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Bariatric Surgery
"If people are morbidly obese, there's something they can do about it."
- Dr. Stephen Boyce, Covenant Weight Management Center, director
Nearly a quarter of all Tennesseans are obese, putting the state's population among the top 10 heaviest in the United States. Nationally, 8 to 10 percent of the population qualifies as morbidly obese - 100 pounds or more overweight.
The decision to undergo bariatric, or weight loss surgery, is not done lightly and is not made alone. At Parkwest, patients consult with a physician, nurse and dietician both before and after the procedure.
Patients lose weight almost immediately. It's not uncommon for them to drop 17 percent of their excess weight after just one month. As they continue to slim down, they often find relief from obesity related conditions such as diabetes, sleep apnea, joint stress, and high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
The surgery will be performed by either Dr. Stephen Boyce or Dr. Robert Williams. There are two types of bariatric surgeries performed at Parkwest: Gastric By-Pass and adjustable laparoscopic gastric banding. Drs. Boyce and Williams will help patients decide which surgery is best for them and then schedule surgery.
All bariatric surgeries are performed at Parkwest, a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence. 5 Riverstone is the bariatric surgery floor at Parkwest. Patients spend an average of two days in one of our bariatric suites, and every effort is made to ensure patient dignity, comfort and safety.
The staff of 5 Riverstone have all received training in bariatric care, with an emphasis on patient privacy and sensitivity. The suites on the bariatric floor are large enough to accommodate both the patient and a caregiver (ie. Family member, friend, spouse), as well as visitors.
| Each suite is equipped with specialized furniture,television, sink and countertop space, as well as extra pillows for post surgical comfort. Each shower stall is also equipped with a built in seat and hand rails. |
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| To be eligible for this procedure, patients must have a Body Mass Index of 40 or more, be 100 pounds or more overweight, or have an obesity-related disease.
For more information, or to find out about a free seminar, contact the Covenant Weight Management Center which offers both medically supervised weight loss and bariatric surgery. Dr. Boyce, Dr. Williams, and the healthcare professionals at Covenant Weight Management Center will help patients begin their journey to successful weight loss and better health. |
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