Body mass index (BMI) is a tool that doctors use to estimate the amount of body fat you have, calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. It screens for certain health conditions.
You’re considered overweight if your BMI is 25 to 29.9; you’re considered obese if your BMI is 30 or higher.
In general, the higher your BMI, the greater your risk for certain conditions, such as:
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Type 2 diabetes
- Gallstones
- Osteoarthritis
- Sleep apnea
- Certain types of cancer
- Depression and other mental health conditions
A high BMI, though, is not a guarantee that you’ll get any of the above, and you can have any of these conditions even with a normal BMI.
It’s prudent, though, to try to lose weight to decrease your health risks, and the best way is still by eating a healthy, low-calorie diet and getting enough exercise to burn more calories than you consume. If you’re unable to lose weight, surgery may be an option.
At Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota, with locations in Hibbing, Duluth, and Ely, board-certified general surgeon Dr. John Bollins and our team perform weight loss surgery for patients who can’t lose weight on their own and meet specific medical criteria.
We tailor the surgery to the needs of each patient and provide extensive follow-up, ensuring you meet with success. Here’s what you need to know.
What is weight loss surgery?
There are many different types of weight loss surgery. Still, the team at Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota performs gastric sleeve surgery, also known as sleeve gastrectomy, for two reasons: it has the highest success rate and the fewest complications.
We perform the procedure using either a minimally invasive technique or a robotic-assisted technique. Both minimize blood loss, reduce complications, and shorten your recovery time while allowing you to lose the pounds you need to reach a stable and healthy weight.
The sleeve gastrectomy is the most commonly performed weight loss surgery worldwide, and over half of weight loss surgeries are performed in the US each year, totaling approximately 150,000.
During the surgery, Dr. Bollins removes about 80% of your stomach, leaving a long, tubular “sleeve” behind, about the size and shape of a banana. This restricts the amount of food you can eat at a time, as the new stomach can hold only one-half to three-fourths of a cup.
But the benefit is more than just feeling full. The smaller stomach produces less of the hunger hormones, which helps decrease appetite and food cravings and may prevent impulse eating that often leads to people regaining the weight they’ve lost.
More benefits of sleeve gastrectomy
Sleeve gastrectomy can improve and even eliminate complications of obesity, including:
- Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
- Hypertension
- Cardiovascular disease
- Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol)
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
- Obesity hypoventilation syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea
- Joint pain and osteoarthritis
And the procedure carries fewer risks than other weight loss surgeries, such as gastric bypass.
Our individualized approach
Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota is an independent private practice, which means we’re not beholden to any one hospital or corporate structure. This allows us to tailor your surgery to your specific needs, including scheduling faster appointments, performing the procedure at the facility that best meets your requirements, and providing you with access to your doctor throughout the follow-up period.
And if you encounter any problems, we’re here to ensure they’re fixed as quickly and safely as possible.
If you’re living with obesity and possible complications from it, and if dieting and exercising haven’t worked for you, sleeve gastrectomy may be the right thing. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Bollins, call our office in Hibbing, Duluth, or Ely, Minnesota, or book your appointment online.
We proudly accept Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, HealthPartners, Humana, UCare, Medica, and Security Health Plan.
