Weight Loss Specialist

Surgical Consultants of Northern Virginia

Bariatric & General Surgery located in Reston, VA

Obesity affects one out of every three adults in the United States and is a risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic health conditions. Diets aren’t always the best method for helping those struggling with obesity get to a healthy weight. The bariatric surgeons at the Surgical Consultants of Northern Virginia in Reston, Virginia, specialize in weight-loss surgery and offer many surgical options to help you lose the weight and keep it off. To schedule your weight-loss consultation, call the office or request an appointment online.

Weight Loss Q & A

What are the benefits of weight loss?

Obesity negatively affects your physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. Losing weight, even as little as 5% of your current weight, offers many benefits such as:

  • Lowering blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood cholesterol levels
  • Reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes
  • Alleviating body aches and pains
  • Improving sleep
  • Boosting self-confidence

Although weight loss offers many benefits, losing weight and keeping it off isn’t as easy as it sounds. Your doctor may talk to you about lifestyle changes or prescribe medication to help your weight-loss efforts. However, if you’re morbidly obese or obese and struggling to lose weight, weight-loss surgery may be a good option for you.

What is weight-loss surgery?

Weight-loss surgery, also called bariatric surgery, refers to surgical procedures that decrease the size of your stomach, so you feel full more quickly and eat less. Some procedures also alter nutrient absorption or decrease the production of hunger hormones. 

Am I a good candidate for weight-loss surgery?

The experienced team at the Surgical Consultants of Northern Virginia determines if you’re a good candidate for weight-loss surgery during a consultation. The team may consider you a good candidate if:

  • You’re more than 100 pounds above your optimal weight
  • You have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher
  • Your BMI is 35-40, and you have obesity-related health issues
  • You’ve tried and failed to lose weight using other weight-loss programs
  • You’re committed to making the necessary lifestyle changes

Weight-loss surgery isn’t a quick fix or a tool to help you shed a few pounds. If you’d like to know more about weight-loss surgery and if it’s an option for you, contact the Surgical Consultants of Northern Virginia.

What are the types of weight-loss surgery?

The team at the Surgical Consultants of Northern Virginia performs the gastric sleeve and the gastric bypass.

Gastric sleeve

During the gastric sleeve procedure, your surgeon uses a stapling device to remove a large portion of your stomach and create a “gastric sleeve” about the size of a banana. 

Gastric bypass

During the gastric bypass procedure, your surgeon divides your stomach into two sections and creates a small stomach pouch that holds about six teaspoons of food, which is attached to the distal portion of your small intestines.

The surgical experts offer robotic bariatric surgery and laparoscopic bariatric surgery, which are both minimally invasive surgical techniques that minimize recovery and pain.  

To learn more about your weight-loss options, contact the Surgical Consultants of Northern Virginia by phone or online today.