Category Archives: Bariatric Surgery at Swedish

What are your Bariatric Surgery Options?

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Many men and women struggle to control their weight, even after dedicated weight loss efforts. If you are looking to improve your health through weight loss and have found that diet and exercise are ineffective, bariatric surgery may be a good option. At Denver’s Swedish Medical Center, our experienced weight loss surgeons offer three minimally invasive bariatric surgical procedures to help you get to your ideal weight with a shorter recovery time. These procedures include: 

  • Adjustable gastric banding. This procedure involves placing an adjustable silicone band (gastric band) around the upper portion of the stomach to create a smaller stomach pouch. By restricting the size of the stomach, patients feel full sooner during meals and for longer periods of time. This helps to suppress appetite and promote long-term weight loss. The gastric band is also adjustable, allowing the physician to customize the stomach opening to fit a patient’s needs.
  • Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure is the most commonly performed bariatric surgery. During this procedure, the surgeon creates a smaller stomach pouch and connects the small intestine directly to it, effectively bypassing the rest of the stomach. Like the gastric banding procedure, this new, smaller stomach pouch effectively diminishes the patient’s appetite and reduces caloric intake.
  • Sleeve gastrectomy. Sleeve gastrectomy, like the other bariatric procedures mentioned above, involves reducing the size of the stomach to suppress appetite. This procedure, however, results in the removal of 85 percent of the stomach, turning it into a sleeve-like structure.

Are you interested in learning more about whether or not you are a good candidate for one of the above medical procedures? If so, schedule a consultation with the bariatric surgery specialist at Swedish Medical Center of Metro Denver. Our hospital staff will be happy to help you formulate the best possible weight loss plan to suit your needs and lifestyle—call today at (303) 788-5000 to find out more.

Learn More about Lap-Band Surgery

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Lap-Band surgery is a Bariatric surgical procedure designed for men and women who are looking to lose a large amount of weight, but have not had success with dieting and exercise. The procedure works by creating a much smaller stomach pouch, reducing the amount of food that the stomach can hold and diminishing the patient’s appetite.

This video provides a helpful introduction to the Lap-Band procedure, which is a simple outpatient procedure. The hosts discuss how the surgery can help patients achieve long-term weight loss and how the band can be adjusted to suit a patient’s needs. The differences between this procedure and other weight loss surgeries are also discussed in the video.

If you are struggling to regain control of your weight and health, consider scheduling a consultation with the Bariatric weight loss experts at Swedish Medical Center by calling (303) 788-5000. We can help you evaluate your weight loss options and determine the best course of treatment.

Who is a Good Candidate for Bariatric Surgery?

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“Nothing will change your life for the better than the decision to have weight loss surgery.”—Dr. Richard Tillquist, Swedish Bariatric Surgeon

Morbid obesity is a dangerous medical condition and can be extremely difficult to treat with diet and exercise alone. More than one-third of the adults living in the United States today are overweight or obese. For many of these men and women, bariatric surgery performed at a medical hospital can be an excellent first step on the road to a healthier, more active life.

Although bariatric surgery can be an excellent option for many men and women suffering from morbid obesity, these procedures are not for everyone. A good candidate for bariatric surgery:

  • Is 18 years of age or older.
  • Has a body mass index of 30 or greater or is 60 to 100 pounds over his or her ideal weight.
  • Suffers from one or more chronic weight-related health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol or sleep apnea.
  • Struggles to lose weight with healthy lifestyle changes involving diet and exercise.
  • Has decided with his or her physicians that bariatric surgery is the right treatment option.
  • Is aware of the risks and benefits associated with the chosen procedure and is well informed about the surgery’s effects.
  • Is committed to making lifelong changes in diet, physical activity and other lifestyle choices.

“Weight loss surgery has been shown to be the most effective way to improve multiple medical conditions associated with obesity including type II diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, and gastro esophageal reflux,” says Dr. Tillquist. Deciding to undergo bariatric surgery is a serious decision that can help change your life for the better. The physicians at Swedish Medical Center’s Denver Bariatric Surgery Center work hard to offer the most advanced bariatric surgical techniques, including laparoscopic minimally-invasive procedures. We are also proud to have our center recognized as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery due to our excellent outcomes and clear commitment to high-quality patient care.

If you are interested in learning more about whether or not bariatric weight loss surgery is a good option for you, please contact Swedish Medical Center of Denver today at (303) 788-5000.

The Philosophy of Care at Our Bariatric Surgery Center

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At Swedish Medical Center our Bariatric Care Program is centered around the patient, focusing on their goals. Our trusted, board-certified bariatric surgeon, Dr. Richard Tillquist, is known for his minimally invasive surgical techniques that lead to faster recovery times. “We provide unique comprehensive individualized care plan for each patient to give them the best chance of becoming active and healthy again,” says Dr. Tillquist.

In the video above, you’ll learn more information about Swedish Medical Center’s Bariatric Care program. At Swedish, we have an entire team that is dedicated to providing service to our bariatric patients. Additionally, the support groups at Swedish Medical Center are free for bariatric patients, before and after surgery, and we encourage patients to talk to other patients who have had different procedures. This process will help ensure that patients have chosen the right procedure for them. Our team will then help guide each patient through this process.

Every month, patients will be weighed and we’ll consult with them in regards to the medications that they’re taking, their eating habits and whether or not they’re following the program correctly. This helps us pick up on subtle signs of other issues that may arise as patients go through the weight loss.

Swedish Medical Center also offers free bariatric seminars to men and women who are interested in learning more about bariatric surgery. During the seminar you’ll learn more information about:

  • Qualifying for surgery.
  • What you can expect.
  • Details about surgery options.
  • Our bariatric surgeon.
  • Insurance/payment.

For more information about bariatric surgery in the Denver area, contact http://www.Swedish Medical Center by visiting SwedishHospital.com or by calling (303) 788-5000.

 

Bariatric Patient’s Journey to Success

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Patty Fredericks is no longer hiding behind the struggles of weight loss after turning 50-years old this past year she decided it was time to do something. “I want to tell people to come out of hiding. I did and it’s the best choice I’ve ever made in my life” explains Fredericks.

After years of spending money on diets and trainers, nothing seemed to work.  “I’ve tried it all and as the years went by my weight continued to go up along with my blood pressure,” says Fredericks. Feeling hopeless towards getting her health and life back, Fredericks turned to medical help and was referred to Dr. Richard Tillquist at Swedish.  “I had a family member who did a lap-band surgery and she lost a lot of weight. I figured if it worked for her than it could work for me too,” explains Fredericks.

After meeting with Tillquist, Fredericks was excited and ready to make the choice. “Dr. Tillquist was great. He really explained everything to me and made sure I understood it all,” Fredericks says. She was the perfect candidate for the lap-band surgery and she was would receive it robotically. “I thought how cool a robot! It looked like a bionicle or something,” explains Fredericks.

Tillquist is the first surgeon in Colorado to perform the lap-band surgery using the da Vinci robot. “Doing a lap-band surgery with the da Vinci allows me to more easily work on sections in the abdomen because of the motion of the robot,” explains Tillquist.

During surgery Tillquist has full control of the robot and uses 3D imaging and magnification for more precise placement of the lap-band.  He says it’s also safer and allows the patient to recover quicker with less pain. Fredericks was back to work in just days and on vacation within a week. “Everything with the surgery went really well and I can remember waking up afterwards and it felt like Christmas. It was the best present I could’ve gotten,” says Fredericks.

She is down 30 pounds since her surgery and continues to do monthly check-ups with Tillquist. “It’s great to see Patty doing so well. She’s so motivated now,” says Tillquist. She is on a portion controlled diet and exercises daily. Her goal is to lose another 100 pounds and run the Bolder Boulder race in May which she is currently training for. “I can’t wait to run across that finish line and meet all the goals I have, “says Fredericks.