The Weight-Loss Support You Deserve
For your weight-loss journey, you deserve the utmost support from experts who have your whole-person health in mind. And that’s just what you’ll find here.
Working in unison with the AdventHealth Bariatric and Metabolic Institute, AdventHealth Sebring brings a surgical weight-loss program to your Heartland community. The surgeon, dietitians, nurses and medical specialists in our program are here to give you hope, confidence and life-changing solutions that work for you.
We’ll guide you through the steps required before bariatric surgery and will continue to support you as you adjust to your new life and improved health.
Is Bariatric Surgery Right for Me?
Combined with healthy lifestyle changes, bariatric procedures can help you lose weight quickly and keep it off successfully. You may be a candidate for bariatric surgery if you:
- Are between the ages of 18 and 65
- Are not dependent on drugs or alcohol
- Are ready and willing to commit to a new lifestyle
- Have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above
- Have a weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, heart disease or sleep apnea
- Have tried to lose weight through other means, such as diet and exercise
To determine if a surgical weight-loss procedure is right for you, we’ll look at factors like your age, your medical history, any previous attempts at weight loss, any related health conditions and your body mass index (BMI). We’ll then work to understand which procedure could best meet your needs so you can achieve your weight-loss goals.
Types of Bariatric Surgery Our Team Offers
If you’re looking for weight care options in Florida, the help you need may be right around the corner. Conveniently located in Sebring, our practice offers the latest surgical weight-loss procedures and a whole-person approach to help you achieve your goals.
Leading our bariatric care program, Dr. Latzko works with a team of medical specialists to apply a customized approach for improved well-being, emphasizing education, diet, nutrition, exercise and lifestyle changes.
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Minimally Invasive Surgery
Our team offers the most advanced robotic-assisted and laparoscopic procedures, which mean fewer incisions, less scarring and a faster recovery for you.
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Gastric Sleeve
Gastric sleeve has become a popular option since it doesn’t involve bypassing the small intestine and has minimal long-term complications.
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Gastric Bypass
Gastric bypass reduces the size of the stomach to one or two ounces to reroute food away from the stomach into the first part of the small intestine.
Meet Your Bariatric Care Team
Guiding Your Weight-Loss Journey
We know that weight-loss surgery and other bariatric procedures are life-changing decisions that require extra thought, care and support. Our team will work with you to understand which weight-loss option best meets your needs so you can start to feel whole again.
- Ending Your Frustrations With the Scale
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The AdventHealth Sebring surgical weight-loss program is about more than a number on a scale: It’s about supporting your whole health. We’re here to help you feel your best in body, mind and spirit.
After bariatric or weight-loss surgery, you can expect to lose up to 70% of excess body weight within one year. You’ll also likely see improvement in obesity-related health issues such as a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis, hypertension, high cholesterol and sleep apnea.
- Improving Your Whole-Person Health
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Being overweight can impact many aspects of your life and your health. Obesity can lead to many serious health conditions, including:
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Infertility
- Sleep apnea
- Type 2 diabetes
However, many of these conditions can be reversed with the right weight-loss care. Bariatric surgery at AdventHealth Sebring can help you lose the weight and keep it off.
- The Support You Deserve for Your Weight-Loss Journey
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The AdventHealth Sebring weight-loss program is focused on you. We’re ready to help as you decide whether weight-loss surgery is right for you.
Should you choose to have weight-loss surgery at AdventHealth Sebring, you’ll find the same caring team at your side after your procedure. Since follow-up with your medical team is very important to your success, you’ll receive a schedule of follow-up appointments. Even as years pass and you meet your goals, we’ll still be here when you need us. It’s our goal to help you feel whole for the long term.
Join Our Support Groups
If you’re considering or have had bariatric surgery, our support groups at nearby AdventHealth campuses are here for you to share your personal journey and experiences with others who understand and support your goals. Groups are facilitated by our bariatric coordinators and offer guest speakers throughout the year as well. You decide how much support you need, and we will be here to help you along the way.
Where Award-Winning Care Is Rewarding for You
We've been recognized by these leading national organizations for our commitment to providing the highest-quality care to our patients.
Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) Center of Excellence
AdventHealth Sebring is accredited by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) as a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery for providing the highest quality of care and patient safety. We are the only facility in Highlands and Hardee counties to receive this designation.
Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) Surgeon of Excellence
The Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) has accredited Michael P. Latzko, MD, as a Surgeon of Excellence in Robotic Surgery.
Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program
Our hospital is nationally accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). Being an MBSAQIP-accredited Comprehensive Center acknowledges our commitment to high-quality patient care and positive outcomes.
Hear Our Patient Success Stories
At AdventHealth Sebring, weight-loss surgery has helped many people regain their confidence and return to the lives they love. Take it from former patient Lori Dyal, who worked with Dr. Latzko to achieve her goals.
Answering Your Bariatric Surgery Questions
- What are the bariatric surgery requirements?
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There are certain criteria for bariatric surgery. You may be a candidate if you:
- Are between the ages of 18 and 65
- Are not dependent on drugs or alcohol
- Are ready and willing to commit to a new lifestyle
- Have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above
- Have a weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, heart disease or sleep apnea
- Have tried to lose weight through other means, such as diet and exercise
- Which bariatric surgery procedure is right for me?
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The best weight-loss procedure for you will be determined at your consult visit when you sit down with your bariatric surgeon. The decision is based on various factors, like:
- Any health conditions (like diabetes or GERD)
- Any previous attempts at weight loss
- Your BMI
- Your health history overall
- What is the cost of bariatric surgery, and will my insurance cover it?
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The coverage related to bariatric surgery depends on the type of coverage your insurance plan provides. Our care coordinators will help you communicate with your insurance company to understand what coverage your plan requires and provides.
- What are some bariatric surgery risks?
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All surgical procedures come with risks, but for most patients, the lasting benefits of bariatric surgery outweigh the risks. Some of the main risks of bariatric surgery include:
- Acid reflux
- Anesthesia-related risks
- Chronic nausea and vomiting
- Dilation of esophagus
- Inability to eat certain foods
- Infection
- Obstruction of the stomach
- Weight regain
Other risks may include:
Dumping Syndrome
Dumping syndrome is actually an adrenaline rush caused by too many carbohydrates entering the intestine too quickly. Symptoms are palpitations, sweating and a weak-in-the-knees feeling. About one-quarter of patients who receive a gastric bypass will experience this. This condition is unusual with the gastric sleeve.Blood Clots (Rare)
Very few surgical weight-loss patients develop blood clots. Less than 1% of all surgical patients in the U.S. encounter this issue. The bariatric team is very proactive in preventing blood clots. You are given blood thinners during surgery and after. You also use a compression device and ambulate every two hours while in the hospital and at home.
- How long do bariatric procedures take?
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The bariatric surgery process and average procedure time vary on multiple factors, like the type of surgery. For example, a gastric bypass procedure usually takes about two hours, and a gastric sleeve procedure may take an hour and a half.
Before your surgery, your care team will be sure to go over all the details of your procedure, including how long you’ll be in the operating room, so all your specific questions are answered.
- How rapid is weight loss after bariatric surgery?
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Weight-loss surgery is incredibly life-changing, and post-bariatric surgery results are wonderful for many people. Most patients will lose about 65% of their excess weight in 18 months (one and a half years), and most of the weight comes off in the first year. About 75% of people can successfully lose weight and keep it off long-term.
- How much excess skin will I have after surgery?
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It varies, but most patients who experience substantial weight loss will have some extra skin. Exercising to tone muscles will help to some degree. Removal of the extra skin is usually considered cosmetic, and coverage depends on your insurance policy. We recommend you first reach your weight loss goal and then undergo surgery to remove your excess skin, if desired.