The Institute for Advanced Bariatric Surgery at the Minimally Invasive Surgery Hospital has helped hundreds of patients take control of obesity and their lives all over the United States, in both adults and adolescents.  Patients report choosing services through our program based on our expertise, our quality and our record of safety in the performance of laparoscopic bariatric surgery. 

At present our Program is the only one in Kansas and several states in the area performing the Duodenal Switch (DS), Biliopancreatic Diversion (BPD) and Revision surgery laparoscopically as well as the Lap-Band and Gastric Bypass.  The program is widely respected for high standards and commitment to quality, not only in the performance of weight loss surgery but also in the aftercare, which is so vital for successful outcomes and results. 

If you are a patient from out-of-state please read thru the steps below to help you prepare and minimize the need for multiple office visits.

Step One

Proceeding with weight loss surgery is a very personal and often difficult decision.  Educating yourself about weight loss surgery is a very important first step.  Although the information presented in our website may be very helpful, patients have repeatedly told us that attending the weight loss surgery informational seminar was the most important thing they have done. 

We normally recommend coming to the seminar prior to meeting with the surgeon.  If you are out-of-state we'll try to work with you.  When registering for the seminar online please call the office at the same time.  The staff can schedule your office visit with the surgeon on the Friday before our Saturday seminars.  This is the only way we can help patients attend the seminar and meet with the surgeon on the same trip.  If this is not possible, the seminar can be attended on a different date or other arrangements can be made.

At the seminar you will be able to separate fact from fiction, meet the surgeons, ask questions, and hear testimonials from patients who have already undergone weight loss surgery. The patient testimonials are often the highlight of the seminar.  Individuals considering weight loss surgery enjoy talking to the patients and getting first hand accounts of how the operations have worked for them and how it has changed their lives.  Family and friends are always welcome at the seminars.

Adolescents interested in weight loss surgery should be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Step Two

While waiting for the seminar or your visit with the surgeon, please take time to explore our website.  There is general as well as very specific information about bariatric surgery.  The Weight Loss Surgery Procedures link has detailed descriptions about each procedure offered.  Under the Patient Corner link you will find the Preparatory Guide and after surgery Diet Guides which we recommend everyone to read.  There is a lot of information available for you to peruse through, please take the time to do so.  The better educated you are, the easier it will be for you to make a good decision about weight loss surgery.  For patients considering out-of-pocket coverage, learn about potential TAX Deductions, and about our MISH Rewards program. 

Step Three 

Once you are ready to attend the seminar and make your appointment to meet with the surgeon, please ensure that the staff is aware you are out-of-state.  Your visit can be scheduled on the Friday before the Saturday seminar.  Normally our patients require two doctor visits to prepare. For out-of-state patients we try to combine it into only one, longer visit.

The visit with the surgeon has multiple purposes:  Answer your specific questions and concerns, determine your health and operative risk, determine the necessary pre-operative work-up, decide together which operation will be best for you, explain risks and benefits, start the insurance pre-approval process, schedule your surgery and more. 

You can save about 45 minutes of your time at the office by downloading the New Patient Forms and completing them prior to coming for your appointment.  Some first visits with the surgeon can take as long as one hour.  Please reserve about one and a half to two hours of your time for your first visit to the office.  Family and friends are welcome and encouraged to come to the appointment with you. Please bring a copy of any medical records that you believe will be helpful.

We will schedule a tentative surgery date at this visit.  You will also be scheduled to meet with our dietician, and possibly with the psychologist if indicated.  The surgeon will also determine what medical work-up will be required of you to clear you for surgery.  The medical work-up can be completed by your doctors where you live – it does not have to performed here.

While waiting for your insurance approval, or obtaining your medical work-up start reading the Preparatory Guide and the Diet Guide for your specific operation. These will prepare you for your operation. 

Step Four

The clinical bariatric coordinator, a nurse, will call you the week before your surgery.  She will ensure that the work-up the surgeon ordered is complete, and remind you and inform you of the various things to prepare you for your surgery day.  The Preparatory Guide will be helpful in informing you about what to expect from your hospital stay and afterwards.  Re-read the Diet Guide the week before your surgery to refresh your memory and to better prepare.  Most patients undergoing the Bypass-only require an overnight stay with a next day discharge, and most patients undergoing the Lap-Band are able to go home the same day. Some insurance companies require an admission to obtain pre-authorization for a Lap-Band operation. 

Step Five

You will be asked to arrive at the hospital about an hour prior to your scheduled surgery time.  After completing hospital admission paperwork, the pre-op nurse will take you back to the Pre-Op area.  Do not bring any valuables or important items with you that day.  In pre-op you will meet with the nurses, anesthesiologist, CRNA, and surgeon.  After the IV and medications have been started, your family and friends will be allowed to stay with you in the pre-op area till you are ready to go back to the operating room.  After surgery you will be taken to the recovery room.  Most outpatient surgeries with general anesthesia require 1 to 2 hours of recovery time.  Prior to discharge from the hospital you will be scheduled for an UGI or Band Study in X-ray, and for a follow-up appointment with the surgeon in 1 to 2 weeks.  If you are out-of-state you can have your general practitioner follow-up with you, but to ensure you are doing well after surgery please contact the office by phone as well.

Many out-of-state patients who want their weight loss operation performed by us have made other arrangements with a local bariatric surgeon to follow them afterwards and/or perform their adjustments.  Whenever possible we always prefer to follow our own patients.  In this circumstance we often ask the patient to at least check in with us by phone on a regular basis and when possible see us, and to always inform us if they are having any problems related to their operation.  We always try to help in any way we can to ensure that you have good follow-up and care.

Step Six

Follow-up with the surgeon is a very important part of our program.  Patients who have weight loss surgery must have lifelong medical follow-up.  Our surgeons want to meet with you on a regular basis particularly during the first and second year when rapid weight loss occurs.  Your primary care doctor is also a very important extension of your post-operative care.  During your follow-up with the doctors you will be monitored for many things such as your medications. As you start losing weight, your medical problems will start improving and you may not require the same dose of your medications.  Good follow-up will allow us to monitor and adjust your need for medication. The long-term side effects of weight loss surgery can be subtle, and can appear months to years after the surgery.  Depending on which operation you had, you are at higher or lower risk for vitamin deficiencies (calcium, iron, Vitamin B12, etc.), and nutritional deficiencies such as protein.  Monitoring allows the doctors to adjust your need for supplements and nutrition so that deficiencies never develop.

Post-operative support can greatly help patients improve upon their weight loss success.  Our weight loss surgery program has a comprehensive post-operative support program.  We encourage patients to take advantage of the informational seminars, nutritional classes, behavior modification classes, and patient support groups offered monthly.   One-on-one nutrition and behavior modification counseling can also be arranged when needed. The support programs are designed to motivate you, as well as continue your education in the area of nutrition, behavior modification, and your weight loss operation in a supportive and caring environment.

Many patients, after they lose large amounts of weight, begin considering the need for Plastic Surgery.  Bariatric patients have unique plastic surgery needs. When you begin to explore the need for plastic surgery, we will be happy to talk with you about your options.

We enjoy patient testimonials.  It is a wonderful way to share your experiences and help motivate others.  You may leave a Patient Testimonial via our website or during a visit at our office.  The feedback from your testimonial also helps us to continue to improve our program, and provide better care and service to our patients.  If interested, we can add you to our growing list of patient testimonials on our website under Meet Our Patients.  Many have told us they found the testimonials inspiring and helpful.  No testimonial is placed on our website without your permission, and anonymity is easily arranged.