Bariatric surgery may help people with obesity lose weight, improve their quality of life and lower the risk or severity of obesity-related health problems, such as:

• Type 2 diabetes

• Heart disease

• High cholesterol

• Hypertension, or high blood pressure

• Joint pain

• Sleep apnea

• Some cancers

Many people who have weight loss surgery find that losing excess weight allows them to be more active. They may also see lower healthcare costs due to not needing as many medications or treatments to manage chronic health conditions. Plus, bariatric surgery can contribute to an improved mood and longer life.

While weight loss surgeries are common, they still have risks.

Bariatric surgeries can change how food and alcohol are broken down and absorbed in the body. This may lead to an increased risk of anemia or malnutrition or changes in how alcohol affects you. Other possible risks of bariatric surgery include:

• Blood clots

• Leakage from the staple line

• Bleeding

• Hernias

• Malnutrition

• Ulcers

Like all surgeries, bariatric surgeries also come with the risk of bleeding or infection.

The cost of bariatric surgery is an invaluable investment in your health. Still, it can be challenging to understand the costs, insurance coverage and financial responsibility related to bariatric surgery. Ochsner offers financial counseling and insurance navigation services for bariatric surgery patients to clarify and streamline the process.

Many of our locations ask you to meet with a financial counselor first, even before you see a provider. This means you have access to detailed information about the costs related to bariatric surgery and your financial responsibility before you even meet your surgeon.

Ochsner will verify your insurance benefits to determine if you have insurance coverage for weight loss surgery and if your facility of choice is in network.

Cash pay is an option for those who qualify for bariatric surgery but lack insurance coverage. Financing options may also be available through CareCredit, Prosper Healthcare Lending or Med Loan Finance.

Ochsner offers bariatric surgery services throughout Louisiana and in Mississippi. Find a location near you or call a location near you to schedule an initial appointment.

Lafayette:

Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center, 337-289-8484

New Orleans:

Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans, 504-842-2701

Chalmette:

St. Bernard Parish Hospital (no surgery; only pre- and postoperative care), 504-493-2200

Northshore:

Ochsner Health Center - Covington (no surgery; only pre- and postoperative care), 985-639-3777

Ochsner Medical Center - Northshore, 985-639-3777

Mississippi:

Ochsner Health Center - Hancock (no surgery; only pre- and postoperative care), 985-639-3777

The Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center weight loss surgery program offers preoperative education as well as post-operative support for patients looking for healthier options. Not only will we guide you through the steps necessary to have bariatric surgery, but we also provide the necessary tools that are fundamental to your post-operative success for many years to come after your surgery. Nutrition, exercise, behavior modification counseling and support groups, are among the resources offered to ensure your success after surgery.

Our Bariatric Surgery Department is accredited as a Comprehensive Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons and American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery's Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). We believe surgery is a tool, not a cure, to help patients lead a healthy life.

Along with the surgeons, Philip Gachassin, MD, Dennis Eschete, MD, and Robert Autin, MD, the bariatric support team includes a registered nurse, dietitian, patient advocate, behavior modification educator, licensed practical counselor and certified personal trainer.

Types of surgery available:

• Laparoscopic gastric bypass

• Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (Lap-Band)

• Laparoscopic gastric sleeve

• Laparoscopic duodenal switch

If you’re ready to start your journey, consider attending one of our Weight Loss Surgery Seminars. These free educational sessions are open to the public and held monthly in Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center’s Owen Auditorium. For more information, call 337-289-8484. Due to COVID-19, our Weight Loss Surgery Seminars will be webinars until further notice.

Register for a Seminar

If you’d like to learn more about the Medically Supervised Weight Loss Program, you can download our Bariatric Brochure, call 337-289-8484 or email OLG-weightlosssurgery@ochsner.org.

The Bariatric Surgery: New Orleans program involves a multidisciplinary team who will consult and evaluate each patient individually prior to surgery. The team encompasses specially trained psychologists, dietitians, a physician assistant, a nurse practitioner and a nurse coordinator. The information gathered by the multidisciplinary team will be presented to our fellowship-trained bariatric surgeons and assist him/her in deciding whether an individual is a candidate for a gastric bypass surgery.

The bariatric surgery program at Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans on Jefferson Highway has received accreditation from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program and is a Comprehensive Center. Besides helping you take those first steps towards a healthier life, we want to ensure that our patients are fully educated and are able to make an informed decision before undergoing weight reduction surgery.

Learn more about Bariatric Surgery in New Orleans.

Bariatric surgery services in Chalmette are located at Ochsner Health Center - St. Bernard. Schedule an appointment by calling 504-493-2200.

At Ochsner Health Center - St. Bernard, we are committed to bringing quality services to the community of St. Bernard Parish and surrounding areas. Our program provides all pre-operative and post-operative services for bariatric surgery. We provide a multi-disciplinary team of providers in one location to guide you through this life changing procedure. Our nutritional dietitian, psychologist, cardiologist, financial counselor and surgeon are all in one location to assist you. We offer the sleeve gastrectomy and gastric pypass, performed at the Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans on Jefferson Highway, an accredited center with Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program.

Learn more about Bariatric Surgery at one of our free seminars, held the third Tuesday of each month at St. Bernard Hospital Medical Office Building Conference Room. To RSVP, call 504-493-2200.

Schedule an appointment today! Call 985-639-3777.

Our Northshore clinics are located at:

• Ochsner Medical Center - Northshore

• Ochsner Health Center - Covington

Welcome to Ochsner’s bariatric surgery program for the Northshore! We’re proud to provide excellent surgical weight loss options to the communities of Slidell, Covington, Southwest Mississippi and everywhere in between. Take a virtual tour of our clinic.

We offer a variety of surgical options, including sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass and Lap-Band surgery, to fit the needs of all our patients. Plus, you can rest easy knowing all surgeries are done within Ochsner Health System, with immediate and direct access to its world-renowned and nationally ranked care.

The bariatric surgery program at Ochsner Medical Center - Northshore in Slidell has received accreditation from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program and is a Comprehensive Center.

In addition to surgical options we also offer the Ideal Protein Weight Loss Method to help you reach your health goals. Ideal Protein is a low carbohydrate, moderate protein, four-phase protocol that includes meal replacement products and dieter-provided meats and vegetables.

Schedule an appointment today! Call 985-639-3777.

Our Mississippi bariatric clinic is located at Ochsner Medical Center - Hancock.

Welcome to Ochsner’s bariatric surgery program for the Mississippi region! We’re proud to provide excellent surgical weight loss options to the communities of Southwest Mississippi and everywhere in between.

We offer a variety of surgical options, including sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, and Lap-Band surgery, to fit the needs of all our patients. Plus, you can rest easy knowing all surgeries are done within Ochsner Health System, with immediate and direct access to its world-renowned and nationally ranked care.

In addition to surgical options we also offer the Ideal Protein Weight Loss Method to help you reach your health goals. Ideal Protein is a low carbohydrate, moderate protein, four-phase protocol that includes meal replacement products and dieter-provided meats and vegetables.

Obesity is an epidemic that affects approximately 2 in 5 American adults and is considered the No. 1 cause of preventable death. There are multiple factors that can influence someone being obese, such as endocrine or hormone-related conditions, excessive caloric intake or metabolic disorder. Excess weight has also been linked to chronic health conditions. Qualifying for weight loss surgery is done on an individual basis and can be discussed in greater detail at your consult.

The National Institutes of Health states that bariatric surgery may be appropriate for people who have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more, or those with a BMI of 35 or more who have one or more obesity-related health conditions, such as hypertension or Type 2 diabetes. People with a BMI of 30 to 40 may also be candidates for an incision-less procedure called an ORBERA endoscopic balloon or medical weight loss options.

The decision to have bariatric surgery should not be urgent and it should not be the first attempt to lose weight. Typically, patients are required to have a history of failed weight loss attempts through a combination of diet and exercise. There may be program or insurance requirements that mandate a patient to have nutritional and lifestyle/exercise counseling prior to surgery.

A lifelong commitment to significant lifestyle changes after surgery is also essential to maintain your health. You must be dedicated and ready to make the required dietary, behavioral and exercise changes to assure you have a safe and successful surgery.

Ochsner offers several types of bariatric surgeries and procedures, including minimally invasive and robotic-assisted options. Robotic-assisted surgeries often require less downtime and shorter hospital stays than traditional open surgeries.

Adjustable gastric band removal. An adjustable gastric band, also called a LAP-BAND, is a silicone device that is wrapped around the top of the stomach, creating a small pouch. Because other techniques are often more effective, this procedure is less common than it used to be. If you do not lose weight with an adjustable gastric band or have complications, it may need to be removed. Once it is removed, another bariatric surgery may be done.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. During a laparoscopic or robotic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the surgeon divides the stomach into two sections, closing off one section and creating a thumb-size “new” stomach from the other. The intestines are then rerouted and connected to the new stomach. This surgery acts to reduce the amount of food that can fit in the stomach and lower the number of calories absorbed by the intestines.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Approximately 60% to 80% of the stomach is permanently removed in a laparoscopic or robotic sleeve gastrectomy, or gastric sleeve surgery. This creates a narrow passageway called a gastric sleeve that restricts the amount of food you can eat. As a result of the surgery, you will feel fuller faster and eat less.

Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. During a biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, a gastric sleeve is created. Then, the small intestine is disconnected from the stomach, and a lower part is reconnected to the stomach, bypassing a part of the small intestine. This laparoscopic or robotic-assisted procedure limits food intake and calorie absorption.

Gastric balloon. The gastric balloon procedure involves placing a balloon in the stomach for about six months. Because the balloon fills up a portion of the stomach, it reduces the amount of food that can be eaten. Placing and removing the balloon is done without an incision, or surgical cut.

No matter what type of surgery you receive, Ochsner’s multidisciplinary team provides support services for every step of your journey.

Preoperative support

Before you begin your journey to surgical weight loss, you will learn more about the process and better understand your personal requirements and goals before surgery can take place. At some locations, the first step will be a consultation with a provider, while others will be group meetings, either in person or via Zoom. Ochsner offers a free online preoperative informational seminar, as well as free regularly scheduled live seminars at the following locations:

• St. Bernard Parish Hospital: Call 504-493-2200 to register.

• Ochsner Lafayette General: Call 337-289-8484 to register.

Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans offers free informational seminars on Zoom. Call 504-842-2701 for more information about upcoming Zoom seminars.

Registration is required for in-person and Zoom seminars. No registration is necessary for the online seminar.

Postoperative support

Every person who has bariatric surgery at Ochsner is a patient for life. This helps ensure you stay on track with your weight loss goals and maintain your health through required lab work and appointments.

Other postoperative support services available at various Ochsner locations include:

• Behavioral modification counseling

• Certified lifestyle coaches

• Certified personal trainers

• Coolsculpting

• Dietitians certified in weight management

• Ideal Protein Weight Loss Program — a protein-based health and fitness program

• Ochsner Fitness Center

• Psychological counseling

• Weight loss medications for those who need them

New Orleans

The New Orleans Support Group meetings are held via Zoom on the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30-6:30 p.m. To sign in, use this link, or log into Zoom and use the meeting ID 936 8405 0919 and passcode 798943.

Northshore

Join us via Zoom. To sign in, call 646-558-8656 and type Meeting ID# 5440911766, or click here for the link. The support group is from 6-7 p.m. No registration required. Please call 985-661-3542 with questions.

Mississippi

Support Groups are held on the first Tuesday of each month at Ochsner Medical Center - Northshore in the Camilla Room from 6-7 p.m. No registration required! Please call 985-661-3542 with questions.

Proteina Colada

Mix one scoop Vanilla protein powder, eight ounces skim milk, two drops McCormick Imitation Pineapple Extract, two drops McCormick Imitation Coconut Extract-adjust to taste.

Shrimp Scampi

Shrimp is the perfect texture - soft and moist. Serve to your family over linguini or rice - and have your shrimp and sauce in a small bowl - with diced tomato or broccoli.

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 24 large shrimp, peeled and deveined, about 1 ½ pounds
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• ¼ cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Heat oil in large skillet over medium high heat and sauté garlic for 1 minute. Add shrimp and cook for one minute and season with salt and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and cook 1-2 minutes, until sauce has thickened. Add parsley and lemon juice; toss well to coat. Cook until shrimp are done.

4 ounce portion: Calories 177, fat 6.5 g, carbs 2 g, protein 23 g

Makes six servings

Cauliflower Mash

This dish is truly creamy and delicious. Hard to tell this from mashed potatoes!

• One 1 1/2 pound head Cauliflower, cut into large florets
• 3 garlic cloves
• 3 cups chicken broth
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Butter

Combine cauliflower, garlic, and broth in a large saucepan. (add water to cover if vegetable is not completely covered by broth) Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer until cauliflower is tender, 12 to 14 minutes.

Drain cauliflower, reserving a cup of the cooking liquid. Transfer cauliflower and garlic to food processor and process until very smooth adding a tablespoon or two of cooking liquid if necessary. Season with salt, pepper, and a tablespoon of butter to taste.

Serves 8

Per 1/2 cup serving: Calories 40, fat 3g, carbs 6g, protein 4g

Chocolate Ricotta Pudding Cake

This is a flourless ricotta cake that uses boiled eggs as the stiffener. And it has the texture of classic English puddings. Note: Desserts are for special occasions - not for everyday...

Nutritional Values per serving:

• Calories 150
• Total Fat 9.7g
• Saturated Fat 3.8g
• Trans Fat 0.0g
• Cholesterol 63mg
• Sodium 91mg
• Total Carbohydrates 5.4g
• Dietary Fiber 0.9g
• Sugars 1.9g
• Protein 8.8g

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons butter, softened
• 2 whole eggs
• 2 egg whites
• 3/4 pound ricotta cheese, drained
• 4 tablespoons granulated Splenda (Or Truvia or Whey Low)
• 2 tablespoons bittersweet chocolate, finely grated, plus more for garnish
• 1/8 pound blanched almonds, toasted and coarsely chopped
• Lemon zest, for garnish

Cooking Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Use the butter to thoroughly grease the bottom and sides of a 1 quart loaf pan.

Hard boil 2 eggs.

In a medium bowl add the ricotta and whisk until free of lumps.
Add the Splenda, chocolate and almonds and stir to blend.
Set aside.

Peel the hard-boiled eggs and put the yolks through a small strainer to break them into small bits. Add the egg yolks to the ricotta mixture.

Beat the 2 egg whites until stiff peaks form, about 3 to 5 minutes with an electric mixer - longer with a whisk!.
Gently fold the egg whites into the ricotta mixture with a rubber spatula, retaining as much fluffiness as possible.
Transfer the mixture to the loaf pan.
Put the loaf pan into a roasting pan and add hot water to roasting pan to make a water bath and bake, undisturbed, for 50 minutes.
Remove the pan from the oven and the water bath.
Allow to cool 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
Sprinkle with a touch of lemon zest and some chocolate over each portion.

Serves 8

Cook's Note: How to make Hard Boiled Eggs: Add eggs to a pot and cover them by at least 1 inch with COLD water. Bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat (between 8 and 10 minutes). When the water boils, remove the pot from the heat, cover and allow to sit undisturbed for 10 minutes. Remove the eggs from the pot and run them under cold water to stop them from overcooking. No green ring around the yolk!!!

**Recipes come from www.bariatriceating.com