Recent Articles on Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery

Bariatric Surgery Explained

Cobb Living Magazine Article – by Susan Champion Weight loss surgery has experienced growing popularity over the past ten years as witnessed by celebrities such as Carnie Wilson, Roseanne Barr and Randy Jackson publicly sharing their experience and success. Many of you may be considering this option in your battle of the bulge and may be won read more »

Dealing with Emotional Hunger after Surgery

Hunger and eating often have nothing to do with food in patients who have the metabolic disorder called “morbid obesity”. Recognition of the lack of association between “head hunger” and a physical need for nutrition is an important step in developing a successful approach to maximize weight loss after bariatric surgery. Em read more »

Pictures of an actual weight loss surgery

Unfortunately the photos are no longer available. We apologize for the inconvenience.   read more »

Financial and Insurance Information for Bariatric Surgery

Obtaining authorization from your insurance company for obesity weight loss surgery can be a challenging process. However all credible institutes will assist you in this process but your cooperation in providing the following documentation will improve your chances of obtaining approval: The name of a contact person at your insurance company along read more »

Differences in Adjustable Gastric Bands

Differences in Adjustable Gastric Bands Around the same time the Lap Band© was being introduced in Europe (1994) another competing LAGB was available overseas called the Swedish Band© from the ObTech Corporation. It was subsequently purchased by Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc. renamed the Realize Band© and brought to the United States and read more »

Benefits & Risks of Adjustable Gastric Bands

Risks of the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Bands: 1 . Risk of slippage of the band around the stomach to an abnormal position which blocks the stomach and results in persistent vomiting, or can even interfere with the blood supply of the stomach and cause a perforation or portion of the stomach to die. This may require deflation of the band or r read more »

Comparison Between Brands of Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Bands

Adjustable Band Comparison Comparison Between Brands of Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Bands: Lap Band versus Realize Band To understand if there are any significant differences between the two brands of Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Bands (LAGB) currently available in the United States it is important to go back and review the history of how t read more »

Information on Malabsorptive Procedures

Malabsorptive Procedures Article on Malabsorptive Procedures as it pertains to the Roux-En Y Gastric Bypass . The Gastric Bypass procedure is considered the “Gold Standard” that all other weight loss procedures are measured against. The Gastric Bypass combines both gastric restriction and limited malabsorption to provide more weight lo read more »

Benefits & Risks of RNY Gastric Bypass

Benefits & Risks of RNY Gastric Bypass The Roux En Y Gastric Bypass is a major operation and does carry risk of complications and rarely even death which are associated with any general anesthesia or major abdominal surgery. The risk is approximately the same as having your gallbladder removed or undergoing a hysterectomy. The risk of general read more »

Introduction to Weight Loss Surgery

Patients often ask me: “Why will Weight Loss Surgery work, when I’ve already failed so many diets”? The key to weight loss surgery’s success is in providing relief from hunger. This relief from hunger is called “satiety” and the ability to produce satiety is directly related to how much weight patients lose and read more »

The History to Weight Loss Surgery

The History to Weight Loss Surgery Bariatric surgery today can result in weight loss by causing restriction of intake of food or malabsorption of food. Many different operations have been developed over the past 50 years and there are multiple options for patients to consider before under taking bariatric surgery. Understanding the history of weig read more »

What is Vertical Banded Gastroplasty?

Vertical Banded Gastroplasty The Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG and Laparoscopic VBG) limits food intake by creating a small pouch (1/2 ounce) in the upper stomach with a narrow outlet (1/2 inch) reinforced by a mesh band to prevent stretching. The pouch fills quickly and empties slowly with solid food, producing a feeling of fullness. Over eat read more »

What is Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass?

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass The Roux-en-Y, RUNY, or RNY is a more complex operation, which evolved from the VBG to provide more consistent and successful weight loss. The small upper pouch (1/2 ounce) is completely separated from the distal stomach which is left in place. A “Y” shaped segment of small bowel is attached to the pouch with a read more »

Center Of Excellence Bariatric Surgery

Center Of Excellence Dr Champion and his weight loss surgery practice, Videoscopic Institute of Atlanta PC, had been recognized as an “ASBS Center of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery”. This designation provides the public with the assurance that our practice provides complete care for patients undergoing weight loss surgery and we have read more »

Dr. Champion was a Bariatric Surgeon

J. K. Champion M.D. F.A.C.S. was a nationally recognized expert in videoscopic general and thoracic surgery. After receiving his medical degree from The University of Alabama, he completed his general surgery training at Carraway Methodist Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama in 1981. In addition he received his thoracic surgery training at The U read more »

Information on Revision and Conversion Surgery

Revision and Conversion Surgery It is possible to have a revision of a previous weight loss operation that has failed if there is a technical or mechanical issue with the surgery. It is also possible to undergo a conversion to a different operation that may provide better success in some cases. Examples of operations that may benefit from a revisi read more »

What is a Gastric Sleeve Operation?

Gastric Sleeve A gastric sleeve operation is a form of weight-loss surgery wherein 65-85% of the patient's stomach is surgically removed and omitted from the body, leaving the organ sleeve-like or cylindrical in shape. While a large portion of the stomach is removed, its function remains. This procedure is not reversible and is most commonly admin read more »

Information on The REALIZE Band Operation

REALIZE® Band The REALIZE® Band Operation, description and information for Weight Loss Surgery. REALIZE® Band is also known as REALIZEBand, REALBand and simply REALIZE®. REALIZE® Band is an adjustable device that is surgically implanted and used to help an individual shed excess weight. The REALIZE® Band is inserted around read more »

What is Adjustable LAP-BAND Surgery?

Adjustable LAP-BAND® The LAP-BAND is designed to induce weight loss by restricting food consumption and is a variation of the Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG) . An adjustable elastic band is placed around the upper stomach to create a small 15cc (one half ounce) pouch with a narrowed outlet. The outlet size can be adjusted by injecting salin read more »