Complications can occur after any type of surgery. Most of the time, when a complication occurs, the surgeon has done everything correctly and yet something goes “wrong.”

When a complication occurs, you often need a highly experienced surgeon to evaluate your situation, identify the problem and then correct it, if possible.

Dr. Quebbemann has been seeing patients regarding many different types of bariatric complications for more than 22 years. He has evaluated highly complex surgical situations and often been able to intervene and correct the problem. A partial list of complication he’s evaluated and corrected is below.

1. Incorrect Gastric Sleeve Anatomy
2. Fistula after Gastric Bypass
3. Erosion of the Lap-Band
4. Lap-Band Slip
5. Chronic Vomiting after Lap-Band
6. Stricture after Gastric Bypass
7. “Dilation” of Gastric Sleeve
8. Hiatal Hernia after bariatric surgery
9. Bleeding Ulcer after Bariatric Surgery
10. Post-operative Malnutrition
11. Chronic Vomiting
12. Internal Hernia

At the time of your initial consultation, Dr. Quebbemann will review your surgical history, the symptoms that you have been suffering from, and perform a physical examination. He will order some basic laboratory testing do be done in order to assess your nutritional status. He will almost always order testing which will help define your current anatomy. Sometimes patients do not actually know exactly what their original surgical procedure was, and identification of the actual anatomy is very helpful in determining the cause of the complication.

The evaluation process includes;

1. Initial Consultation
2. Nutritional Evaluation
3. Evaluate Your Anatomy as it is currently
   1. X-Ray testing
   2. Endoscopic Evaluation
4. Second Consultation to discuss results and recommendations for correction

Dr. Quebbemann has been performing corrections and revisions for patients since 1997. The process involved in correcting complications is often not simple, and extensive training, experience and technical skill is needed. As one of the most experienced and skilled minimally invasive bariatric surgeons in America, patients struggling with complications can be comfortable knowing they are in good hands.

How the Gastric Band Works

(Although Dr. Quebbemann was an investigator for the FDA Trial for the Lap-Band, and has performed over 1000 Lap-Band procedures, he no longer performs the Lap-Band procedure.)

The Gastric Band is a hard, plastic device that is wrapped around the upper part of the stomach. It is attached by a thin tube, called a catheter, to a hollow reservoir in the shape of a disc. The disc-shaped reservoir has one hard side with a round metal plate and one soft side made of rubber. The entire system—reservoir (called a port), catheter, and band—is filled with saline (salt water).

When a bariatric surgeon places the band around your stomach, he connects it to the catheter and the port, placing the port below your skin but on top of your abdominal muscle. The port is positioned with the rubber side up and the metal plate down and stitched in position.

— Gastric Band diagram

In order to tighten or loosen your band, the surgeon will pass a small needle through your skin, through the rubber side of the port, and into the reservoir. The metal plate stops him from passing the needle too far. He will then add or withdraw saline, to tighten or loosen the band, as needed.

When a person with the Gastric Band eats, food passes down the esophagus into the small stomach pouch above the band, then passes through the band and into the stomach. Because the band restricts the flow of food through the upper stomach, a person with a Gastric Band will need to chew food very well to prevent it from getting stuck. Food will stay in the upper stomach for a while, giving the person a sense of “fullness,” before passing downward through the main portion of the stomach.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. And, contrary to popular belief, it’s entirely possible to enjoy the day without depriving yourself. Here’s how:

5 Tips for Nutrition Success

1. Plan Ahead. If you already know you want to indulge a little on Valentine’s Day, plan accordingly. There are plenty of things you can do before and after the actual holiday to offset any “cheating” you might do on the day itself. Eating lighter the day before and after Valentine’s is a great way to accommodate for any extra calories you might consume the day of. Adding some extra cardio, even just 30 minutes, to your routine for a few days can also help equalize the extra indulgences that come with celebrating Valentine’s Day in style.
2. Dine In. There’s no rule that says you have to go out on Valentine’s Day. In fact, when done right, dining in can actually be more romantic. And it’s almost always healthier. Restaurants are notorious for using generous amounts of butter and oil when preparing food. Cooking a meal at home can help you avoid the oversaturated, fatty food you’ll find at a restaurant AND it can be a great way to spend time together while you prepare the meal.
3. Don’t Skip the Wine. It is Valentine’s Day after all! Wine, especially red wine, is a great way to set the mood and stay healthy. Red wine contains antioxidants that help preserve your arteries, boost blood flow, and improve circulation. When consumed in moderation, it’s a great way to celebrate and a great way to protect your heart health.
4. Indulge a Little. Depriving yourself is never the answer. The more you limit your food intake, the more likely you’ll be to cheat down the line. It’s ok to indulge every now and then, and there’s no better day to do it than Valentine’s Day. As long as you are aware of the food and alcohol choices you’re making, there’s no harm in letting yourself enjoy the day. In fact, we recommend it!
5. Relax and Enjoy. The fastest way to ruin a nutrition plan is by stressing about it. Not only are you more likely to “fall off the wagon” down the line, you’ll also be counteracting all the good you’ve done up to this point. The body goes into fight-or-flight mode when under stress, and it will automatically start conserving resources and storing fat under these conditions. The more you can relax and enjoy yourself, even if you decide to cheat a little, the better equipped your body will be to handle any extra calories you may consume this Valentine’s Day. So relax and enjoy yourself!

Gastric bypass surgery has been performed for over 30 years, helping countless individuals achieve successful weight loss. However, recovery is a crucial part of the process. When you undergo gastric bypass surgery, you will likely feel tired, uncomfortable, and hungry for the first couple of weeks. The truth is, you already endured one of the most difficult parts of this experience. Change can seem overwhelming, but you evaluated your options and chose change when you made the decision to commit to weight loss and go through surgery. Now, it is time to understand what you need to do to continue down this path.

The Path to a Successful Recovery

• Walk: This is something that your surgeon will likely advise you to do following your surgery. It is crucial to walk as much as you can after surgery. Of course, you will need to take it easy in the immediate aftermath, but do not sit in bed and wait for the pain to subside. Challenge yourself and power through it. Start or end your day with a small walk. Tap into the same motivation you had to push you onto this path and use it to keep you on track.
• Post-Op Diet: Maintaining a healthy post-op diet is incredibly crucial for recovery and for ensuring that the weight you lose is sustainable and long-term. This is the start of a new you, so get rid of foods that are unhealthy and take charge of your life by building healthy habits now. During the first week after surgery, your surgeon will likely recommend a clear liquid diet, which may be difficult, but is only temporary.
• Go to Support Groups: It probably sounds cliché, but support, especially from people who have gone through a similar experience, is a valuable thing to have. Exchange numbers and share any difficulties you may be experiencing. You might learn something from them, or you might learn something about yourself in discussing your own experience.

You Waited Long Enough

The N.E.W. Program has some of the most extensive experience in the country. Our surgeons are meticulous in creating the best results for patients who undergo the gastric bypass surgery.

Call us today at (949) 722-7662 to begin your journey with us.

Some people describe a lack of “craving;

DrQ: A note about the term “cravings.” In general, I think the term craving, used for foods that we really, really want, is a description that gives us permission to overeat. The term itself implies that we have no control over the feeling. Many patients have used this term as an excuse for why they have no ability to control their eating. Well, this is goofy reasoning. Cravings, in my opinion, are learned behaviors and we can un-learn them if we first acknowledge them for what they really are.

I once had a patient in one of my weight loss seminars that insisted she would never have any ability to control her cravings for chocolate. I asked her why she had such a craving for chocolate and she responded “I guess I was just born that way.” I responded that it was very lucky for her that she wasn’t born in outer Mongolia because, if she had been, she’d be like all those poor people in outer Mongolia where they don’t have chocolate who are always on their hands and knees scratching at the ground looking frantically for chocolate.

Well, this is, of course, an absurd example. But it does dramatically expose this concept of cravings for what it is, a learned behavior, a habit. Some might say it is an addiction of sorts, and maybe it is, but it’s certainly not something that you were born with, and it is something that you can get over or get around.