A message from Dr. Ariel Ortiz, chief surgeon and medical director at Obesity Control Center, on important guidelines for eating following gastric band or lap band surgery.

I have always said it is easier to walk in a straight line than swerving all over the road. Either way you will still reach your goal, but one is much faster and shorter in the long run. And less dizzying! The same goes with post-gastric band surgery decisions. You can either try it the surgeon’s way or not.

After ten year’s experience as a weight loss surgeon and having performed more than 9,000 procedures, I know for a fact that many patients try it their way at first. But sooner or later, they will end up following the guidelines that have passed the test of time. The list below, slightly modified here, is based on the Ten Rules for Success originally developed by Dr. Paul O’Brien of Melbourne, Australia and Dr. Rudolf Weiner of Frankfurt, Germany—two of the leading lap-band surgeons in the world and personal friends of mine.

[1.]    Eat only three small meals a day.
[2.]    Eat solid foods, slowly, and chew thoroughly (15 to 20 times a bite).
[3.]    Stop eating as soon as you feel full.
[4.]    Do not wash down your solids with liquids.
[5.]    Do not eat between meals.
[6.]    Eat only good quality foods.
[7.]    Avoid fibrous food. 
[8.]    Drink enough fluids during the day. 
[9.]    Drink only low-calorie liquids. 
[10.]  Exercise at least thirty minutes a day.

Following these guidelines are essential to ensuring that you maximize both good health and weight loss during the period of time following your gastric surgery and in the years ahead. Once you have established these as part of your normal routine, you will quickly begin to see the benefits. Bon appétit!

Read more on the OCC follow-up plan. 
http://obesitycontrolcenter.com/our-program/our-follow-up-program/post-op-care/


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OCC’s epidemiologist is closely monitoring the COVID-19 status and is actively issuing updates as they are available. The Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization are the most trusted sources online.  While the CDC has announced new mask protocols for vaccinated individuals, there will be no changes for our office protocols for patients, guests, and staff members as the announcement does not apply to hospitals or medical facilities. Masks are still a requirement for all patients, guests and staff at our facility.

As we reinitiate weight loss surgery, we are constantly adapting and installing new and updated safety measures.

Weight loss surgery is medically necessary.

Bariatric Surgery and the clash of two pandemics.   

Major metabolic and bariatric surgery Societies and colleges globally are now calling for the safe resumption of bariatric and metabolic surgery before the COVID-19 pandemic is declared over. 

The sooner bariatric surgery can be safely performed, the quicker obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other diseases can be reduced or resolved as they are not only chronic they are also progressive.  Obesity is also linked to more than 40 diseases including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and at least 13 different types of cancer.

A recent statement from the ASMBS says “Before COVID-19 began, it was clear that patients with obesity were ‘safer through surgery.’ In the era of COVID-19, ‘safer through surgery’ for patients with obesity may prove to be even more important than before.” Obesity and Metabolic syndrome have been identified as an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes including death among COVID-19 patients.

See here for full COVID-19 update. 

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