Top reasons to explore weight loss surgery

Joslin Monk, October 2013

You’ve struggled with diets for years, but the weight keeps coming back.

You have a thyroid condition or other genetic issues that make it difficult to lose weight.

You are seriously overweight and feel your life is at risk from other related conditions, such as diabetes or heart problems.

Your weight is causing feelings of isolation, depression or hopelessness.

Excess weight is putting a serious strain on your joints and making arthritis symptoms more severe.

Click through to see Joslin's After photo!

There may be a solution:

Joslin Monk, April 2014

The Bariatric Surgery Institute at McLaren Macomb is proving that surgical weight loss options can lead to a happier, healthier life. More people are having weight loss surgery than ever before and physicians are continuing to report favorable results about the surgery’s safety and effectiveness.

Results from national studies show that bariatric surgery offers dramatic relief for people with type 2 diabetes. In fact, many patients experienced complete remission of diabetes within days of the surgery, even before they started losing significant weight.

Patients also showed significant improvement in overall cholesterol levels, hypertension and other issues, such as infertility and urinary stress incontinence.

Is it right for you?

For people who are seriously overweight, this surgery can be the beginning of a new life, but it is not viewed as a quick fix. Patients will undergo an evaluation process and should be willing to commit to follow-up medical care and nutritional support from the bariatric team.

The first step is education. McLaren Macomb offers free seminars in the next few weeks. Dr. Carl Pesta, a board-certified bariatric surgeon, will explain the wide range of services and procedures that are available.

Seminars will be held at McLaren Macomb, on Harrington, near Groesbeck in Mount Clemens, on the following dates:

• Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at 6 p.m.
• Monday, June 2, 2014 at 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 18, 2014 at 6 p.m.

To register, please call (586) 493-2274 or visit mclaren.org/macombbariatrics.