It’s natural to have questions and doubts surrounding weight loss surgery. As you make your decision, it’s good to understand that our comprehensive program offers a tremendous track record of safety and innovation.
Dr. Raymond Georgen, General Surgeon and Co-Medical Director, ThedaCare Bariatrics
For those who qualify, weight loss surgery can deliver life-changing benefits. These include substantial, sustainable weight loss and resolution of — or improvement in — other major health conditions such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
Of course, choosing to have weight loss surgery is also a huge decision that requires a serious commitment. Contemplating surgery can lead to many questions about the procedures. Chief among those are often concerns about safety.
Thanks to a combination of innovation and expertise, the ThedaCare Bariatrics program stands out for its track record of safe and successful surgeries.
“It’s natural to have questions and doubts surrounding weight loss surgery,” says Dr. Raymond Georgen, a General Surgeon and Co-Medical Director of ThedaCare Bariatrics. “As you make your decision, it’s good to understand that our comprehensive program offers a tremendous track record of safety and innovation.”
100% Robotic Surgery
ThedaCare Bariatrics offers two main types of surgery, both performed robotically. The surgeon will help each individual determine their best surgery option.
The first type of surgery, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the program’s most common and successful surgery. The procedure restricts the size of the stomach by partially bypassing the small intestine. It provides the fastest and most complete loss of excess weight.
The second type, gastric sleeve resection, removes approximately two-thirds of the stomach. This procedure is sometimes a better choice for people with significant medical problems. It also allows for future surgeries if a person regains weight.
Requirements can vary, but in general, people are candidates for weight loss surgery if they fall into one of two categories:
- Having a BMI of 35 or over along with at least one other significant health risk factor — such as type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea
- Having a BMI of 40 or over
Minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery offers many benefits. These include faster recovery times, smaller incisions, less pain and scarring, reduced need for pain medications, shorter length of stay, and fewer complications.
“In the past, when we did open weight loss surgery, people were in the hospital for five to seven days,” Dr. Georgen says. “Today, most people go home the next day. That’s a reflection of great technology and countless hours of experience.”
ThedaCare continues to invest in robotic surgery. The $100 million Modernization at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah included updating operating rooms with advanced robotic surgical equipment, as well as creating four dedicated robotics suites.
“We’ve really embraced this new technology, which is an enormous benefit to patients,” Dr. Georgen says.
Superior Safety Stats
“I’m involved nationally in quality, and I’d put our results up against anybody,” says Dr. Kevin Wasco, a General Surgeon and Co-Medical Director of ThedaCare Bariatrics. “Risk comes with every surgery, but in our hands, it’s overall a very safe operation. We use the latest technology and the best team approach. For that reason, we have some of the safest results.”
ThedaCare Bariatrics has established itself as a nationwide leader for the quality of its program. ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah is recognized as a Comprehensive Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program. The program has also earned the Blue Distinction designation from BlueCross BlueShield Association, and Optum Health has recognized it as a Bariatric Center of Excellence.
In addition, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah recently achieved accreditation from Surgical Review Corp. as a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery. The accreditation recognizes the ongoing commitment from ThedaCare to provide a high standard of delivery of quality patient care and safety.
ThedaCare Bariatrics surgeons are experts in their field. Combined, they have performed more than 5,000 weight loss surgeries since the program’s inception.
Comprehensive Support
The skilled surgeons at ThedaCare Bariatrics are just one important part of a comprehensive program. The compassionate team of experts also includes navigators, care managers, behavioral health specialists, dietitians, exercise physiologists, and patient champions.
The team is there to support people throughout the entire process, from decision-making to meeting preoperative requirements to the surgery itself. After that, they can continue to provide a lifetime of support and encouragement.
“Just doing the surgery and letting people go off on their own is not the way to do things. That’s been proven time and again,” Dr. Georgen says. “Going someplace that’s experienced and has a complete team is of the utmost importance.”
