Frequently Asked Questions

Weight loss surgery limits the amount of food the stomach can hold and/or limits the absorption of calories. The lap band and gastric sleeve procedures are considered restrictive procedures, limiting the amount of food the stomach can hold at one time. The gastric bypass procedure is both restrictive and malabsorptive. It limits the amount of food the stomach can hold and the calories that are absorbed by bypassing part of the small intestine.

You may be a candidate if you are at least 100 pounds overweight or have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or over. You may also be a candidate if you have a BMI of 35 or over and have a medical problem associated with obesity such as diabetes, sleep apnea or hypertension.  You should previously have attempted to lose weight through non-surgical methods, including dieting, nutritional counseling and commercial or hospital-based weight-loss programs.

Dumping syndrome occurs after gastric bypass surgery in most people after they ingest foods/beverages with added sugar.  These foods rapidly enter the small intestine leading to nausea, dizziness, sweatiness, heart palpitations, fatigue or diarrhea.  Dumping syndrome can be prevented by limiting or avoiding foods with added sugar.  Dumping syndrome tends to decrease over time and added sugars become better tolerated. 

Yes, due to the limited food intake (and some malabsorption with the gastric bypass procedure), vitamin and mineral supplements are required to help prevent nutritional deficiencies.  Most patients will require multivitamins and calcium with vitamin D supplements.  Sublingual vitamin B12 supplementation is also common.  Other vitamin and mineral supplements will be determined on an individual basis.

Protein shakes are a concentrated source of protein and can help you to reach your daily protein goal.  There are many options for powdered, liquid or ready-to-drink protein supplements.  The Barix Connection website has an abundance of recipes you can use to make your protein drinks even more appealing.   

As your body heals, you will want to choose high-protein foods such as low fat meat/fish/poultry and low fat dairy products to meet your protein goal.  Some patients choose to continue with one protein shake daily on a long-term basis, while others choose to meet their protein goal with foods alone. 

Upon leaving the hospital, you will choose items from a list of full liquids.  This includes blended and strained soups, protein shakes, 100% fruit juices, protein shakes, low fat milk and more.  One week later, your diet will advance to pureed foods.  These are smooth foods such as mashed potatoes, applesauce or cooked cereal.  Two weeks from discharge, your body will be ready for a limited list of regular consistency foods.  Four weeks from discharge, you can choose from regular foods.  Your nutritionist will provide you with an individual protein goal; six small high-protein meals daily are recommended.  Each meal will consist of  ½ cup to ¾ cup of food.  Added sugars are limited. 

You will meet with a Barix Clinics nutritionist at pre-admission testing (1-2 weeks prior to your surgery) and she will explain the post-operative diet in detail.  You will also receive the Barix Clinics Guide to Good Health at this time—a great resource. 

That depends on the individual and the procedure. Patients who choose the lap band procedure may leave the hospital the same day or the following day.  Laparoscopic gastric bypass or gastric sleeve patients will have a 1-3 day hospital stay.  Some patients may return to work within a week while others may require up to six weeks’ recovery time depending upon the type of work that the patient does and individual healing rates.  

• How many years has he or she worked in the field of bariatric (weight loss) surgery?
• How many times has he or she performed the specific procedure you are considering?
• Is he or she board certified?
• What type of follow-up care is provided?  Does it include registered dietitians and support groups?

Weight-loss surgery can eliminate or improve most obesity-related medical complications, including diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, reflux and osteoarthritis, as well as muscle and joint pain. Improvements in overall quality of life have also been reported. Weight loss may also be associated with improved fertility and more favorable pregnancy outcomes.

There are three types of weight loss surgery available through the Barix Clinics program:  the gastric bypass procedure, the lap band procedure and the gastric sleeve procedure.  You can learn more about these procedures and determine if one of them is right for you by attending a consultation and discussing your individual needs with a surgeon.   
 

Body mass index (or BMI) is used to classify weight.  As weight increases beyond the normal weight range, so do weight-related diseases.  Typically a BMI of 18.5-25 is considered normal weight; a BMI of 25-30 is considered overweight; a BMI of 30-35 is considered obese; and a BMI over 40 is considered morbidly obese. 

Regular exercise is part of a lifestyle that supports a healthy weight.  Your bariatric surgery team will help you with the types of exercise you should be doing, and will evaluate how soon after surgery you can start.

After bariatric surgery, your body will naturally lose weight. But your good results may leave you with an excess of skin. Reconstructive surgery can help your body adjust to its new size. The medical team working through the Barix Clinics program can help you decide when it's right for you, typically about fifteen months after your bariatric surgery.

The Barix Clinics program offers a comprehensive reconstructive surgery practice. Just like the bariatric surgery program, it is focused exclusively on bariatric patients. You'll find experience and care here like nowhere else. Plus, you benefit from the continuity of care with the people you know and trust.

Your primary care physician will monitor your medical conditions and manage your medications.  These will change after weight loss surgery.

For those who are ready to take the next step towards surgery, Barix recommends attending a Group Consultation.  The Group Consultation begins with an educational presentation about your surgical options, in the company of 5-10 others who are also investigating bariatric surgery.  You will be given ample time to address questions and concerns with a surgeon and medical staff in this small group setting.  You will then meet briefly with a surgeon one-on-one to review your medical history and together select the surgical option that will best meet your weight-loss goals.  This one-on-one session with a surgeon is necessary to start the approval process for your surgery.

The initial consultation is uniquely designed to answer medical and personal questions for you and your family. During the consultation, a board-certified surgeon will explain, in simple, non-technical language, the entire Barix Clinics program process, including an overview of the surgery.  You may choose to participate in this explanation individually or with a small group of others who are considering bariatric surgery.  The surgeon will also review your medical history with you in a private setting.

The Barix Clinics program has three regional locations available to assist you in your weight loss journey.

          Barix Clinics program at Forest Health Medical Center
          135 South Prospect
          Ypsilanti, MI 48198

Barix Clinics of Pennsylvania
280 Middletown Blvd.
Langhorne, Pennsylvania  19047
 Barix Clinics of Ohio
3964 Hamilton Square Blvd.
Groveport, Ohio  43125
         

Your first step is to contact our patient service representatives.  They will ask you questions about your medical history to determine if weight loss surgery is right for you.

All major surgery comes with risks, and the risks are different for each patient.  The Barix Clinics program specializes in weight loss surgery and has better outcomes than those at most hospitals. During your first appointment, your surgeon will explain your individual risk level.

The Barix Clinics program has some of the lowest complication rates in the field of bariatric surgery. Our data* is based on more than 36,000 bariatric surgeries performed at multiple Barix Clinics program locations over a 16-year period.
 

 
Barix Clinics
National Average
Barix Clinics vs. National Average
Mortality Rate
0.20%
0.5 to 2.0%
2.5 to 10 times better
Readmission Rate
3.90%
8.0 to 12.0%
2 to 3 times better
Gastrointestinal Leak Rate
0.30%
1.0 to 5.8%
3 to 19 times better
Wound Infection Rate
3.00%
5.0 to 15%
1.5 to 5 times better
 
*Barix Clinics data has been compiled since August 1, 2008.
National Average Data is on file and complied through January 1, 2006.

Laparoscopic surgery is also called minimally invasive surgery.  The procedure is done through tiny incisions.  A camera is placed inside your abdomen through one of the incisions.  The surgery is performed by placing instruments through other small incisions.  Benefits of laparoscopic surgery include less post
operative pain, faster recovery time and less risk of wound infections and hernias. 

It is very important that you do not get pregnant for at least 12 to 18 months after any type of weight loss procedure. You must use a reliable method of birth control throughout this time period.  Pregnancy may be an option after your weight has stabilized and the appropriate time has passed.   It is important to be monitored closely by an obstetrician and nutrition expert familiar with your weight loss surgery.  Weight loss surgery may actually decrease pregnancy-related complications. 

How much weight you lose as a Barix Clinics patient depends on a variety of factors--your pre-surgery weight, your commitment and ability to follow the post-surgery nutritional program, your activity level, and so on. Medical literature reports that average weight loss after bariatric surgery is 40 to 75 percent of excess body weight. But not everyone fits the average or the timeline. Some lose less, some lose far more. Some lose it slower, some lose it more quickly. 

Each year, our insurance specialists help thousands of people get approved by their health insurance plans. The Barix Clinics team will help you with the pre-approval process and answer all your questions. Many insurers recognize the long-term benefits of our program, and their approval process can be routine. Others are just becoming aware and may require more effort from you.

If your employer's health insurance does not cover bariatric surgery, you may still have options. For example, your spouse's plan may provide coverage and you may be able to sign up during the next open enrollment period. Or, you may have success making an appeal to your insurance company. Some of our patients have even made a career choice based on whether a company covered bariatric surgery. It pays to be smart, and it pays to be diligent--especially when it can lead to a healthier life.

If you do not have insurance, if you follow your insurance company's guidelines for approval and are denied, or if you'd prefer to bypass the insurance approval process, we have a financing option that may enable you to make your weight-loss goals a reality.

The Barix Clinics program offers an Advanced Payment Option for people whose insurance does not cover part or any of the cost of surgery. You'll receive the complete Barix Clinics comprehensive program, and because of recent tax law changes, the program may be tax deductible, saving you even more.

Hair loss can occur after weight loss surgery.  The surgery itself may cause stress to the body, sending more hair follicles than normal into the resting state.  Three to five months later this hair falls out and new hair begins to grow in its place.  Nutritional deficiencies such as protein and iron can also lead to hair loss.  Your nutritionist can help you plan a diet and vitamin and mineral supplementation to minimize hair loss.