Bariatric Surgery After 60

Life after 60 is about enjoying it, you may find joy in lots of things taking time in the things that are more important to you and your loved ones. But we can all agree that health is one of the most precious things in life. At this stage of your life comorbidities related to obesity may have a greater effect. You may think it’s too late to change your lifestyle but it’s not. If you’re over 60 and still suffering from obesity, bariatric surgery will help you reach a weight loss goal and thereby improving your health. Everyone around you (and you, of course!) will feel much fuller with this important decision.

Since your metabolism has slowed over time, a malabsorptive procedure such as the Duodenal Switch with board certified surgeon Dr. Antonio Esquerra at Mexicali Bariatric Center would help you eat more proteins while absorbing less carbs, this way you would reduce fat and start straightening your muscles. With this procedure, you will be more vigorous since you will produce more testosterone.

You may be scared about having a surgical procedure after your 60’s but all studies indicate that you don’t have to worry about the risks of bariatric surgery, the outcomes would be almost the same as if you were younger. Besides, at Mexicali Bariatric Center you would be in the best hands.

If you suffer from heart disease, diabetes, or kidney issues, bariatric surgery helps significantly. This is an investment for life.

We know this is a hard part but you would thank yourself when you see the amazing results. For more information on weight loss surgery and after care please call us toll free at 1-888-344-3916.

Which bariatric procedure is right for me?

If you are thinking about bariatric surgery you are in the right place, there are lot’s of procedures and you may be thinking, “which one is the right for me?”, please, don’t panic, Mexicali Bariatric Center is here to help you in this beautiful process. These are our procedures, please take a look to each of them, that way it would be easier for you to decide.

Gastric Bypass 

The Gastric Bypass is one of the most popular surgeries, it’s quite easy because most of the time it performed laparoscopically and the stomach is separated in two. This surgery is perfect for people with diabetes, slow metabolism, limited mobility. You should considerate you won’t be able to work for about 2 weeks.

Gastric Band

Gastric Band or Lap Band is a less popular option because most of the people don’t like the idea of having a rubber band in their stomach. It’s a safe procedure for people under 30 years.

Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy also known as Gastric Sleeve is the perfect procedure for people that don’t want to have foreign objects in their body. In this surgery the stomach is decreased. This surgery is good for almost every person that really want to lose weight, you won’t be able to work about 2-3 weeks.

Duodenal Switch Surgery

Duodenal switch combines two surgical techniques: restrictive and malabsorptive. Duodenal is one of the most popular surgeries because you consume less food than normally, but it is still more than with other weight loss surgeries. If you have a body mass index greater than 40, you may be a candidate for this surgery at Mexicali Bariatric Center. If you have heart failures or sleep apnea this may be a risky surgery, but please ask our experts.

Obalon Gastric Balloon

For people with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or above, you may not need a surgery, Obalon it’s actually a balloon inside your stomach with the purpose of reducing appetite by taking up space. You don’t need to pass a ballon, a patient only needs to ingest a capsule which is used to inflate it once it enters the stomach. The balloon will be remove months later and this will act to educate the patients about portion size. One of the things to consider is that this may not be a lifetime procedure and the patient needs to commit even more.

No matter what procedure you are going to have, there are one super important thing you need to know: this is a lifetime commitment, you would need to change your lifestyle, habits, etc. Despite what many people think, bariatric treatment is not an “easy way out”. Complying with the many  requirements can be very difficult,especially when you’re just getting used to the new routine. Plus, it can be tempting to slip back into your old habits as time goes on. Remember: you are going to change your life forever.

If you are sure you want to make this commitment with you, with your body and you want to change your life forever, please give us a call or visit our website, Mexicali Bariatric Center is going to be with you in this process.

Post- Bariatric Surgery Myths

Post- Bariatric Surgery Myths

You may have some fears and insecurities about the bariatric surgery, you may have heard about  things about how drastically your life is going to change after the surgery. Please, take your time and read this: bariatric surgery at Mexicali Bariatric Center is one of the best decisions of your life.

After bariatric surgery, you won’t be able to eat anything that tastes good.

Wrong. Patients who undergo bariatric surgery may need to avoid very sweet foods and very fatty foods because it can cause side effects like dizziness and nausea. However, many patients can and do eat their favorite foods after they recover from surgery. They just eat very small portions. This is an opportunity to experiment and find new foods and portions to enjoy.

You can never be far from a bathroom after WLS.

Wrong. However, you may find yourself having some “emergency” bathroom visits. However, if you experience symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting , they should subside over time as you get a better handle on how your altered digestive system responds to  certain food. It’s a matter of time.

You can only have a liquid diet after weight loss surgery.

Wrong. However, it is true that you will be on a liquid diet for a short period of time. Depending on the procedure you are having, before you have weight loss surgery your doctor may  put ask that you follow  a liquid diet for approximately 1- 2  weeks. This allows your liver to shrink, intestines more manageable  and makes the surgery easier to undertake. You will then be on a liquid diet for approximately 1-2 weeks post-surgery and then  slowly transition onto a regular solid food diet.

If you have weight loss surgery you cannot get pregnant.

Wrong. It is possible to have children after weight loss surgery. However, it’s recommended to wait 1-2 years before trying to get pregnant. This is because you need to wait until you have lost a large proportion of what you wanted to lose and your weight loss has stabilized. Losing weight may actually make women more fertile.

Weight Loss Surgery is Dangerous

Decades ago, weight loss surgery was considered a high-risk procedure because it involved a large, open incision, but now they’re all done laparoscopically, through  tiny incisions. The chances of wound infection and post-op hernia will be extremely low.

If you have any other question please call us, our team will be very happy to help you 1-888-344-3916

DS, 2nd stage of the VSG

At MBC we have had several cases of patients that were sleeved a while ago but are not satisfied with their weight loss. Some of them are eating more than they should, some are simply not getting the results that they were explicating for different reasons  particular to each person.  

Gastric sleeve surgery (also known as Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy) is, when performed by a talented board certified surgeon, a highly successful procedure. But it is not for everyone. Some patients need a malabsorptive procedure that really guarantees long term results. If you lose weight but you aren't able to keep it off, then the procedure was not effective. The best way to make the most our of your sleeve if you are in this situation is to take it to the next level, go the 2nd stage of the VSG and turn it into a Duodenal Switch.  

Human anatomy may differ from person to person. Some patients have, for example, much  longer intestines, making a VSG inefficient to maintain a steady weight loss all the way to your goal, or even  may have a much longer stomach.  

Before undergoing surgery, it is important to have  tests done by experts to determine the more convenient procedure for you. Even at the very moment of surgery, the doctor will learn  some aspects of your anatomy (i.e. the length of intestines), and therefore have better information for him to consider a malabsorptive procedure such as the DS.  

If you were sleeved and you feel that either you are still eating too much or, in some cases, eat small portions without significant weigh loss, then turning your sleeve into a DS might be the right call for you.  

Mexicali Bariatric Center is one of the leading DS centers in Latin America. Board certified surgeon Dr. Antonio Esquerra and his experienced team work only under the highest standards of care and safety. He is well known not only for his experience and  technique learned from Dr. Gilberto Ungson, but also as a caring, compassionate surgeon. Founded by Dr. Alberto Aceves, Mexicali Bariatric Center (MBC)  is a pioneer in the industry. We understand this is a personal and sometimes not easy choice, but rest assured that our team of professionals will give you the best care possible. 

Calculate portions with everyday objects

One of the biggest mistakes we make when mealtime comes is overeating.

You have probably heard that the ideal portion is "half a cup of rice" or "150 grams of meat," but realistically, it is often impossible to measure or weigh all the food we eat, mostly because it can be impractical when being away from home or a controlled-food environment.

Using objects as reference helps us to have a visual idea of the amount of food we should be eating. let’s remember that the “usual” portions you see on the internet are not the same portions as you should be eating. Following Dr. Esquerra and Dr Wilhelmy's instructions can be easily achieved if you follow this simple technique:

Protein (3 ounces of meat, fish and poultry ) = Full deck of playing cards.

Vegetables (1 cup of salad greens) =  1 Tennis ball.

Fruit (1/2 cup of fresh fruit) = 1⁄2 of a baseball.

Medium piece of fruit = a baseball.

Grains (1/2 cup of cooked rice, pasta or potato) = 1 hockey puck.

Dairy and cheese (1-1/2 ounce cheese) = 2 wine corks.

Peanut butter (2 Tbsp.) = 1 golf ball.

Fats (1 teaspoon butter or spread) = 1 bottle cap

Remember that being aware of what you eat is a very important part of your weight loss journey. You’ll know what to order if you go out and keep track of your ideal portions.

Mexicali Bariatric Center is lead by Dr. Antonio Esquerra and Dr. Rodolfo Wilhelmy and together they have performed more than 7,500 bariatric surgeries with the best long term results in Mexico.

Enhancements in brain activity as a result of weight loss surgery

Cognitive function and obesity

Obesity may cause changes in brain activity and, apparently, some scientific studies claim that weight-loss surgery can improve the brain's activity, as well as cognitive function.

According to a publication of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, weight loss surgery can improve cognitive function and brain activity involved in planning, strategizing and organizing. These results are very interesting, since obesity is a disease that increases the risk of other diseases such as Alzheimer's by 35%.

Obesity alters a special part of the brain called the posterior cingulate gyrus, a part of the brain linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Bariatric surgery reverses this altered activity, and thus reduces the chance of developing  not only Alzheimer’s , but also some forms of dementia.

After surgery, patients showed similar brain functions as those of normal weight patients. After bariatric surgery, the brain was better able to connect  past and present experiences, which are used to plan and organize cognitive processes.

Bariatric surgery has been a solution to obesity for years now, but in recent times the various positive results that this treatment produces  are being scientifically observed. Many organs benefit from this treatment; such as the pancreas, heart, liver, lungs, and  it is now known that the brain also takes benefits from the weight loss.

There are different types of surgeries for weight loss and the surgeons at Mexicali Bariatric Center can recommend what is best for you, depending  on your degree of obesity and  medical history.  

The expert team at Mexicali Bariatric Center can help you determine which surgery is best suited for your particular situation, with over 7,500 successful surgeries Dr. Esquerra and Dr. Wilhelmy are the most experienced bariatric surgeons in Mexico.

10 tips on how to accelerate metabolism and achieve weight loss

Our Bariatric Nutritionist here at Mexicali Bariatric Center, Dr. Edgar Campos is always looking for our patient’s well being, and today he’s sharing some tips on how to accelerate your metabolism and achieve significant weight loss.

Every time we eat or drink we should thank our metabolism for the ability to convert these substances into energy. Age, gender, height and weight influence our metabolism. However, we can make it better. The faster your metabolism, the more calories you will be able to burn. Surely you know more than a lucky person who eats what he or she wants without gaining weight. That is probably because of genetic reasons, but there are some ways we can help ourselves burn calories faster and feel better with some changes in your daily lives.

1. Sleep

It is simple, try to sleep between six and eight hours. The relationship between sleep and metabolism is becoming clearer. We not only feel hungrier when we go short on sleep and need to eat more caloric meals but  going without sleep  slows metabolism considerably.

2. Drink green tea

Green tea is not only a great source for antioxidants, it is also a great accelerator of metabolism, calorie-free drink and you can consume it on a daily basis.

3. Increase the intensity of your workout

The body gets used to the exercise, and metabolism as well. It is important to include high intensity intervals in our workouts, this causes a jump in metabolism and forces it to keep burning calories even long after completing the training. This is what is called After-burn Effect.

4. Do not skip breakfast

It is time to reconsider whether it is worth sleeping 20 minutes less  to have  more time for breakfast. From the metabolic point of view you should bet on having a bit more time for breakfast. Studies show that taking time for breakfast boosts your metabolism.

5. Do weight exercises

Bodybuilding exercises and weightlifting are not only useful for athletes or professionals. When you convert fat into muscle, you also force your metabolism to burn more calories. You can find some small weight routines online or look for exercise apps that are very convenient and keep track of your progress.

6. Drink water

Drinking sufficient amounts of water is a simple way to speed up digestion and burn calories. Some will need more than the recommended eight glasses, and some less. But you have to  drink enough water.

7. Take a tour around the world and try new spices

If your body reacts positively to spices, you can try some that can help you speed up your metabolism. For example cayenne pepper is useful to speed up metabolism. Its pungent flavor is due to the presence of a chemical compound called capsaicin involved in metabolic processes and also has antioxidants and anticancer properties.

8. Do  45 minutes 'cardio' exercises three times a week

By exercising 45 minutes with cardiovascular routines you can maintain a high metabolic rate for almost twelve hours.

9. Eat consciously

Some foods are natural metabolism boosters. For example, tuna and grapefruit. Consciously choose what you put on the table and think about the positive impact you'll have to metabolize your body.

10. Drink a cup of coffee in the morning

If you can drink coffee, It is not just a quick way to get your act together, a cup of coffee gets absorbed very quickly into the bloodstream, which accelerates the heartbeat and generates metabolic peaks up to three hours after that morning boost.

How to weigh yourself correctly

The scale is a tool to help assess your weight loss progress, but you should not obsess with it. Besides indicating your weight, a number does not necessarily reflect being healthy or unhealthy but nevertheless it is a good indicator of progress through your weight loss journey. The surgeons at Mexicali Bariatric Center have some recommendations to weigh yourself the right way.

Choose the right scale

It's important to always be weighed on the same scale, so it is advisable to purchase or get one that is well calibrated. Keep in mind that before purchasing a scale you may be able to give it a test run and find out if it is right for you, here is a quick way to know if it is calibrated:

1. The scale should read the same number every time the same weight is applied
2. Lean back and forward while on it and find out if the number changes, if it does, it needs calibration.
3. The scale should start on zero before weight is applied.

If your scale doesn't pass those simple tests, problems other than calibration may be affecting its accuracy.

Tips to weigh yourself correctly

- The best time of the day to be weighed is in the morning after urinating so that the body has not retained liquids.

- Wear only underwear and be barefooted.

- Remove rings, pendants, glasses and everything that can modify the weight.

- The most recommended day to step on a scale is on Monday because you may see part of the results from the weekend behavior, this can encourage you to take care of yourself the rest of the week. If you notice that there are weight variations during the week, remember what you ate and see how that affects your weight increase or decrease.

Attitude is key

Attitude is very important when you weigh yourself, because you need to know how to face the result the scale will provide. A weight gain can always be fixed. Weighing yourself should never be something that demotivates you or your weight loss journey, if you don't like the results, do not torment yourself, on the contrary, the result should be an instrument to promote the necessary changes, which can be achieved with determination.

Staples used for Gastric Sleeve, Gastric Bypass and DS Surgery - Dr Campos Mexicali Bariatric Center.

Doctor Edgar Campos from Mexicali Bariatric Center in Mexico answers questions about the stapling process in bariatric surgery enabling patients to be informed about the complete process of gastric surgery.

One of the most frequently asked questions that we get is regarding staples, a very important element in weight loss surgery. The first thing you need to know is that they are disposable devices. That means that we do not reuse nor sterilize any used staples. They are disposable and we use new staples for each patient. That is because like in regular office staples, when the staple is fired out, it closes upon application. The huge difference between office staples and surgical staples is that these are made out of titanium, which is less reactive on the body.

Another question we are asked is, are the staples going to stay in my body forever?

The strength of the stomach during surgery debilitates due to the scar tissue. The staples are meant to hold everything in place until the stomach creates scarring tissue around the staple line and protects and seals it but, because they are very small there will be scar tissue growing around the staple line and we can’t remove them after the surgery. That means that the staples will stay in your body. You need not to worry because they don’t set off any metal detectors or make you beep at the airport you have very small  non-reactive titanium staples.

The staple cartridge can be of 60 staples or the smaller cartridge of 45. The number refers to the length of the disposable staple cartridge. Each cartridge comes with 3 lines of staples on each side, that means that there are 3 rows of staples  which gives the patient more protection and reduces the possibility of leakage. The staple cartridge  has  a blade in the middle, which will cut, and then 3 more rows of staples are applied to  secure the tissue that will be removed, which needs to be stapled as well.

What kind of staples are used in Mexicali Bariatric Center?

The staples we use here in Mexicali Bariatric Center that are used in gastric sleeve, bypass and duodenal switch surgeries are different types of staple cartridges because we have different kinds of tissue; for example, we have a black cartridge from the Johnson & Johnson family which is the Ethicon brand.The black cartridge is a thicker cartridge for thicker tissue, like the lower part of the stomach which has more girth than the rest of the stomach. These cartridges  can staple around 4.4mm of tissue, although it sounds a like a small amount of tissue, we staple 2 sides of the stomach which creates a sandwich of the tissue in the middle and then we’ll staple that.

There is something very important that we need to do during stapling which is locating the tissue that we’re stapling and then pull a little  and squeeze it so the tissue stays together without moving or flowing around. The second thing we need to consider is weight, that’s quite important because if we just close the stapler and fire it up, there is not enough time to move the water and blood inside the tissue to the sides and when we staple that water will increase the size of the tissue. What we do is hold that part and wait for about a minute so it drains and reduces its size and then we fire it up and remove the stapler. We have videos showing how we do this and how the surgery is being done.

The second kind of staple or cartridge that we use is the green one that has a thickness of 4.1 mm and normally is the one that we use for the antrum which is the lower part of the stomach. On a gastric sleeve surgery here in Mexico we normally begin with a black cartridge and then we continue with the green and then follow with the blue one which  is the 3.5mm staple and the one with less thickness than the others and the most commonly used for the rest of the stomach. Finally, we use the white staple that has a 2.5mm girth and it normally used for the intestines or anastomosis.

It is quite important that we use the correct staple for each type of tissue because if we do not we increase the risk of leakage or bleeding,  if we use a very thick cartridge on a thin tissue,  for example, we can have bleeding and can lead to a complication.

It is very important as well to use brand name staples. We only use Ethicon cartridges  which are FDA approved. Ethicon is a Johnson and Johnson brand. We are very strict with the standards and quality of the materials we use during  all surgeries.

How can a patient know what kind of staples the surgeon is using?

The patient can ask the surgeon to show him or her the brand that is being used. Whether  it is Johnson & Johnson or any other brand, it comes with a serial number and a code that can be scanned, that gives reassurance that the surgeon is using a brand named staple.

During revision surgeries  here at Mexicali Bariatric Center we have seen patients that have only 2 or 3 parts of the stomach stapled, this is because the amount and type of staples that the surgeon uses elevates or diminishes the cost of the surgery, so in order to lower  the cost of the surgery, the surgeon minimizes the use of staples and puts the patient at risk and reduces their chances of having good long term results.

Should patients be aware of counterfeit staples?

What we advise, is to ask your surgeon what type of staples he or she will be using. Be aware that any counterfeit staples could be a problem. We have known of doctors who in order to make profit they risk the patient's well being by purchasing counterfeit Chinese staples that are not 100% titanium, causing negative reactions to the tissue and could lead to serious complications, So, we strongly suggest to ask your doctor what kind of products are being used on your surgery.

The importance of Protein after Weight Loss Surgery

 The importance of Protein after Weight Loss Surgery

Today I would like to talk to you about protein and why Dr. Campos, bariatric doctor here at Mexicali Bariatric Center insists so much on protein for weight loss surgery patients. I'm not talking immediately post-op, of course, it’s important to consume protein when you're healing because it will help heal your tissues and recover faster.

I've broken down how does protein intake actually determines your long term weight loss success.

1.- It’s actually harder for your body to digest and metabolize protein, so just by choosing protein versus any other food you will burn more calories.

2.- Protein will actually make you feel full for a longer time, when we have patients that call us and say: We're getting hungry in between meals or I eat and I'm starting to get hungry, we immediately want to check how much protein are they getting. Carbs will make you hungrier sooner, so you want to focus on your protein, you are less hungry, you eat less so you lose weight faster, protein will help you do that.

3.- And the third reason is that protein will actually help you build muscle. Why is muscle important in your weight loss? First, you want to lose your fat instead of your muscle, let’s say you jump on the scale and you've lost 10 pounds; fat is 3 times larger than muscle, meaning muscle can be 3 times more compact than fat, so you'll want to lose the fat and keep the muscle, How do you do that? You eat more your protein. That’s very important.

Another reason why building  muscle is so important is that muscle will actually help you burn calories and you don't have to do anything. Just by sitting there, if you have more muscle mass you'll burn more calories. Muscle will burn 22% more calories than any other tissue in your body. 

Who doesn't want that?

This is why men lose weight faster than women, because men typically have more muscle mass and this is also the reason why older patients lose weight a little bit slower, we lose muscle mass as we get older. There are numbers out there that indicate that a person loses ½  a pound  of muscle mass in certain years and then 1 to 2 pounds a year on further years. So, let’s say that you're a woman and you are over 60, you will be losing weight more slowly if you don't have enough muscle mass. You should build more muscle by consuming more protein, focus on really getting in the daily protein requirements, specially if you are in that category.

How much protein? that’s a very good question.

It varies a lot, there are protein calculators out there, but on average at Mexicali Bariatric Center we ask our gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and DS patients to supplement 60 to 70 grams of protein a day, this is additional to what they're eating, we are targeting that somebody should be getting around 90 to 100 grams of protein a day, but is very difficult to get that with the small amounts that you are eating after weight loss surgery, so this is why supplementation is important. Drinking protein shakes, powders, liquids will help you reach your protein target, and it’s even safe to get up until 120 grams, it depends, check with your doctor or go on the online protein calculator, it depends on your weight, your age, gender and other variables, but you will get the target number there.

One last thing, in order for it to be healthy for you to be getting this much protein, water needs to go hand in hand with the protein, this is very important. Don't forget that. I hope this helps!

I will write to you soon.

For more information on weight loss surgery please visit mexicalibariatric.com or call us toll free at 1-888-344-3916.