Remember the Power of Revision!

Both the Lap Band and the Gastric Sleeve have been shown to be extremely effective procedures that allow obese patients to finally overcome the burden of obesity. Yet, there are some Lap Band patients that, for reasons involving both complications and insufficient diet modifications, decide to have their band removed. While this is an appropriate choice for some bariatric surgery patients, it’s important for them to remember that a revision to a gastric sleeve is another option that typically works wonders for struggling Lap Band patients.

At Dr. Feiz & Associates, we give our patients guidance throughout every step of the weight loss journey, and for those who simply cannot adjust to the new relationship with food required for Lap Band patients, a revision surgery may be in order. Of course, every patient is different. For anyone struggling to lose weight with the Lap Band, the first step is always to talk to our expert team and have a one-on-one consultation to determine what the next step should be. If you are concerned in even the slightest way, please do not hesitate to call our offices today!

It All Comes Down to Appetite

If you've spent much time in organized weight loss groups, you've probably heard more than your share of discussion about the difference between appetite and hunger. The idea seems clear enough, we might feel like eating for a host of reasons, but that's not the same as actually needing to eat. While it's true that sometimes we eat out of boredom or to deal with certain feelings or simply because we love donuts, obesity is not nearly that simple.

While it helps to learn to deal with emotional eating, that's only one small part of the problem. As we have learned at Dr. Feiz & Associates, as we lose get serious about restricting our eating, very strong feelings emerge wich can be almost impossible to distinguish from genuine hunger.

You see, the more overweight we are, and the more weight we lose, the stronger and more impossible to ignore these feelings become. Indeed, even people trying to lose relatively small amounts of weight can find themselves obsessing over food while dieting. That's why there's a need for bariatric surgery; people who have a lot of weight to lose, and who need to keep it off for the long term, need help suppressing these pangs that feel so very close to true hunger.

That's also why many of us get so frustrated when we hear uninformed people describing a weight loss surgery as "the easy way out." The fact of the matter is that, for most people, it's the only workable way out of obesity.

If you've found attempting to lose significant amounts of weight and/or trying to keep it off, an all but impossible task, then weight loss surgery in Los Angeles with Dr. Feiz might your very best option. Call us today.

Making the Best Choices

Earlier today we saw a news story about more diverse food offerings, including some very healthy choices, being promoted as possible movie theater snacks. Moreover, it seems like every day we read an item about this or that giant fast food chain offering selections that might actually be considered compatible with a healthy lifestyle. At the same time, it's hard not to be discouraged when so many of these healthier offerings turn out to be short-lived promotions, not long-term changes.

Yet, if you look at the relatively recent history of food and drink marketing in America, changes do occur. When Starbucks first began opening locations nationwide in the 1990s, many visitors found their coffee unduly strong, simply because it was so different from the typical U.S. coffee of the time. Now, of course, most coffee lovers are used to Starbucks stronger tasting coffee. (Whatever harm they are doing, vis a vis the obesity epidemic, with some of their very sugar and fat laden desert drink offerings is a separate matter.)

Of course, it's up to all of us to actually take advantage of whatever healthy choices we see, whether we're at McDonald's, the local convenience store, a movie theater, or even just shopping at the supermarket. At Dr. Feiz & Associates, we know two things: 1. Our overall health is an accumulation of the big and small choices we make every day and 2. If we buy healthy things, companies will be encouraged to keep offering them.

By itself, none of this is going to cure obesity, but the more healthy stuff we eat, and the more unhealthy choices we avoid, the better off we'll all be. 

For Men and Women, Weight Loss Surgery is an Equal Opportunity Issue!

Recently, a new study came to light concerning the demographic breakdown of patients of bariatric surgery. The most striking numbers showed that the numbers were dramatically skewed toward women, and that, by far, more female patients undergo weight loss surgery than men. According to the numbers, women make up 80% of all bariatric surgeries performed. As a highly experienced and respected center for bariatric surgery, here at Dr. Feiz & Associates we think these numbers are problematic because it means severely obese men are less likely to seek out and receive the treatment they need to achieve a healthier lifestyle. 

Though some incorrectly believe that weight loss is primarily a women’s issue, the truth is that obesity affects men and women equally. In fact, obesity rates in America are nearly equal for both sexes. Further still, the reasons to pursue weight loss surgery in Los Angeles and beyond are not cosmetic. Severe obesity is linked to major medical issues that include diabetes, heart attack, and stroke to name a few. Weight loss surgery is proven to be the best method to combat severe obesity and improve the quality of life. Living a better, happier, longer, and more healthy life is something both men and women deserve!

 

Making the Right Choice with Bariatric Surgery

If you’re someone suffering with severe obesity, the decision to pursue weight loss surgery in Los Angeles is a good decision, but for many it’s one that’s not pursued due to a lack of information or misinformation based on what they’ve heard. Weight loss surgery is a great option, even the best option to reverse and prevent the serious associated health risks including heart attack and stroke. Nevertheless, it’s important to have the right information going into it, and here at Dr. Feiz & Associates we want to help you make the best decision for a healthier future. 


The first thing potential patients should understand about bariatric surgery is that it’s proven to be safe as well as effective. Weight loss surgery by an experienced expert has a very  low complication rate compared to other surgeries. Our team, for example, is able to boast a 0 fatality rate. It’s also important to remember that there is no simple and easy fix for severe obesity. In addition to being a safe procedure, it’s also the only one proven to consistently yield positive results. If you’re ready to being your journey to a new, more healthy you, All you have to do is call!