Bariatric Surgery
William Beaumont Army Medical Center is accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). This designation recognizes our program’s commitment to the human and physical resources necessary for providing optimal outcomes following surgery for weight loss as well as a commitment to following best standards of practice and entry of surgical outcomes into a national database. Our accredited center for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Services is supported through the General Surgery clinic at William Beaumont Army Medical Center. We provide expert consultative inpatient and outpatient healthcare services for patients suffering from metabolic and weight-related medical conditions. Our ability to provide this care is facilitated by our state-of-the-art health care facility and our providers’ first-rate education, research, and process improvement programs. We look forward to working with you to meet your healthcare goals and thank you for choosing William Beaumont Army Medical Center.
Should I have surgery to lose weight?
Recent research indicates many patients are unable to achieve and maintain large amounts of weight loss without the assistance of weight loss surgery.
Along with the burden of obesity, these patients are frequently plagued with diseases associated with excess weight. These diseases are referred to as co-morbidities and include:
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Sleep Apnea
- GERD
- PCOS
- Joint Pain
Co-morbidities may be reduced or eliminated by weight loss.
The goal of the bariatric program is to provide assistance to patients who may benefit from significant weight loss and have had little success with more conservative, non-operative treatment methods.
Patients seen in the General Surgery/Bariatric Clinic are those referred from their primary care provider. We are currently seeing retirees, dependents and VA referred patients.
Types of Bariatric Procedures at WBAMC:
Gastric Band Procedure
*We currently do not offer placement of gastric bands but are able to provide the full spectrum of follow up care for patients that have one in place, including surgical management of complications and removal/revision.
Sleeve Gastrectomy (Partial Gastrectomy, Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, and Gastric Sleeve)
This procedure is only performed on the stomach and does not involve the intestines. It consists of making the stomach, which looks like a pouch, into a long narrow tube; hence the name "sleeve". The Sleeve Gastrectomy removes two thirds of the stomach from the body, which provides a quicker sense of fullness and decreased appetite. The smaller stomach restricts food intake by allowing only a small amount of food to be consumed at one time.
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass is the gold standard Bariatric/Metabolic procedure. Food bypasses the initial part of the small intestine where many micronutrients (minerals and vitamins) are absorbed. This helps to achieve weight loss, but also increases risk for micro-nutritional deficiencies.
Patients are required to take life-long nutritional supplements that usually prevent these deficiencies. Gastric Bypass may cause dumping syndrome because food moves quickly through the small intestine. Symptoms include nausea, weakness, sweating, faintness, and occasionally diarrhea after eating, especially carbohydrate rich foods.
Do I qualify for the Surgical Weight Loss Program?
The eligibility criteria for a consultation with one of our bariatric surgeons are as follows:
- BMI of 35 or greater with co-morbidities (SUCH AS: Type II Diabetes, Hypertension, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Asthma, GERD, PCOS, or other obesity related conditions, or
- BMI of 40 or greater without co-morbidities.
- BMI is a method of classifying body mass into categories used to predict morbidity and mortality. BMI is calculated by weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared.
- Retired military
- Dependents of active duty or retired military
- Referred by the VA
- At least 18 years old
- TRICARE Prime beneficiary
- Not pregnant or lactating
- No multiple serious medical complications related or unrelated to weight
Note for Active-Duty Service Members:
Bariatric surgery represents a major and permanent change in your digestive system that requires strict adherence to a specific dietary regimen that may interfere with operational deployment. A history of bariatric surgery is a bar to military service and receiving bariatric surgery while on active duty may be grounds for separation. Active-duty personnel cannot have weight loss surgery as mandated by DHA and are not eligible for the Surgical Weight Loss Program.
How do I begin the process?
The road to weight loss surgery begins with an appointment with your Primary Care Manager (PCM). Your PCM is going to play a vital role should weight loss surgery be the best choice for you. You must keep in close contact with your PCM throughout the process. Your PCM will place a referral for the Bariatric Surgery Clinic. Your health maintenance needs to be up to date with optimization of current medical problems. All female patients need to be up to date with Well Women’s Exams. We are a Nicotine free program.