Taking the Surgical Path: What You Should Know About Weight Loss Surgery at CHRISTUS

When diet, exercise, and behavior changes haven’t delivered the weight loss results you need, surgical options can be a powerful tool. That’s where CHRISTUS Health’s weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery) program comes in — offering not just procedures, but a full support system aimed at lasting health change.

What Is Weight Loss Surgery?

Also known as bariatric surgery, weight loss surgery reshapes your digestive system so you can achieve significant weight loss—and keep it off long term. CHRISTUS offers a comprehensive program that includes not just the operation itself, but careful planning, education, and follow‑up care.

This isn’t a quick fix. It’s a collaborative journey between you, your primary care physician, and an experienced weight loss surgeon. The goal is to help you live a longer, healthier, more active life.

Who Makes a Good Candidate?

You may be eligible for weight loss surgery if:

• You have a BMI (body mass index) of 35 or greater and at least one obesity‑related health condition, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea.
• You have a BMI of 40 or higher, even without additional conditions.
• Your weight causes physical limitations that hinder work, everyday life, or family activities.

The CHRISTUS team helps you weigh the risks and benefits, and supports you in making an informed decision — because surgery is just one part of the path.

What Types of Surgery Are Offered?

CHRISTUS lists several surgical techniques, each with its own method and intended effect. Among them:

• Gastric Sleeve (Sleeve Gastrectomy): A section of the stomach is removed to reduce capacity, so you feel full more quickly.
• Gastric Bypass (Roux‑en‑Y): Part of the stomach is bypassed so food skips part of the digestive tract, reducing absorption and limiting intake.
• Duodenal Switch: Combines stomach restriction with intestinal malabsorption for more dramatic results.

There is also mention of Lap-Band® surgery and SIPS (Stomach Intestinal Pylorus‑Sparing surgery), though the availability of each procedure depends on your surgeon’s recommendation and your medical suitability.

Your surgeon will help determine which option is safest and most effective for you, based on your health profile.

Preparing for Surgery

Before you ever enter the operating room, there’s groundwork to do:

• Quit carbonated drinks. Bubbles expand in the stomach, which can be problematic especially after surgery.
• Begin gentle activity. Walking or swimming for ~20 minutes, several times a week, sets your body up for recovery. Always get your doctor’s approval first.
• Stop smoking. Smoking restricts lung function, impairs circulation, and raises your risk of complications—it’s strongly discouraged whether before or after surgery.
• Dial back refined carbs. Foods like white rice, bread, pasta, cookies can sabotage your progress.

You’ll also undergo routine pre‑op evaluations: blood tests, EKG, chest X‑ray, possibly sleep or GI studies, and any other health assessments your physician requires.

What to Expect Around the Surgery

• Hospital stay: Some procedures (like Lap-Band) may allow same‑day discharge, while gastric sleeve or bypass typically require one or more nights in hospital.
• Getting moving early: Your care team will ask you to walk soon after surgery—it speeds healing, reduces complications, and supports recovery.
• Pain management: Every effort is made to keep you comfortable so you can resume activity quickly.
• Diet changes: After surgery, your stomach’s capacity changes. You’ll gradually transition from liquids to soft foods to solids. Foods high in sugar or fat tend to be less tolerable.
• Medication adjustments: As you lose weight and improve health markers (blood pressure, glucose control, etc.), some medications might be reduced or discontinued.
• Hair loss: Temporary thinning may occur 4–5 months post-op. With adequate protein intake, most patients recover naturally.

Long-Term Outcomes & Success Measures

Success after bariatric surgery depends on many factors: your age, starting weight, overall health, procedure type, how well you follow post-op guidelines, and your ongoing commitment.

• Typical weight loss: many patients lose 30–50% of excess weight in the first six months.
• Over 12 months, some clients achieve ~77% of excess weight reduction.
• Long-term (10–14 years) outcomes: many maintain a loss of 50–60% of excess weight.
• Beyond weight, the surgery often helps resolve obesity‑related conditions. In one study, 96% of issues like hypertension, sleep apnea, diabetes, depression, and back pain improved or resolved after surgery.

Insurance & Payment

Most insurance plans do cover bariatric surgery, but approval requires meeting specific criteria and pre-operative protocols.

• If insurance does not cover the surgery, private pay is sometimes an option—this varies by provider.
• Approval can take several weeks. The CHRISTUS team handles much of the paperwork, but persistence and providing detailed documentation (medical charts, diet records, letters) helps avoid delays or denials.
• Insurance denials typically cite lack of “medical necessity” or policy exclusions on obesity treatment—these may be appealed, especially when multiple physicians support the procedure.

Recovery & Life After Surgery

• Weight stabilization: Over time, your calorie needs adjust, your stomach pouch and intestines cooperate more efficiently, and your intake climbs to a new steady state. You’re unlikely to lose so much weight that you become malnourished.
• Pregnancy: Women are advised to wait 18–24 months after surgery before becoming pregnant, allowing the body to reach nutritional and weight stability.
• Scarring & adhesions: Some internal scar tissue (adhesions) can form, but with minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, it’s typically not a major concern.
• Medication & pill absorption: Most pills remain effective in solid form, but early on some may need to be crushed or switched to liquids, depending on your new digestive setup.

From the initial consultation to long-term follow-up, CHRISTUS presents a full continuum of care for those considering bariatric surgery. It’s not just about performing a procedure—it’s about giving patients the tools, support, and education to sustain better health for years to come.