Recent governmental statistics indicate that over 60% of the American population suffers from obesity. Associated with morbid obesity is a multitude of co-morbid conditions, such as sleep apnea, high blood pressure, asthma, depression and diabetes. Medical treatment of these conditions is both very expensive and only treats the underlying symptoms. Bariatric surgery, more commonly known as weight loss surgery, provides the only definitive treatment for a multitude of conditions in the morbidly obese patient. In addition, Bariatric Surgery is the only intervention which provides a significant, sustained weight loss.
Obesity is the state's costliest preventable health disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity mortality rates will soon surpass that of smoking. As the only hospital in Terrebonne Parish offering bariatric surgery, Physicians Medical Center provides comprehensive care and support for life-long weight control. Physicians Medical Center has become well known for its multi-disciplinary approach to weight management before, during and after surgery.
The LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System is the first adjustable medical device approved in the United States for individualized weight loss. The LAP-BAND® System was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2001 for use in weight reduction for severely obese adults. The LAP-BAND® System is adjustable, which means that the inflatable band can be tightened or loosened to help the patient achieve a level of satiety while maintaining a healthy diet, supporting a patient's long-term weight loss success.
One of the benefits of the LAP-BAND® System is that patients return to normal activity relatively quickly after surgery. The length of hospital stay is usually less than 24 hours. Physicians Medical Center and the surgeons of Surgical Weight Management Associates, LLC, are dedicated to providing our patients with a program offering a comprehensive approach to the surgical management of weight loss. Our goal is to improve the quality of life for our patients.
Physicians Medical Center is privileged to have four Board-Certified General Surgeons who perform laparoscopic procedures; doctors
David Rau,
D.P. Schwab Jr.,
Eric Rau, and
Fritz Rau. Our bariatric surgeons have been performing bariatric surgery for over five years. Their combined success rate exceeds the national average. In addition to the Lap Band procedure, our program offers laparoscopic gastric bypass and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. In addition to the physicians and nurses that comprise the bariatric team, we also employ a surgical crew specially trained in bariatrics, a psychiatrist, physical therapists, a dietitian, and a respiratory therapist that are available help to prepare the patient for surgery and to provide post-operative assistance.
Our post-surgery educational support groups exist for patients and their primary support people. These sessions are hosted by, a surgeon, nurse, dietitian, social worker, or physical therapist. They are held at 7:00 PM every 4th Wednesday of each month at Physicians Medical Center. Please call 985-853-1390 to reserve your spot today.
