The Doctor’s Guide to Weight Loss Surgery: How to Make the Decision That Could Save Your Life
December 10th, 2009
Whether you’re already planning to have weight-loss surgery or are still trying to decide, here is what you need to know about the operation that could save your life
If you are considering weight-loss surgery, you are not alone. Obesity is the most common chronic disease in the U.S. today, affecting one out of every four Americans. In this indispensable resource, Dr. Louis Flancbaum, one of the world’s foremost experts on weight-loss surgery, takes you through the entire process, from presurgical evaluation to postop care. You’ll find everything you need to know to get the most out of the latest groundbreaking procedures available that can radically improve your health–and your quality of life. <... More >>
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The Doctor’s Guide to Weight Loss Surgery: How to Make the Decision That Could Save Your Life
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Excellent book on the facts – before and after surgery, different types of surgery, qualifications, etc.
Rating: 5 / 5
If you’re looking for an authoritative review of weight loss surgery, including how it could actually save your life, this is the book for you.
Morbid obesity is usually diagnosed when someone is 100 pounds overweight or 150% of one’s ideal body weight. Dr. Flancbaum refers to this condition throughout the book as a chronic disease and offers a range of surgical solutions, along with the risks and possible complications. For anyone contemplating this route to losing weight, realize that the book leans toward the more invasive Roux-en-y (RNY) gastric bypass surgery. In my opinion, it reflects the 2003 copyright date as well as the experience base of most surgeons, who tend to favor what they know best.
However, RNY surgery is documented as more effective, usually resulting in more weight loss than the less invasive gastric banding (GB) surgery. This is due primarily to the dumping syndrome that causes patients to vomit high fat or sugary foods and the malabsorptive nature of the RNY procedure, which reroutes the small intestine to the new stomach pouch and prevents the normal absorption of nutrients. The book terms this surgery as “more radical,” since it involves opening the body cavity and re-plumbing the patient’s innards.
Compare this to GB surgery, which is generally performed laproscopically with thin instruments and a tiny tv camera to guide the surgeon through four or five small incisions in the abdomen. The plastic band is inserted around the upper part of the stomach, forming a small pouch that helps the patient feel full on much less food. The band permits a trickle of food through the small opening, which is adjustable to expand or contract for more or less food to pass through according to the patient’s weight-loss progress. The book cites some negative issues that occurred early on with this procedure, and tends to write it off. But since the book’s publication, GB surgery is gaining popularity primarily because it is adjustable, is reversible (rarely done), is far less invasive, does not cause the dumping syndrome, does not affect the absorption of nutrients and has many other advantages.
Regarding food choices and diet recommendations — Dr. A. Hawasli, one of the most experienced laproscopic GB surgeons in the U.S. — makes one diet book a mandatory requirement for his patients. Written by registered dietitian Theresa Malysz, The Duct Tape Diet includes a comprehensive listing of 6200 foods from the USDA database of branded items along with their content of saturated fat, protein, carbohydrates and calories. The book also contains a simple, easy to understand regimen for GB patients to follow so their food selections don’t interfere with the intent of the surgery. The title originates from her husband’s use of duct tape to wrap up those “diet villains” that often cause people to fall off the wagon — an amusing technique from a book that employs humor to help those afflicted with curse of dangerous excess weight.
Current estimates of 10 million morbidly obese adults in the U.S. (BMI of 40 or more) constitute about 5% of the population and could reach as high as 23 million if the BMI range extends to 35 or more. Although other books on the subject reflect a lower estimate, the problem is all too common for any western society. The Doctor’s Guide to Weight Loss Surgery is one of the best guides to help you make this decision, which is not a magic solution to the problem, but is effective for anyone who can’t do it any other way.
Rating: 4 / 5
Dr. Flancbaum writes in a style that is easily understood by the layman. When the topic necessitates using medical language, he takes the time to explain exactly what it means in terms that anyone can understand. I have been researching WLS for about a year and have found this book to be the most helpful. I read the list of reasons to lose the weight and found that I can agree with just about all of them and some I had never even thought of in terms of myself. Thank you Dr. Flancbaum for this wonderful book.
Rating: 5 / 5
I depended on Dr. Flancbaum before and after my weight loss surgery in the same way that I depended upon Dr. Spock when my children were small. His book became a dog earred companion on my nightstand–well read and well loved. I would recommend it to anyone considering this surgery!
Rating: 5 / 5
I am the father of a highly overweight adolescent girl, whose furure may include weight loss surgery (WLS). This book explained the many issues involved not only about the surgery itself, but, importantly, about many basic concepts about obesity (including very useful definitions and formulas about what constitutes obesity). The book also clearly discussed the critically important subject of the co-morbid conditions (diabetes II, high blood pressure, e.g.)that can be caused by obesity. The danger of obesity, as mainifested by the presence of these co-morbid conditions, was dramatically described. These issues, as well as the more technical description of the various types of WLS surgeries, was set forth in a manner that was easily understood by this lay person. I felt as if I was involved with a personal consultation with the physician/author, where the surgery was described, and the potential risks and side effects, and benefits, were being explained to me in a very understandable way. The book also contains an ending chapter of Frequently Asked Questions which provided an excellent review of the entire book’s contents, and could serve as a condensed version of the book should a reader just wish to address a certain issue, and have the answers presented quickly and directly. The book greatly advanced my understanding of the meaning and problems of obesity, and placed me (and ultimately my daughter)in a substantially more enlightened and informed position to make a potential decision about whether or not my daughter should undergo this surgery.
Rating: 5 / 5