-
Governor Chris Christie has Lap-Band Surgery
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced recently that he underwent Lap-Band weight loss surgery in February of this year. Congratulations to him!He is doing something that was likely long overdue. He is reaching out for a tool to curb his serious problem with obesity. Governor Christie represents a typical case of an overachieving person who has been able to succeed in what seems like every other aspect of his life except for weight loss. We have heard this many times with many patients. Obese people often feel as if they are failures because of their inability to have successful control over their weight. On the other hand, they seem to be quite accomplished in most other aspects of their lives. Could this have a connection to perfectionism; to an ‘all or nothing’ personality type? Quite possibly. It’s often reported by patients that they are either dieting perfectly to an extreme or overeating at the other extreme. They see no point in doing something imperfectly and that seems to be an important ingredient in the disastrous recipe for obesity. Although weight loss surgery is not a fool proof cure to habits of a lifetime, it is a big help. The gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy (gastric sleeve), gastric placation and laparoscopic band surgeries have proven to help an increasing number of people to achieve health through weight loss.
As far as Governor Christie is concerned, let’s hope he is very successful. We wish him very well!
Share this:
-
Telogen Effluvion – Hair Loss!
One of the most common concerns after bariatric surgery is a condition in which patients start to shed an abnormal amount of hair. Most of the time patients notice it in the shower, on the pillow case or in their hair brush.There are many reasons for this condition but sudden weight loss after surgery is one of the most common.
Typically a normal amount of hair loss is 100 hairs a day. In this condition it goes up to 300 or more.
Following a gastric bypass or a sleeve gastrectomy some patients may start to notice abnormal hair loss 2 to 4 months after the procedure.
At any given time, 85% to 90% of hairs in a person’s scalp are in the active or anagen phase (growing). The rest are in the telogen phase, or resting. A hair that enters the telogen phase stops growing and enters a dormant stage for 2 to 4 months and then falls out. It is then replaced by a new growing hair.
After weight loss surgery, losing a large amount of hair can be frightening, but it is usually a temporary and reversible situation lasting rarely longer than 6 months.
So, what to do about it? Not much can be done to change it, but it would be helpful if you make sure you are not missing nutrients and minerals. Also increase your protein intake and you will start to notice that after a while you stop losing abnormal amounts of hair and everything will be back to normal.
Share this:
-
Liver Transplants with Sleeve Gastrectomy
There has been a recent change in the most common indication for liver transplantation. Obesity caused Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) is becoming one of the leading causes of end stage liver failureA recent article by the Mayo Clinic published in the American Journal of Transplantation illustrates the advantages of adding a Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure for weight control at the time of a Liver Transplant.
The authors divided Liver Transplant patients with BMIs over 35 into 2 groups: one consisted of 37 patients who achieved weight loss through pre-operative weight management and received a Liver Transplant alone. The second group consisted of 7 patients who did not achieve sufficient pre-operative weight loss and received a Sleeve Gastrectomy at the time of transplantation. Results were very interesting. The 7 patients with Sleeve Gastrectomy did much better and had fewer complications such as steatosis, diabetes or graft loss after transplant compared to their counterparts who received the liver transplant alone.
The authors point out that pre-operative liver transplant patients with a high BMI should be asked to enroll in weight loss management protocols. But failing this, Sleeve Gastrectomy at the same time of the transplantation may be a suitable alternative and may prove to decrease the complications in patients who require this type of transplantation.
Share this:
-
AirFAIR?
