Gastric bypass surgery

Most insurance companies in California cover weight loss surgery, providing you meet certain medical criteria. For example, you may be required to provide documentation of at least six months of physician-supervised weight loss efforts. Our patient coordinators are experienced in working with insurance companies and will help you determine your individual coverage.

Your body knows how much weight it needs to lose. As long as you stick to your nutrition and exercise program, your body will adjust to the weight loss and stabilize at its appropriate weight.

Remember, your gastric bypass is only a tool. It is not a cure for obesity. Snacking, drinking with meals, drinking caffeinated and carbonated beverages, not drinking enough water in between meals and not exercising are common behaviors that may cause you to regain your weight.

Most people can minimize excess skin by maintaining healthy nutrition, aerobic exercise and weight training. But if you need to have excess skin removed, we can help you consult with a plastic surgeon.

It is possible to reverse the surgery, but it is not advised. Reversing the surgery is considered another major procedure and you are at an increased risk for complications. Reversing the surgery also would increase your risk of regaining the weight you have lost.

It can be made smaller, but you would have to undergo another surgery, which would increase your risk for complications. The best way to maintain your weight or not regain your weight is to follow the guidelines set by the bariatric program.

There are several reasons why some people experience gas:

• Swallowing air while eating, drinking and talking (be careful not to eat or drink too fast)

• Eating gas-producing foods, such as cabbage and broccoli

• People suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) develop gas when the bowel becomes irritated; stress and anxiety have a tendency to trigger an IBS episode

The portion of the stomach that is "dormant" continues to produce acids and enzymes of digestion. This is normal and shouldn't impact your health in a negative way.

Remember, success is not getting to your goal weight; it is getting to a "healthy" weight. If you have achieved a weight within approximately 40 pounds of your ideal body weight and maintain your weight, you are considered a success.

It is strongly recommended that women wait at least year after surgery before getting pregnant. Approximately one year postoperatively (depending on how much weight you needed to lose), your body will be fairly stable and you should be able to carry a healthy baby to term.