St. David's HealthCare is one of the largest health systems in Texas and Austin's third-
largest private employer, with more than 60 sites throughout Central Texas, including
seven hospitals, four urgent care centers, four ambulatory surgery centers, and two
freestanding emergency departments, with a third set to open in Bastrop this summer.

St. David's HealthCare has a long history of serving the residents of Central Texas
with exceptional medical care. Our 7,500 employees touch over 858,000 lives each
year with a spirit of warmth, friendliness and personal pride.

Home » Locations & Facilities » St. David's North Austin Medical Center » Medical Services » Weight Loss Surgery (Bariatrics)

Weight Loss Surgery (Bariatrics)

More than two-thirds of adults in the United States are now classified as overweight or obese. Aside from quality of life issues, people who are seriously overweight are at high risk for hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis and other health conditions.

The Bariatric Surgery Program at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center offers a full range of surgical options for patients to explore after they have exhausted other weight loss efforts. The goal is to help these patients regain optimum health and mobility – to be healthy, look and feel better, and live longer. However, surgery is just one element in successful and permanent weight loss. It must be combined with healthy food choices and a continuing regimen of exercise to be truly effective.

To find our more or learn about an upcoming seminar call 512-478-3627 or register online.

Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass (uses staples to create smaller stomach pouch, which is then connected surgically to the intestine to bypass the stomach)
Lap-Band (uses an adjustable silicone band to create smaller stomach pouch)
Single Incision Lap-Band (uses a single incision to install lap-band, instead of the standard multiple incision procedures)
Robotic Bariatric Surgery (offers physicians more precision and vision in laparoscopic procedures)
Laparoscopic Duodenal Switch (removes most of stomach and creates stomach tube linking esophagus and small intestine)
Laparoscopic Revisions (corrects technical failures or complications of inadequate weight loss
Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (removes most of stomach without bypass)
Staged Procedures (for extreme high risk patients, beginning with lowest risk procedure, and higher risk when reasonable weight loss is achieved)
Open Bariatric Surgery (required depending on patient’s surgical history or complications)
Adolescent Surgery (determined on individual basis, using specific protocols)

Some patients choose body contouring procedures after achieving weight loss goals from Bariatric Surgery. Often, this involves removal of excess skin, breast augmentation, and other cosmetic procedures designed to help the patient restore good body image and self-esteem.

The Bariatric Program at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center offers a wide variety of these procedures.

St. David’s North Austin Medical Center has dedicated a medical floor to patients recovering from Bariatric Surgery. The floor is staffed by nurses with specialized training in the support of bariatric patients

Reshape Your Life – Surgical Weight Loss Options

FREE Monthly Educational Seminars offered by St. David’s North Austin Medical Center.

Obesity is something that many people struggle with every day. Not just physically, but emotionally. If you’re overweight and want to make changes in your life, our Weight Loss Surgery Seminars are a step in the right direction. With the help of our dedicated team of healthcare professionals, you’ll find out exactly how you can reshape your life.

To register for a FREE seminar, please call 888.868.2104, or 512.478.3627 or register online.

Seminar Details:

All seminars will take place at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center 12221 N. MoPac Expressway Corner of Parmer and MoPac
2nd Floor – Classroom
Complimentary Dinner Provided
RSVP to 1-888-868-2104 or 512-478-3627 or register online

St. David's Medical Center Blog

All posts

5 Recommendations for Record Breaking Heat and Pregnant Women

Enter Here

8/22/2011 4:50:09 PM

This week I interviewed one of our new Maternal Fetal Medicine physicians, Dr. Linda Fonseca. Here in central Texas, we all know the heat has been exhausting and it has the opportunity to take an even greater toll on those who are pregnant.

Here are the things we chatted about:

Meg – How does the heat affect women who are pregnant?

Dr. Fonseca – “Pregnant women are more susceptible to dehydration because of the pregnancy and it can lead to serious problems. Heat can exacerbate dehydration from other conditions such as morning sickness or the stomach flu worse. Dehydration during pregnancy can lead to pre-term contractions or pre-term labor which can affect the outcome of the baby.”

Meg – What are the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and also heat stroke?

Dr. Fonseca – Many of the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion can be easily disguised as something else. For heat exhaustion, be on the lookout for such things as: headaches, dizziness, cold or clammy skin, thirst, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia, dark urine and fatigue. Dr. Fonseca states that the signs and symptoms for heat stroke are much more severe and life threatening including: mental confusion or lethargy (an abnormal state of drowsiness), core body temperature of 104 degrees, seizures and lack of perspiration.

Meg – What can a patient do to decrease the risk of heat exhaustion?

Dr. Fonseca – “During these days of high temperatures, make sure to stay indoors as much as possible”. Dr. Fonseca encourages women to run errands in the early morning hours when it is still cool outside as opposed to the middle of the day when temperatures are the highest. She also recommends staying hydrated – “carry around a water bottle and take several sips throughout your day even if you are not thirsty”. Dr. Fonseca would like to remind women that they should increase their water intake if they are doing anything outdoors and to stay away from caffeinated drinks like soda or tea that can increase dehydration. “Caffeine is a diuretic which can cause your body to dehydrate much more quickly.” She also recommends wearing light clothing when doing anything outdoors and try to stay in the shade as much as possible.

Meg- What is an adequate water intake to prevent dehydration? Many women feel like 8-10 glasses of water per day are hard to achieve because they feel very full.

Dr. Fonseca – “The goal is still 8-10 glasses per day especially in these high temperatures.” Dr. Fonseca encourages women to take small sips of water throughout the day to prevent those uncomfortable “full” feelings that accompany the growing fetus. The plastic water bottles most people are familiar with are approximately 16oz so a person would need 4-5 bottles of water per day to meet the water requirement.

Meg – Any special foods or drinks you recommend to ward off dehydration or electrolyte imbalance?

Dr. Fonseca - “I generally encourage my patients to eat fresh fruit (instead of dried fruit), especially in the summer that is high in water such as peaches, watermelon, or cantaloupe.” Dr. Fonseca tells her patients to stay away from caffeine and sugary drinks that may rob your body of water. She encourages them to drink water and supplement with electrolyte enhanced liquids such as Gatorade, vitamin water or pedialyte.

Always an advocate for sunscreen, she reminds patients to make sure they are wearing an SPF in the summer wherever their skin will see light, but especially on their face. “During pregnancy there is an increase in melanin which can increase the chance of chloasma during pregnancy. Chloasma is hyper pigmentation caused by an increase of hormones while you are pregnant. Make sure to wear an SPF daily when leaving the house.

-Has anyone out there had a baby during these summer months? What advice do you have for our moms to be?!

Stay cool-
Meg

heat baby MedCenter labor and delivery pregnancy