BMI

Hair loss is one of the commonest laments in female patients after gastric bypass surgery (whether for weight loss or surgical cure of Type II Diabetes Mellitus), and is at once one of the least heralded topics in the subject. This is but natural: after all, surgeons are more bothered by complications that are life-threatening [...]

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“When you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail!” We have all heard of this saying, and all of us agree. A skilled laparoscopic surgeon plots to take out huge tumors and cysts through the keyhole method, while the dinosaur surgeon tends to think of employing his hands to remove organs (like the appendix) [...]

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In Part One, we came to the reluctant conclusion that the sleeve, safe procedure though it is, has a near 3 percent leak rate. Incidentally, the two of us at BMI have not yet had a leak in nearly five years of practice. For whatever reason though it may be (luck?), we would like to [...]

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Our patients are counseled in details about the pros and cons of various bariatric procedures, especially the one they are going in for. In today’s practice, most of our patients tend to favor the Sleeve Gastrectomy for its safety, ease of maintenance and less restrictive lifestyle. It also may be cheaper than the bypass to [...]

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Terms always change. This is because it gives a lot of people necessary employment. Take this business of changing the names of cities and countries. Take the terms which are no longer kosher (like ‘handicapped’, ‘housewife’, etc.). Has the world or reality changed because we employ new terms? Clearly, no one will claim that, except [...]

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In Part One, we outlined the nature of the beast. In Part Two, we dealt with ways of cooking it. Now, in this part, we will clean up the remains. Sorry to our Gujju (and other vegan) friends for this analogy! If you have had bariatric surgery and are now having reflux, what now? (Are [...]

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In Part One, we outlined the nature of gastroesophageal reflux and how it occurs, as well as how we detect it clinically. So let us now assume that you are awaiting bariatric surgery and have reflux symptoms. So how does your reflux have an implication on your surgery? Will bariatric surgery (after all, we are [...]

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If you have acid reflux, chances are you are also obese or, at least, overweight. Many of our patients who are candidates for bariatric surgery have symptoms of acid reflux– heartburn, water brash (a sudden flooding of the mouth with saliva because of reflux of gastric contents into the food pipe), eructations, etc. While a [...]

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Some of the commonest things I get asked by patients after bariatric surgery is, “So what can I eat now? When can I eat sweets? When can I drink Coke?” Or words to that effect. Each time, I sigh. It means another ten minute lecture is due on my part. I have to teach an [...]

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All surgeons know that, thanks to popular media and the hospitals that push the concept, the lay public think that lasers are exciting miracle gadgets for any surgery. People forget the fact that lasers are only applicable in a handful of situations across specialities, with the most use being in retinal surgery and dermatology. Now, [...]

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