St. Mary's Bariatric Surgery offers patients suffering from obesity a chance to gain control of their weight and their health. We are here to help with an efficient and compassionate healthcare staff.

What is it?

Bariatric surgery changes the size of your stomach, the length of your small intestine, or both. The goal is to limit how much food can be eaten and or absorbed at one time. St. Mary's can help you decide what procedure is best for you.

Surgical Procedure Option:

• Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding: This option is a restriction procedure, meaning it limits how much food you can eat at one time. An adjustable band is placed around the top part of the stomach to create a small pouch. The size of the band is adjusted using a port placed under the skin. Adjusting the band changes how quickly food leaves the new pouch.
• In July 2011, Dr. Sergio Mejias joined St. Mary’s Medical Group. Dr. Mejias specializes in laparoscopic obesity surgery, in particular laparoscopic gastric banding. For more information on Athens General and Colorectal Surgeons (AGCS), the practice of Sergio T. Mejias, M.D., please visit www.athensgeneralsurgeons.com.
• Note: To qualify for the bariatric procedure, patients should be more than 100 pounds overweight and a BMI of 35-40 with health problems, or a BMI of 40 or above, with or without health problems.

Your surgical experience, what to expect:

• To prepare for surgery you might need to do one or more of the following:
  • Stop smoking.
  • Lose weight beforehand by following a special diet.
  • Stop taking certain medications.
  • Not binge on food before surgery.
  • Stop eating and drinking after midnight on the night before surgery, or as instructed.
• After surgery, give your body time to adjust.
  • Follow your doctor’s instructions once home, and keep your doctor informed of severe pain and/or nausea.
  • Slowly begin increasing your activity. Activity helps you lose the weight after surgery.
  • Maintain a close relationship with your healthcare team to ensure the best follow-up care.
  • Stick to the special diet designed for you post-surgery.

Remember that after surgery, success is in your hands! The changes you make need to be life-long commitments. St. Mary’s team is here to guide you through this life-changing procedure.