Weight-Loss Surgery in Northwest Georgia

Feel Empowered to Transform Your Life

Bariatric surgery is a safe and effective weight-loss solution that can benefit your whole-person health, too. At AdventHealth Redmond, our compassionate bariatric team has delivered personalized care to Rome and the surrounding communities for decades. We partner with the experienced team at the Harbin Clinic Bariatric Center, and together, we’ll help you transform your life.

See Jay’s Amazing Transformation After Bariatric Surgery

In less than a year, Jay Martin’s life changed. He went from 305 to 180 pounds and no longer needs medication to manage Type 2 diabetes or his blood pressure. After bariatric surgery at AdventHealth Redmond, he says he feels more alive for his wife and son. For the first time in his life, Jay feels whole. Hear his story and see his incredible transformation.

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Discover the Bariatric Surgeon Who’s Right for You

When you’re ready to make a choice that could change your life, we’re here to help you get started. Our compassionate and experienced bariatric surgeons in Rome are ready to meet with you, walk through your options and develop a care plan for your unique needs and goals.

Types of Bariatric Surgery Our Team Offers

Despite their best efforts, many people struggle to achieve a healthy weight through diet and exercise. But you’re not alone, and our team is here to help. In the AdventHealth Redmond Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Program, we offer the latest weight-loss surgeries to help you achieve your goals. Our advanced procedures offer faster healing times, minimal scarring and a quicker return to the life you love.

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  • Sleeve Gastrectomy

    During a sleeve gastrectomy procedure, a surgeon creates a small, sleeve-shaped stomach, removing approximately 75 to 80% of the stomach. This new stomach can hold between 60 to 120 milliliters or 2 to 4 ounces. The stomach pouch created is about the size of a banana.

  • Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery

    During a gastric bypass procedure, a surgeon creates a small pouch-like stomach. This new stomach resembles the size of an egg and can hold 30 to 60 milliliters or 1 to 2 ounces. During this procedure, the surgeon also reroutes the small intestine and connects it to the newly formed pouch or “stomach.”

  • Revisions and Conversions

    For patients having inadequate weight loss or complications from Lap-Band® surgery, we offer conversions to more effective surgical solutions.

  • Minimally Invasive Surgery

    Our team offers the most advanced robotic-assisted and laparoscopic procedures, which mean fewer incisions, less scarring and a faster recovery. Patients are typically released from the hospital the day after surgery, and depending on their occupation, many patients return to work in one to two weeks.

 

Award-Winning Care That’s Rewarding for You

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  • PINC AI™ 100 Top Hospitals®

    AdventHealth Redmond is recognized as one of the nation's 100 Top Hospitals® and tanked in second place as a 25 Top Teaching Hospital by PINC AI™ and reported by Fortune. This is the fourth year AdventHealth Redmond has been named to this list. This annual list recognizes excellence in clinical outcomes, operational efficiency, patient experience and financial health.

  • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Five-Star Quality Rating

    AdventHealth Redmond is one of 429 hospitals nationwide to receive a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for 2022. This is the highest possible achievement of CMS’s Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings.

  • Georgia Hospital Association Circle of Excellence for Patient Safety and Quality

    AdventHealth Redmond is a recipient of the Georgia Hospital Association Circle of Excellence for Patient Safety and Quality award. This award is given to hospitals that have demonstrated a sustained commitment to patient safety and quality, as evidenced by winning for the current year and winning three or more Patient Safety and Quality awards in the past five years.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bariatric Surgery

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  • Question: How can bariatric surgery improve my overall health?

    Answer:
    Bariatric surgery is the most effective and long-lasting treatment for obesity. It can have overall health benefits like:
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    • Increased ability for physical activities
    • Improved fertility and hormone levels
    • Improved quality of life
    • Improved self-esteem
    • Improved sexual function
    • Reduced dependence on medications
    • Reduced risk of disease
    • Extended life expectancy

    Studies have shown that many bariatric surgery patients experience remission of obesity-related diseases like:

    • Type 2 diabetes
    • Prediabetes and metabolic syndrome
    • High blood pressure
    • High cholesterol
    • Heart disease
    • Obstructive sleep apnea
    • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
    • Joint disease
    • Back pain
    • Fatty liver disease
    • Asthma and lung disease
    • Depression and anxiety
    • Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
    • Kidney disease
    • Risk for numerous cancers
    • Risk of strokes
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  • Question: Who qualifies for bariatric surgery?

    Answer:
    There are certain criteria for bariatric surgery. You may be a candidate if you:
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    • Are over the age of 18
    • Have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or greater, regardless of the presence, absence or severity of comorbidities
    • Have a metabolic disease, such as diabetes, with a BMI of 30 to 34.9

    Guidelines also recommend adjusting the BMI threshold in the Asian population such that a BMI ≥ 25 suggests clinical obesity, and individuals with a BMI ≥ 27.5 should be offered metabolic and bariatric surgery.

    Although the guidelines for surgery listed above are supported by medical research and population studies, most insurance companies will not consider coverage for metabolic surgery unless your BMI is greater than 35.

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  • Question: Which bariatric surgery procedure is right for me?

    Answer:
    The best weight-loss procedure for you will be determined at your consultation appointment when you talk with your bariatric surgeon. The decision is based on various factors, like:
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    • Any health conditions (like diabetes or GERD)
    • Any previous attempts at weight loss
    • Your body mass index (BMI)
    • Your health history overall
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  • Question: What is the cost of bariatric surgery, and will my insurance cover it?

    Answer:
    The coverage related to bariatric surgery depends on the type of coverage your insurance plan provides. It’s unlikely that your insurance provider will pay 100% of the surgical costs. We recommend that you call them to gain a better understanding of the coverage approved. If they ask for the CPT code for your procedure, use the following:
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    • Gastric bypass CPT code: 43644
    • Gastric sleeve CPT code: 43775

    During this phone call with your insurance company, they can also provide you with steps you will need to take to obtain weight-loss surgical coverage.

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  • Question: What are some bariatric surgery risks?

    Answer:

    The side effects and complications listed below are inherent risks when undergoing a bariatric surgical procedure. The overall mortality risk for individuals undergoing a bariatric surgical procedure is less than 0.1%. Given this low rate, it’s important to compare the risk of surgery with the risk of persistent obesity and the medical complications associated with this disease.

    Some bariatric surgery side effects and complications can include:

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    • Lung complications such as atelectasis, pneumonia or pulmonary embolism
    • Infections such as abscesses, wound infections and urinary tract infections
    • Bleeding
    • Blood clots
    • Intestinal complications, such as bowel obstruction, leak and paralytic ileus
    • Acid reflux
    • Dumping syndrome
    • Hernia
    • Re-operation
    • Anesthesia-related complications
    • Inability to eat certain foods
    • Chronic nutritional problems, such as protein deficiency, vitamin deficiency and mineral deficiency
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  • Question: How long do bariatric procedures take?

    Answer:
    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 one to two hours, and a gastric sleeve procedure may take 45 minutes to an hour and a half.
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    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.

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  • Question: How rapid is weight loss after bariatric surgery?

    Answer:
    Bariatric 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.
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    Due to this rapid weight loss during the first 18 months after surgery, it is recommended that patients avoid pregnancy until after 18 months.

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  • Question: How much excess skin will I have after surgery?

    Answer:
    It varies, but most patients who experience substantial weight loss will have some extra skin. Exercising to tone muscles will help. Removal of the extra skin is usually considered cosmetic, and coverage depends on your insurance policy. Rarely do weight-loss surgery patients ever proceed with surgery to remove skin.
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    We recommend you first reach your weight-loss goal and then undergo surgery to remove your excess skin, if desired.

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  • Question: How do I get started, and what are the next steps?

    Answer:

    Simply click the “Get Started Now” button to complete a short intake form and watch our online information session. Upon completion, you will then be asked to complete a short quiz and medical intake form. After completing all the necessary steps, a member of our team will contact you regarding the next steps to scheduling a one-on-one consultation with one of our surgeons.

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    During this consultation, the surgeon will complete a pre-operative evaluation. Additional pre-operative consultations may be needed based on your individual needs. After completing all the required steps, surgery will be scheduled between six weeks and six months following your initial consultation, depending on your insurance requirements and individual needs.

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  • Question: Will my hunger go away after surgery?

    Answer:
    No operation eliminates hunger completely; it is a survival instinct and a necessary bodily function. Weight-loss surgery will reduce your hunger, especially in the first few months after the operation.
  • Question: What percentage of people can lose weight after surgery and keep it off long-term?

    Answer:
    About 75% of those who undergo bariatric surgery can successfully lose weight and keep it off long-term.
  • Question: Is long-term follow-up required?

    Answer:
    Yes. Long-term follow-up is required for life following bariatric surgery. We have found that long-term follow-up is key to lasting success.
  • Question: What is dumping syndrome?

    Answer:
    Dumping syndrome is actually an adrenaline rush caused by too many carbohydrates entering the intestine too quickly.
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    Symptoms are palpitations, sweating and a weak-in-the-knees feeling. One-quarter of patients who receive a gastric bypass will experience this. This condition is unusual with the gastric sleeve but can occur specifically if a patient drinks fluid while eating.
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  • Question: Do I have to take vitamins and minerals for life?

    Answer:
    After your surgery, you will be advised to take multivitamins and other supplements for the rest of your life. You will receive a handout with these requirements in your nutrition class. These requirements will also be reviewed with you during that class.
  • Question: Can I continue to exercise following weight-loss surgery?

    Answer:
    Absolutely! You can begin low-impact, non-strenuous exercise immediately following surgery. After recovering for about four weeks, you will be encouraged to incorporate unrestricted exercise into your routine.
  • Question: If I’m considering bariatric surgery, how do I get started?

    Answer:
    The first step is to click “Get Started Now” on this page to complete a short intake form and watch our online information session. Upon completion, you will then be asked to complete a short quiz. After completing all the necessary steps, a member of our team will contact you regarding the next steps to scheduling a one-on-one consultation with one of our surgeons.
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    During this consultation, the surgeon will complete a pre-operative evaluation. Additional pre-operative consultations may be needed based on your individual needs. After completing all the required steps, surgery will be scheduled between six weeks and six months after your initial consultation, depending on your insurance requirements and individual needs.

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Your Weight-Loss Journey Starts Here

A healthier life is closer than you think, and we’ll be your trusted guide and biggest advocate as you take charge of your weight and wellness. To get started, sign up for our online seminar today.