When diet, exercise, and medication aren’t working, weight loss surgery can help you achieve your weight loss goals and live a healthier life. At the University of Kansas Health System, we understand that bariatric surgery is a big decision. Our doctors are here to help answer any questions you may have about weight loss surgery, including whether it may be right for you. We offer pre-surgery counseling, post-surgery support, and a wide range of resources to help you live a healthier, more active life.
Research has shown that weight loss surgery is an effective way to achieve long-term weight loss. It can also improve conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea. Our medical weight loss program provides bariatric surgical treatments to treat a wide range of conditions that affect your ability to maintain a healthy weight.
We offer the following types of weight loss surgery:
Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS)
Revisional surgeries
Roux-en-Y (gastric bypass)
Sleeve gastrectomy
Bariatric surgery may be an option for adults with a BMI of 40 or more, or for patients with serious health conditions like diabetes or heart disease who have a BMI between 35 and 40. Patients with a BMI below 35 do not qualify for bariatric surgery.
If you have additional questions, please contact our bariatric patient navigator by calling (785) 270-7326.
After weight loss surgery
Weight loss surgery is just the first step towards a healthier life. To help you achieve the best results possible, our weight loss program also provides:
Exercise education and wellness classes
Nutrition education and guidance
Regular follow-up appointments
Support groups
Research has shown that patients who attend support groups are more successful in reaching their weight loss goals after surgery. For this reason, we offer free online weight loss support groups to our patients who have had weight loss surgery or are about to have weight loss surgery. The virtual group provides education and encouragement through guided discussions and guest speakers— all from the comfort of your home. Family and support persons are welcome to attend as well.
To learn more about our virtual support groups, please click here.
Schedule an appointment
The decision to have bariatric surgery is best made with lots of information and an equal amount of support, and that’s just what we provide. First, you’ll meet one of our surgeons at a free seminar, where you’ll learn about our process and the surgical options we provide. Then you’ll have a one-on-one appointment to discuss which option is right for you.
There are three steps required for an initial consultation at our weight loss clinic:
Complete the short quiz following the seminar and earn a score of 100.
After you complete the quiz, a member of our support staff will be in contact with you to review insurance coverage and schedule your first consultation.
We plan your personalized treatment together, from surgery through the lifestyle changes that will occur as a result. You’ll have access to post-surgery resources such as support groups, weight loss seminars, nutritional advice, exercise classes — and, of course, our caring team of physicians. With help from one of our specialists, you’ll be on your way to the healthier life you deserve.
Why the University of Kansas Health System?
We are proud to have the most experienced weight loss surgery team in the region, with more than 3,000 bariatric surgeries performed since opening in 2002. In addition to having top surgeons, we provide a multidisciplinary team including a medical weight loss expert, dietitians, nurses and other professionals with expertise in caring for patients before, during and after weight loss surgery.
Since 2007, our bariatrics program has been named an Accredited MBSAQIP (Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accredited Quality Improvement Program) by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the American College of Surgeons (ACS). The MBSAQIP Accreditation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes and low complication rates.
The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus is also recognized as a CIGNA Bariatric Center of Excellence.
For more information, please call us at (785) 232-0444 or email us at bariatricstaff@kutopeka.com. We look forward to working with you and helping you reach your weight-loss goals.
Have you heard the Aesop’s fable about the dog and his shadow? In the story, a hungry dog manages to get a morsel of meat. Thrilled with his acquisition, the dog decides to take it back to his den where he can devour it in peace.
As he hurries home, the dog dashes across a plank lying over a brook, but as he’s moving across, he sees his shadow reflected in the water.
Weight loss surgery significantly reduces mortality and results in remarkable weight loss and reversal in several obesity-related comorbidities. There is a lot of evidence that the resolution of inflammation that occurs after bariatric surgery mitigates some of these comorbidities.
Often times, no matter what stage of the weight loss journey you are in, you will be faced with emotional eating. Having weight loss surgery unfortunately does not change the brain and emotional struggles patients faced before surgery. Please know that emotional struggles are completely normal and will stabilize over time. However, for those who find themselves battling feelings of hopelessness and frustration, additional professional help is both necessary and available. We want you to call our office as soon as possible so we can help you.
After weight loss surgery, you may find yourself frustrated with the scale. You’re doing “everything right” yet the scale will not budge. There are many reasons why that could be happening; it’s either a result of not truly implementing a healthy lifestyle or it happens after subsequent weeks of dramatic weight loss (See our article, Plateaus Happen). Toss the scale to the side and start measuring your success without a weight attached.
With the warmer weather, many are looking to hit the trails for a workout! We have listed a few resources to help you locate wonderful trails right here in Kansas.
Travel Kansas is a great resource when searching for parks and trails to explore. Here are a few helpful links picked out from their website:
One thing many of us enjoy in the warm months is gardening. Now that we hopefully have had our last winter storm, we can look forward to springtime and all the opportunities of being outside and in our gardens. While it may still be a tad too early to actually start planting, there are many things you can do in and around your garden now to get ready for planting. Anything from weeding, hoeing, raking, bending, walking, shoveling, pruning or other yardwork is a great form of exercise. Even if you don’t have a large garden and have room for only a small pot or t
As a weight loss surgery patient, eating a healthy, high protein breakfast is sure to help set the tone of your day. Remember from a previous article we shared that it is good to set a goal of consuming 60-80 grams of protein every day after a RNY or sleeve procedure and 100 grams of protein every day after a BPD/DS procedure.
Here are some ideas we thought you would like to try:
There are many benefits of working out in the water – either by swimming or doing water aerobics. Summer will be here before we know it so there will be plenty of opportunities to hop in the water outdoors! While it is still cold outside, try to find an indoor pool. Listed below are just a few of the benefits of water workouts:
It’s exciting yet frustrating to open your closet and realize all of the clothes you have are now too big and no longer fit you well. So how can you dress while still shedding weight after bariatric surgery and manage to not break the bank? Below you will find some helpful tips to get you through the different stages of weight loss.
Whether you are gearing up for weight loss surgery or have already had it, there are many tools to help you along the way. Below is a list of a few items that will help to make your new life easier.