Chicago Weight Loss Center

Weight loss surgery has become an increasingly viable option, and residents of the Chicago are fortunate to have access to some of the highest quality medical services in the world. Here we will briefly review some of the different types of bariatric surgeries that are available, their risks and benefits, and then examine some of [...]

Weight loss surgery has become an increasingly viable option, and residents of the Chicago are fortunate to have access to some of the highest quality medical services in the world. Here we will briefly review some of the different types of bariatric surgeries that are available, their risks and benefits, and then examine some of the more reputable locations to receive this type of treatment.

Particularly in cases where the risks of continued obesity outweigh the risks of the surgery, surgical weight loss interventions can be a sound choice. Obesity is strongly associated with heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and overall death, so at a certain point anything you can do to improve your body composition will be better than doing nothing at all. Weight loss surgery allows for rapid weight loss that can lead to improved quality of life and decreased risk of death.

Traditional “stomach stapling” has been replaced by more modern gastric banding surgery, which constricts the digestive tract in a way that is less physically traumatic and which is reversible. Gastric band surgery can be performed laparoscopically, resulting in reduced surgery and anesthesia time and faster recovery. So even though non surgical weight loss diets are ultimately highly preferable to any surgical solution, for obvious reasons, bariatric weight loss surgery is a very nice option to have available for people who have failed to lose weight in Chicago using a variety of methods.

Also, keep in mind that the surgery is by no means the end of your weight loss program. You will have to carefully follow a post surgery weight loss diet in order to not only make sure that you sustain weight loss, but to make sure you make a healthy recovery from the surgery. Remember that surgery is not to be taken lightly; even with the most modern techniques it is still a big deal. And, of course, even the most rudimentary services are still going to cost you a lot of money. If you take a look at tummy tuck prices, for example, you’ll be likely to think to yourself that perhaps a low carb diet is worth another try.

Weight Loss Surgery Centers In Chicago

Some of the most prominent surgery centers in the city are academic hospitals. These hospitals have large budgets and highly skilled staff that are able to perform the most modern procedures, so they are often preferable to other types of facilities. In Chicago, the two most prominent places to receive bariatric surgery are the University of Chicago Medical Center and Northwestern University Medical Center. Each of these facilities offers minimally invasive , laparoscopic surgeries with minimal risk and maximal benefit.

The University of Chicago has this to say about their weight loss surgery program:

The surgeons and the bariatric surgical team at the University of Chicago Medical Center are among the most experienced and innovative in the world when it comes to laparoscopic weight loss surgery. Our surgeons have performed more of these minimally invasive procedures than any other surgeons in the Midwest. In fact, we were:

• The first to perform laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery in the Chicago area
• The first–and currently the only–surgeons in the Midwest to perform laparoscopic duodenal switch surgery, which offers hope for the most severely obese patients.

Laparoscopic approaches offer the same potentially life-saving results as traditional open weight loss surgery–but with significantly less pain and fewer complications, such as wound infections and hernias. Patients typically return home two to four days after their surgery and usually return to work and other activities significantly earlier than they would after traditional weight loss surgery.

That kind of experience is hard to ignore, and so if you have the resources available to you the University of Chicago is a place you should definitely give strong consideration to. Northwestern University is also highly prestigious and renowned for offering high quality modern surgical services. They state:

If you suffer from severe obesity and cannot lose weight with a healthy diet and exercise, weight loss surgery (also known as bariatric surgery) might be an option for you. Deciding to have weight loss surgery is a significant step toward making a permanent lifestyle change.

The Weight Loss Surgery program of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, nationally recognized as a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, offers a variety of surgical weight loss procedures, with an emphasis on minimally invasive or laparoscopic surgery, including:

• Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
• Adjustable gastric banding (LAPBAND® and REALIZE™)
• Sleeve gastrectomy
• Revisional surgery

Of course there are many options available to you, so you will need to do considerable research before committing to such a life-changing operation. You would do well to consult with you primary care physician to discuss whether weight loss surgery may be an appropriate option for your needs, and to talk about what facility may offer the best services for your individual needs.