The Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Bariatric Surgery Program sees patients through an extensive pre-surgery evaluation process, a Roux Y Gastric Bypass surgical procedure, and both immediate and long-term post-operation treatment.
Community Education
Every month, a surgeon and nurse practitioner from the Froedtert & the Medical College Weight Loss/Bariatric Surgery Program hold community education classes on a rotation basis in Milwaukee, Sheboygan and Racine. Potential patients learn about health risks posed by severe obesity and available treatment options. After attending a community education class, patients are invited to contact the program for our comprehensive patient information packet. To learn when our next class will be held, please call 414-805-3666 or 800-272-3666.
Orientation Class
Patients seriously considering bariatric surgery are required to attend our special orientation class. The three-hour class provides a complete overview of gastric bypass surgery and the impact it can have on patients’ lives. The instructor discusses risks of surgery, including how it will affect people with obesity-related medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea. Benefits of the surgery are also discussed, including the degree of weight loss that can be expected. However, the main focus of the class is a discussion of patient preparedness and compliance, including the dietary habits and lifestyle changes the patient must adopt before and after surgery. Additionally, a Froedtert & the Medical College bariatric surgeon talks about suitable candidates for the surgery and the procedure itself. Classes are held at the Community Conference Rooms, 8700 Watertown Plank Road, Wauwatosa.
Surgical Consult and Pre-Operation
Lifestyle Change
Unlike candidates for other surgeries, bariatric patients begin preparing for gastric bypass three to six months before the operation. Patients are supported through a pre-operation weight loss program and assisted in altering their diets before surgery. Patients receive extensive behavioral modification counseling to help them adopt healthier eating habits and modify other lifestyle behaviors, such as quitting smoking and beginning an exercise program.
Group and One-on-One Consultations
Before patients undergo bariatric surgery at Froedtert & the Medical College, they attend group sessions led by a specially trained dietitian who thoroughly explains eating habits and nutritional needs required before and after surgery. Additionally, separate one-on-one meetings are scheduled with a psychologist and a surgeon for patients to ask questions and exchange information. The psychologist evaluates patients’ understanding of the procedure and their feelings about the changes to come. Patients obtain valuable information about behavioral adjustments during this meeting. The surgeon describes the surgery and discusses the patient’s physical condition.
During these initial meetings, patients’ history, symptoms and related health problems are examined to determine if they have pre-existing health concerns that need to be controlled before undergoing surgery. If necessary, they may be referred to a medical specialist for assessment and care, enter physical therapy, have medications adjusted, or undergo a sleep study to determine if they are at risk for sleep apnea.
Insurance Approval
Our trained staff will work with you and your medical insurance provider to determine if weight loss surgery is an available benefit. We will help you complete required paperwork and submit any needed documentation or records your insurance provider requests to authorize the surgery.
Pre-Operation Class
In the final stage before surgery is performed, a nurse practitioner makes certain patients understand the steps they are about to take. Medical histories are updated and questions are answered, and patients receive a complete outline of what to expect during their hospital stay and first days at home. Additionally, patients undergo a high-risk medical consultation with an anesthesiologist.
Specially Designed Inpatient Facilities
Every aspect of our inpatient program, from transfer units to gowns and surgical equipment, has been carefully planned and designed to provide the highest level of patient care with sensitivity and dignity. Patient rooms with baths outfitted with step-less showers are specifically configured to accommodate patients’ needs. And our state-of-the-science minimally invasive surgical suites — called endosuites — were expressly designed and constructed for bariatric surgical procedures.
Roux Y Gastric Bypass Surgery
Surgeons at the Froedtert & the Medical College Bariatric Surgery Program are highly experienced in performing Roux Y Gastric Bypass, a procedure that restricts the volume of food eaten and reduces the feeling of hunger. Considered the gold standard of weight loss surgery, the procedure has been shown to offer the best combination of weight loss with the fewest nutritional risks.
Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band
Froedtert & the Medical College Bariatric Surgery surgeons are also experienced in the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band (LapBand) procedure. The LapBand procedure is a less invasive surgery that allows adjustments of the band after the surgery without an operation. Band adjustments are made periodically based on weight loss and food tolerance. Most patients will lose weight for up to three years after band placement and can expect to lose 38 percent of their excess body weight over the first two years.
Follow Up Clinic
The Bariatric Surgery Program follows patients out of the operating room and into their daily lives, making every necessary resource available for as long as needed. We have doctors, nurses, dietitians, psychologists and physical therapists on hand to help patients through the lifestyle changes that follow bariatric surgery.