgical groups and other medical providers in offering package at a significant reduction from normal charges. To qualify, patients must meet all surgery criteria and program requirements. Advance cash payment must also include patient waiver of SRH submitting any third party insurance claims for this service. Laparoscopic Banding Procedure as a secondary procedure is not included. The Laparoscopic Banding Procedure must be the only procedure and only for a primary diagnosis of obesity. The SRH Medical Financial Assistance Program does not apply to this program. This program is subject to end without notice.
Pricing with financing: $9,900.00
Cash Price $ 9,450.00
Components of Pricing Special Price Cash Price
(with financing)
Hospital charges $6,910 $6,600
Surgeons Fee 2,100 2,000
Anesthesia 840 800
Radiology 50 50
$9,900 $9,450
The above fees do not include the Psychological evaluation or the EDG, which will be filed with your insurance. Both evaluations are required before surgery.
Payment in full is due before the LABG is performed. An initial non-refundable payment of $500.00 is due upon acceptance of the conditions of the Program. You must acknowledge by signature approval the receipt and understanding of the conditions of this Special Limited Time Pricing program.
Explanation of Hospital Charges and Surgeons Fee:
Hospital charges include:
Pre-op Admission Testing
Operating Room and equipment
One night hospital stay (up to 23 post surgery)*
Exercise Fundamental Program (36 classes)
Nutritional Evaluation (1 hour pre and/or post surgical)
* All other hospital charges after 23 hours are offered at a 33% discount
The surgeon’s fee includes uncomplicated post operative visits for 90 days following the surgery.
All fees are required to be paid three weeks prior to the scheduled surgery.
How the Process Works:
Prospective patients must qualify for the procedure and request participation in the Special Limited Time Pricing program through the SRH Bariatric Coordinator. The SRH Bariatric Coordinator will obtain final approval for each prospective patient from the Bariatric Medical Director and the Bariatric Coordinator will make arrangements for this special payment program. The SRH Bariatric Coordinator will advise patients that professional fees (services billed by physicians or other non-hospital personnel) are subject to change by the respective practices. Payment should be made directly to the scheduling surgical practice for distribution to the included institutional and professional providers. The patient must provide written waiver of third party assignment and acknowledgment that the participating providers will not file any third party claims or third party clinical information.
The scheduling surgical practice may, at its option, offer financing for the Bundled Price, in which event it will pre-pay all providers who are participating in the Bundled Price.
The Bariatric Coordinator will verify the nature and status of pre-payments and notify PFS and other respective provider offices of the arrangements. An initial non-refundable payment of $500 is due upon acceptance of the conditions of the Program. The patient must acknowledge by signature approval the receipt and understanding of the conditions of this Special Limited Time Pricing program. The Coordinator will affirm to PFS and other parties the patient having met this condition. The Special Limited Time Pricing fee (less the initial $500) must be paid in full by certified check, money order or credit card, receipt acknowledged, no less than two weeks prior to admission for Laparoscopic Banding Procedure.. In the event the surgery is not performed, pre-paid amounts (less the $500) will be returned, without interest, after deducting any outstanding amounts (less applicable discounts) owed for already-provided services related to the bariatric surgery.
Special Limited Time Pricing includes services as follows:
The cash pre-paid Special Limited Time Pricing is $9450. If financing is arranged through a surgical practice, the Special Limited Time Pricing is $9900.
Regardless of financing, SRH must receive its portion of the fee, which is $6600, prior to surgery. The SRH Medical Financial Assistance Program does not apply to this program.
Among the services not included in the Special Limited Time Pricing program are:
