Washington DC Bariatric Surgeons Offer a Look Inside Sleeve Gastrectomy

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - Jun 25, 2013) - The Washington DC bariatric surgeons at Bluepoint Surgical Group offer sleeve gastrectomy as a life-changing weight loss option. The procedure reduces the size of the stomach by 75-80%, which causes a patient's appetite to be diminished and fullness during meals to be reached much faster. At Bluepoint Surgical Group, the procedure has a high success rate at long-term weight loss results, offering patients a minimally invasive way to end their battle with morbid obesity.

According to Dr. Denis J. Halmi, the Medical Director of Bluepoint Surgical Group, over 70% of sleeve gastrectomy patients are satisfied with their results. He highlights how they often experience improvement in their medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure. Another benefit to the procedure is how it can be both faster and more effective than other weight loss procedures, like the LAP-BAND® surgery. Compared to yet another weight loss surgery treatment, the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure, Dr. Halmi says the sleeve gastrectomy tends to have fewer risks that are due to postoperative complications.

For anyone considering sleeve gastrectomy, Dr. Halmi says they should first schedule a consultation with a board-certified bariatric surgeon to understand their options and determine their candidacy. Generally, the following factors apply to weight loss surgery candidates:

• Are at least 18 years old
• Have a BMI of 35 or more
• Suffer from weight-related medical problems
• Seek weight loss surgery

Individuals considering surgery from Bluepoint Surgical Group to lose weight are first presented with their weight loss surgery options, and the center's bariatric surgeons may recommend a specific procedure based upon their unique needs. Following the consultation process, patients receiving a gastric sleeve can move forward with the treatment process.

Through the laparoscopic gastric sleeve surgery procedure, several small incisions are made to remove the reservoir part of the stomach. Performing this procedure laparoscopically allows for much smaller incisions and a minimally invasive surgery. For patients at Bluepoint Surgical Group, an overnight stay is required before returning home. Typically, over the course of the next two weeks, they can return to work. With the partial stomach removal, most of the hunger-producing hormones, known as Ghrelin, are also removed, which results in the reduction of appetite and the encouragement of smaller food portions.

While sleeve gastrectomy is an effective way to lose weight, Bluepoint Surgical Group stresses the importance of it being part of a complete treatment plan. Dietary changes, exercise, and modified behavior are all necessary in getting to a healthy weight. The Washington DC weight loss surgery practice continues to educate and perform bariatric surgeries to treat obesity and ultimately prevent this common condition from occurring.

About Denis J. Halmi, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Dr. Denis Halmi is Medical Director of the Bluepoint Surgical Group and at the Sentara Weight Loss Surgery Center in Woodbridge, Virginia. He has over 15 years of experience in surgically treating morbid obesity and has performed more than 2,500 operations to encourage weight loss. Dr. Halmi graduated from Semmelweiss Medical University in Budapest, Hungary and trained in General Surgery in New York at the Brooklyn-Downstate Medical Center. He is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and is certified by the American Board of Surgery. Dr. Halmi is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is available for interview upon request.

About Bluepoint Surgical Group

Bluepoint Surgical Group specializes in weight loss surgery through gastric banding, gastric bypass and revisional bariatric surgery. It is a Designated Center of Excellence with the ASMBS and offers patients superior surgical care before and after surgery. The knowledgeable professionals at Bluepoint Surgical Group continually educate the public on obesity through prevention, causes, and treatment. The center treats patients from North Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, and many other areas in the region.