The National Institutes of Health provide information on surgical weight loss on this website.
ObesityInAmerica.org explains more about the links between obesity, heart disease, and other chronic health conditions in this article.
Read this article from HelpGuide.org for information on making healthier decisions when you’re faced with a meal at a fast food restaurant.
ChooseMyPlate.gov provides helpful tips for eating healthy when you eat out that can help you make the right decisions at your favorite restaurants.
Trying to lose weight is not easy. At SSM Weight Loss Institute, we can teach you how to read nutrition labels, as well as offer other medical interventions and surgical or non-surgical weight-loss options. Contact us today to get started!
Dedicating yourself to surgical weight-loss treatment can be scary, but understanding what to expect throughout the entire process helps patients feel more confident and prepared. From deciding to look into surgical weight loss to reaching your goal weight, there is a lot you will do and experience.
Forms: Next, you will have to fill out in careful detail a variety of medical forms. The information on these forms is absolutely necessary to complete honestly to ensure your health and safety are top priority.
Insurance Verification: It’s important to ensure your insurance is on board with getting surgical weight loss before you begin. First, you’ll talk to your insurance provider. Then, the insurance company will have to provide your weight-loss surgery clinic with preapproval documents.
Evaluation: Once your paperwork and insurance approval are completed, you will come into the surgical weight-loss clinic for physical and emotional evaluation in order to ensure you’re a good candidate for weight-loss surgery.
Consultations: If you’re approved after your evaluation, you’ll meet with a clinical coordinator who will offer you help and guidance throughout your weight-loss journey. You will also meet your weight-loss surgeon and dietician to discuss what to expect before, during, and after weight-loss surgery.
Surgery: Weight-loss surgery takes between one and two hours and is a minimally-invasive procedure. You should expect to stay in the hospital for varying amount of days depending on your procedure you choose. It can range from out-patient to a two day stay on average
Rehabilitation and Support: As the effects of your weight-loss surgery set in, your body will go through many changes. Your exercise physiologist will help you tone your muscles and strengthen your body so you can get on your way to a healthy, active lifestyle. You will also be offered support services to help you adjust to your new life.
If you’re considering the benefits of weight-loss surgery, take time to understand the process you will go through. At SSM Weight-Loss Institute, our network of healthcare providers and clinics allows us to help you through every step of the process both physically and emotionally. Call (314) 909-0900 to learn more from one of our friendly staff members.
Robotic-assisted procedure is a FIRST in St. Louis region
ST. LOUIS (Nov. 30, 2012) -- A surgical team with the SSM Robotic Surgery Institute at DePaul Health Center performed the region’s first single site robotic-assisted Cholecystectomy today. The patient’s gallbladder was successfully removed through a one-inch incision in the belly button, making the procedure virtually scarless.
"To be one of the first hospitals to offer this technically advanced surgery demonstrates SSM DePaul Health Center’s leadership in providing patients with the most up-to-date minimally invasive surgical options," says Mario Morales, M.D., who led the surgical team.
Robotic surgery and single-incision surgery are not new, but combining the two to remove the gallbladder requires additional training and special equipment. Dr. Morales is one of only a small group of surgeons across the country who has received training to perform this procedure.
“Single-site instruments used with the da Vinci robotic surgery system are the next step in the evolution of surgical technologies,” Dr. Morales said. “We are truly excited to be a leader today in the surgical treatment of tomorrow.”
Potential patient benefits of single-site gallbladder surgery include virtually scarless results, minimal pain, low blood loss, fast recovery, a short hospital stay and high patient satisfaction. The surgery can be performed in about one hour with a typical hospital stay of less than 24 hours.
During the procedure, the surgeon sits comfortably at a console, viewing a 3D, high-definition image of the patient’s anatomy. The surgeon uses controls below the viewer to move the instrument arms and camera. In real-time, the system translates the surgeon's hand, wrist and finger movements into more precise movements of the miniaturized instruments inside the patient.
Unlike traditional robotic surgeries requiring three to five small incisions, this new technology allows for a single incision in the belly button where instruments are placed and the diseased gallbladder is removed.
The patient who elected to have the procedure done said she wanted a surgery that provided no scarring and the ability to return to work faster.
“I’d been putting off having gallbladder surgery for some time, mainly because I didn’t want to take the time off from work. Since they are going through my belly button, the recovery time will be much faster and will allow me to get back to work sooner,” says patient Mindy Nelson. “I also have scars from having a c-section and a previous surgery, so I didn’t want any more. I’m glad SSM DePaul offers this surgery.”
To interview Dr. Mario Morales or patient Mindy Nelson, please contact Rachel Peine at 314-344-6691 or Rachel_C_Peine@ssmhc.com. Video footage of the surgery also is available upon request.
About Dr. Mario P. Morales
Dr. Mario P. Morales is a board-certified general surgeon who has additional laparoscopic certification and the medical director of the SSM Weight-Loss Institute at DePaul Health Center. A graduate of the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, Dr. Morales completed his residency in general surgery at the University of Missouri-Columbia. During his residency, he performed hundreds of bariatric surgeries and procedures under the direction of Dr. Roger de la Torre. He recently completed a fellowship in bariatric/minimally invasive surgery with the SSM?Weight-Loss Institute at DePaul Health?Center where he assisted in more than 200 cases. Dr. Morales regularly performs gastric and esophageal procedures, weight loss procedures with robotic assistance, and Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery, which results in fast recovery times.
About SSM DePaul Health Center
SSM DePaul Health Center is a 478-bed, full-service hospital and a member of SSM Health Care-St. Louis located at the intersection of Interstates 70 and 270 in North St. Louis County. Founded in 1828, DePaul was the first hospital west of the Mississippi River and remains the oldest continuously existing business in St. Louis. Today DePaul is a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center, operates the only Level II Trauma Center in its service region and offers the most advanced technology and procedures available including minimally invasive heart, spine, knee, hip and weight loss surgery. DePaul also operates the most comprehensive robotic surgical program in the region and is two-time recipient of the Missouri Quality Award and a Premier QUEST High Performing Hospital. To learn more, visit www.ssmdepaul.com.
When you’re grocery shopping, it’s easy to mistake some foods for being healthy when they’re actually full of ingredients that are bad for your health. But with misleading packaging and health claims everywhere, how can you know what your best food choices are?
This iPhone app called Fooducate offers a great solution to your grocery shopping problems. With an easy-to-use interface, it allows you to scan items throughout the grocery store and then learn about their nutritional value. It grades food based on its healthfulness and offers you helpful alternatives that are better for you.
If you’re interested in non-surgical weight loss, cutting calories and fat by choosing healthy items at the grocery store is a great way to start. Talk to a doctor at SSM Weight-Loss Institute about how to make healthier decisions when planning your meals. Call (314) 909-0900 to learn more.
SSM WeightLoss Institute is one of the best things that I've done for myself. As a mom and grandmother I find myself less and less apt to care for my own health. About six months ago I found out that because of my lack of self-concern, my diabetes, hypertension, and other risk factors had taken a toll on my general well-being. At 50, and not...
