Duodenal Switch Surgery
Treatments
If you have a body mass index (BMI) of 50 or greater, you may be considering having duodenal switch surgery.
This innovative weight loss procedure is used to treat patients who are classified as ‘super obese’ and at a high risk of developing one or more comorbid conditions related to their excess weight.
Here at Beltline Health, our team of highly skilled and experienced weight loss specialists offer this life-changing surgery to patients who require a highly effective treatment for chronic, life-threatening obesity.*
We use the latest in laparoscopic techniques to improve patient outcomes and reduce the risk of surgical infections, pain, and complications.
How Does The Duodenal Switch Work?
Duodenal switch surgery is actually two separate procedures performed in one surgical session. Patients are first given a sleeve gastrectomy to dramatically reduce the capacity of their stomach – this helps to minimize both caloric intake and the production of hunger-stimulating hormones. A gastric bypass is then performed to bypass approximately half of the small intestines – this further reduces the amount of calories and fat the body can absorb in order to promote a rapid reduction in unwanted body fat.
Who Should Not Have Duodenal Switch Surgery?
Patients who have pre-existing digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, gastric reflux (GERD), or Crohn’s Disease may find that the duodenal switch surgery aggravates their symptoms, and therefore are not good candidates for this procedure. Similarly, patients who have pre-existing mineral or vitamin deficiencies, such as those who suffer from chronic anemia, are often advised against having this procedure.
What Is The Duodenal Switch Diet Like?
Patients who undergo duodenal switch surgery must follow a highly restrictive lifelong diet that involves consuming healthy, lean proteins and vegetables while avoiding complex carbohydrates and simple sugars. Because this procedure impacts the absorption of nutrients, patients also need to continuously monitor levels of vitamins and minerals in their blood, and supplement their diet daily with a variety of muti-vitamins.
Does Insurance Cover Duodenal Switch Surgery?
As with most weight loss operations, many insurance providers will cover the costs related to duodenal switch surgery for patients who meet specific surgical criteria. Pre-qualification screening may include extensive documentation confirming past attempts to shed excess weight with a medically-supervised diet program, physiological testing, and letters of recommendation from various doctors and surgeons.
Here at Beltline Health, we accept coverage from most major insurance providers as well as private medical financing and cash payments for all of our services. Learn more about our financing options.