OKC Named Unhealthiest Major City in the US

June 10, 2011

Unfortunately, Oklahoma City has been named the least healthy city in a survey of the 50 largest United States metropolitan areas according to a USA Today article: http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitness-food/story/2011/05/Twin-Cities-deemed-healthiest-in-USA/47469970/1. The statistics were gathered for the American Fitness Index compiled annually by the American College of Sports Medicine. The rankings are based on various factors including obesity rates, percentage of smokers and the percentage of city residents that exercise. These findings highlight the obesity and overweight epidemic that Oklahoma City faces despite efforts by local healthcare programs and a strong push by the mayor’s office to curb obesity. To fight this ever present problem, diet and exercise is always the first and best option to lose weight. Sometimes it’s hard for a person to do this on their own. For that reason, the Weight Loss Center of Oklahoma offers physician supervised medical weight loss programs that can help residents in Oklahoma City improve their health through improved diet and by developing a good exercise plan.

Weight loss surgery is also a possibility for those suffering from obesity, but should only be considered when all other potential weight loss options have been exhausted. To measure obesity and to see if they may qualify for weight loss surgery, prospective patients can use a Body Mass Index calculator at our website: www.weightlosscenterok.com.

To learn more about our medical weight-loss program please contact Siggi Ming at our office. For more information on the bariatric program, prospective patients can attend one of our free monthly bariatric seminars held at Integris Baptist Medical Center or Deaconess Hospital in OKC.

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Robotic Gastric Bypass Seminars

May 12, 2011

With over 20 Robotic Gastric Bypass procedures under his belt, Dr. Russell Gornichec, director of the Weight Loss Center of Oklahoma, and Deaconess Hospital were the first in the state to provide this cutting edge technology.

Robotic gastric bypass offers far more precision than a human hand. What most people don’t know is that the surgeon is still in full control of the robot’s every move. The surgeon’s movements are translated to the robot.

To learn more about this procedure, we will be offering informational seminars every fourth Monday of the month from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. The seminars will be held at Deaconess Hospital. Deaconess Hospital is located on Portland Road and NW 56th St.

Seminars are Free but please call 405-713-4450 to RSVP.

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FDA Approves Lap-Band in Lower BMI Patients

February 23, 2011

Speaking of adjustable banding procedures the FDA has approved the use of Lap-Bands in obese patients previously excluded from this procedure. In February 2011 the FDA reviewed the research provided and agreed that the Allergan Lap-Band is a safe and effective device to facilitate long term weight loss in patients with a BMI of 30 or greater provided they have at least one co-morbidity (hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, etc.). This allows over 60 million Americans who previously were not candidates to consider this tool for their weight loss needs. This is a big step in this country in recognizing the obesity epidemic and allowing patients to make an informed decision regarding their health care. The Lap-Band is a good tool to help control portion size and decrease between meal hunger issues in patients with the proper education and medical supervision. The device is also a great anti-reflux tool and has corrected GERD in a vast majority of patients who use this device for weight loss. FDA approval for gastric reflux disease or diabetes alone is still not available but could be introduced in the future. Please remember that FDA approval does not mean that insurance companies will race forward to change the benefit criteria on their policies anytime soon. My experience has been that federal programs such as Medicare will be the first to evaluate the new standard and make changes over time that might mean a delay of 4-5 years. Private carriers could be even slower to make changes. Let us hope that past experience does not repeat itself and that political pressure can be applied to insurance companies to change their policies sooner than later. If you have a BMI between 30 to 34 with at least one co-morbidity and your policy allows band placement only above a BMI of 35 you can write your insurance company for an exclusion exemption. The other option is cash pay.

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FDA Loosens Lap-Band Restrictions

February 18, 2011

After an FDA advisory panel voted to recommend loosening the government agency’s guidelines on who qualifies for surgery, it seems the FDA has listened, implementing part of those recommendations. The panel had suggested that the minimum BMI for Lap-Band surgery be reduced to 30 for those with obesity related diseases and 35 for those without. The FDA implemented the first part of the recommendation which means that millions more Americans will fall within those guidelines. This new development only apply to the Lap-Band and not other forms of bariatric surgery. If you feel you may now qualify for surgery, give us a ring! We will be happy to talk to you about it in greater detail.

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Free Weight Loss Seminar January 24, 2011

January 18, 2011

We hope you’ll join us for a totally free weight loss seminar on January 24th, 2011. At this seminar you will learn more about the gastric bypass, gastric sleeve and the gastric banding procedures (Lap-Band and Realize Band). You’ll also learn about our state-of-the-art facilities and our dedicated bariatric staff.

Did you know that attending this weight loss seminar will fulfill a critical requirement to undergo a procedure at our center? It is a required part of our surgical weight loss program. It will also provide you with practical advice on what to expect throughout your weight loss journey. Details of the seminar can be found below:

Location: INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center
Date: January 24, 2011
Time: 5:30pm - 8:30pm

To Register:
Call (405) 951-2277
or visit our Oklahoma City Weight Loss Seminars page 24-7 to sign up

Address:
INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
Conference Room F/G

Looking forward to seeing you there!

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Why You Need to Attend a Seminar

January 15, 2011

Our weight loss facility offers free seminars one to two times per month for a good reason. Simply put, attending our seminar is important. We believe that patients who take the time to educate themselves about the weight loss surgery process and understand what their decision means for their life are the ones that will have the greatest chance of success after surgery.

Our seminars are made to address most of the questions you have and give you background on the procedures, their unique benefits and risks, the staff and the medical facilities. You can then make an informed decision to take the next step and consult with our surgeon.

Make sure you plan your research around one of our seminars. Look into the different procedures available to you and note any questions you may have. Also make sure you ask questions about life after surgery. You will be changing your lifestyle too and you should be fully aware of what you need to do to make surgery a success. We look forward to seeing you at our next seminar on January 24th!

To Register:
Call (405) 951-2277
or visit our Oklahoma City Weight Loss Seminars page 24-7 to sign up

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First Robotic Weight Loss Surgery in Oklahoma

December 14, 2010

Dr. Gornichec performed the first robotic weight loss surgery procedure in Oklahoma at Deaconess Hospital recently. Assisted by the da Vinci Surgical System, Dr. Gornichec has performed two more robotic surgeries since. Robotic surgery represents the next generation of medical devices that assist surgeons performing delicate bariatric surgeries. Robotic assisted surgery is part of our plan to offer our patients the most surgical options to fight morbid obesity. We will be delving into greater detail about the da Vinci surgical system soon, so stay tuned!

1 Comment | Bariatric Surgery, News | Permalink
Posted by weightlossok

How Much Excess Skin Will I Have After Surgery?

November 29, 2010

Most bariatric surgery patients will experience some degree of excess skin after surgery. Your age, the amount of weight you lose, the rapidity of your weight loss and your ability to heal will determine how much you will develop. The more you lose and the more quickly you lose it, the more “loose” skin you will have. Also as we age, the elasticity of our skin is reduced and in turn, it is less likely to return to its normal state. Finally, some people have a propensity to heal better than others and their skin may return to normal more quickly.

There is the opportunity to have this condition surgically repaired through a relatively straightforward cosmetic procedure. A plastic surgeon will perform the procedure by removing some of the excess skin and tightening what remains. The procedure to remove excess skin is still serious surgery and comes with risks, which is why we recommend that it be considered very carefully and only when it is causing serious discomfort or interfering with the ability to live a normal life.

If you are considering a cosmetic procedure after weight loss surgery, please give us a call or stop by the office – we will be happy to give you some guidance. One thing to remember is that your insurance company may not cover this procedure, as it may be considered aesthetic, rather than a medical necessity.

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Lap-Band Seminar, November 30, 2010

November 21, 2010

We will be conducting a Lap Band specific weight loss seminar at Lakeside Women’s hospital on November 30th at 5:30 PM. The Lap Band is one trade name for the adjustable gastric banding system. During this seminar you will also learn about body contouring, or removal of excess skin after extreme weight loss.

When: September 28th
Where: Lakeside Women’s Hospital
11200 N. Portland
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Time: 5:30pm

Related Links:
Lap Band Oklahoma
Lap-band.com

Leave a Comment » | Bariatric Surgery, Procedures, Seminars | Permalink
Posted by weightlossok

Recovering from Bariatric Surgery

November 15, 2010

Bariatric surgery is an important step in bettering your quality of life. Because of that, you must plan for what steps you need to take to recover. Most importantly, you must follow your discharge orders, but this is a just a general guide for what to expect.

First, you will want to arrange for someone to assist you in going home after surgery. Everyone recovers at their own pace, so plan for the person to stay with you for as long as you need. They will prepare your meals, change bandages, get medications, etc.

Walking is important and you should try to walk at least a couple times a day. Stop if and when you become tired or fatigued.

Depending on the procedure and healing progress, patients generally can drive after two weeks, and return to normal activities after between six to eight weeks.  Surgery is a life-style change, so it’s a good idea to join weight loss support groups to be around others dealing with the same issues.

Above all, follow doctor’s orders and the diet plans. Weight loss isn’t easy, but with the proper guidance and support, you can do it.

Leave a Comment » | Bariatric Surgery | Permalink
Posted by weightlossok

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