CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman Regional is offering laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy surgery. This operation, also known as the gastric sleeve procedure, is a minimally invasive surgical option for severely obese patients, or obese patients who have obesity-related health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea.
During a gastric sleeve procedure, a surgeon removes the outer curve of the stomach to make a new banana-sized stomach or “sleeve.” Since the stomach is reduced to 15% of its previous size, the amount of food an individual can eat is greatly reduced. This leads to sustainable and long-term weight loss for patients who follow a strict aftercare program. Aftercare programs include a strict diet that enables the body to recover and adjust to a smaller stomach size, an exercise regimen and follow-up care with a physician. In addition to gastric sleeve, Cullman Regional also offers the gastric band surgical weight loss procedure.
“Being able to provide our patients with the gastric sleeve option is a big step forward for our surgical program,” said Dr. William E. Smith, Jr., Cullman Regional’s chief medical officer. “Launching new services here at Cullman Regional is always exciting as we strive to make quality health care more accessible to local residents.”
Informational seminars are currently being offered for members of the community at no cost. Dr. Mac Cottingham and his team lead an in-depth conversation about what’s involved in surgical weight loss, from the costs of surgery to what happens afterward. For more information about Cottingham or services provided at Cullman Regional, call 256-735-5600 or visit at www.cullmanregional.com.
