Gastric Sleeve Revision Procedures Increase at Los Angeles Bariatric Surgery Practice

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - Jun 7, 2012) - 33% of U.S. adults are considered obese according to the latest statistics from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). The study also shows that while 15 million Americans struggle with morbid obesity, less than 1% of those clinically eligible within this population underwent a bariatric procedure in 2009. Despite these numbers, Drs. Marc Lussier and Michael Feiz say they have seen an increase in weight loss procedures such as the gastric sleeve at their practice, and believe this popularity will continue to rise as more patients realize the benefits of such a procedure.

At their Los Angeles weight loss surgery practice, Town Center Surgery, Drs. Lussier and Feiz say the potentially positive impact a bariatric procedure can have on a patient's life is astounding. They cite a recent study from Dartmouth Medical School that has shown bariatric surgery, depending on the severity of the disease, can add three years to a patient's life expectancy. Additionally, Drs. Lussier and Feiz say the gastric sleeve procedure is especially promising, and believe the two-pronged approach to successful weight loss employed with this procedure is the reason for the increase in popularity among patients and surgeons alike.

The gastric sleeve is performed by creating several small incisions to remove a portion of the stomach, and works on two levels: restrictive and hormonal. While the size of the stomach is significantly reduced -- nearly 75% is removed -- Drs. Lussier and Feiz say one reason the procedure is so effective is because the functionality of the stomach is left intact. "The Gastric Sleeve has an extra advantage because not only does it restrict the portion size, but it also has a second mechanism of action that actually decreases hunger without disrupting the functional aspects of the stomach. It achieves this by reducing the levels of the hunger hormone Ghrelin. This two-pronged approach can often prove helpful for patients that did not reach their weight loss goals with the band alone."

The second benefit of removing such a large portion of the stomach is the suppression of Ghrelin, the hormone that stimulates hunger. By reducing the size of the stomach, the patient will not only feel fuller faster, but also produce less of the hormone, thereby reducing the amount of food they eat. Dr. Lussier says this is a simple equation: "Less stomach leads to the patient feeling fuller faster, which in turn leads to quicker satiation and less Ghrelin."

Despite the increase in popularity of the gastric sleeve in Los Angeles, Drs. Lussier and Feiz urge anyone considering weight loss surgery of any type to research all options and consult with a board-certified surgeon. As with any surgical procedure, they stress that weight loss surgery should not be taken lightly, and recommend developing a relationship with a patient's surgeon of choice before making a decision to undergo a procedure. Through this type of partnership with an experienced and skilled surgeon, they say patients have a greater chance of reaching their weight loss goals and achieving the new life they desire.

About Marc Lussier, MD, FACS

After earning his medical degree from the University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Dr. Marc Lussier completed his general surgery residency at New York University Medical Center, and his plastic surgery residency at Baylor College of Medicine. He also completed a Hand Microsurgery Fellowship and Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Southern California School of Medicine. Dr. Lussier is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, as well as a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

About Michael Feiz, MD, FACS

After graduating summa cum laude from the University of California Los Angeles, Dr. Michael Feiz earned his medical degree with honors from the New York Medical College. He then completed an internship and residency at the Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center, where he trained in a specialized Fellowship in Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery at Cedar Sinai Medical Center. Dr. Feiz is a member of the American Society for Bariatric Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, and the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons.

Town Center Surgery is located at 24510 Town Center Drive, Ste. 180, Valencia, CA, and can be reached at (661) 260-3021. Drs. Lussier and Feiz can also be reached via their website towncentersurgeryweightloss.com, lussiermd.com, or the Los Angeles Weight Loss Surgery Facebook page.