Obesity, which may be experienced due to a number of reasons, poses a threat for several organs of the body. Therefore, treatment for obesity must be planned and implemented within the scope of a multi-disciplinary approach, where multiple medical branches work in collaboration.
Obesity Center is one of the selected centers in Turkey that has state-of-the-art equipment for applications in this field. The center is committed to providing patients the most suitable treatment options, under such a multi-disciplinary care.
All patients who apply to our Obesity Center are first evaluated by an endocrinology specialist, a nutritionist, a psychiatrist, a physical therapist and an exercise specialist. Subsequently, the reasons underlying obesity are examined from a physical and psychological point of view. Our center offers diet therapy, exercise therapy, behavioral therapy, medicinal therapy and surgical treatment methods.
Radiological equipment specifically designed for patients suffering from obesity offer comfortable radiological examination for patients.
Obesity Center utilizes the following methods in treatment of obesity:
- Medical nutritional (diet) therapy
- Exercise therapy
- Behavioral therapy
- Medicinal therapy
- Surgical treatment
What is the procedure followed at Acıbadem Obesity Center?
Obesity Center’s specialized physicians start with investigating why you cannot lose weight; they then evaluate appropriate treatment methods and present you the options.
An ideal approach to treatment of individuals who are unable to lose weight through medical nutritional, exercise, behavioral or medicinal therapy is obesity surgery. If this option is found to be the right choice for you, Obesity Center’s thoroughly experienced general surgeons will determine the obesity surgery option that is best for you, and give you detailed information on how the procedure will be performed, and what you should be expecting during and after the operation.
Diagnosis and Treatment:
The fundamental aim of the multi-disciplinary diagnosis and treatment methods implemented by our Obesity Center is to ensure regular and problem-free weight loss; and most importantly, to make sure that the patients are able to maintain their weight throughout the future.
Diagnosis and treatment services offered by Obesity Center include:
Diet Therapy
We are committed to ensuring that patients who apply to Obesity Center lose weight under the supervision of nutrition and dietetics specialists with broad experience in the field of obesity. A personalized, calorie-controlled diet is prepared for each patient based on their nutritional habits and health conditions. The patients are followed up by nutritional specialists, during the course of the program.
Exercise Therapy
Patients suffering from obesity are likely to experience health problems -such as problems with the knee joint due to excessive loading- while exercising, due to excessive weight. In most cases these problems cause the patient to give up exercise and gain more weight.
In order to ensure that such patients can re-start exercising, specialists of Acıbadem Obesity Center offer programs comprising exercises that suit individuals’ health condition -such as swimming, water gymnastics, etc.- In most cases, a 45-minute physical activity program implemented minimum 3 days a week yields excellent results for weight loss.
Behavioral Therapy
Although nutritional and exercising programs are efficient methods for weight loss, patients tend to consider these programs as cures that are implemented for a certain period of time, and return to their sedentary (inactive) lifestyle upon completion of the programs; which leads to weight regain. These patients are advised to change their lifestyle, for instance, to take the subway instead of driving everywhere, or to include sports activities such as trekking in their plans for the weekend.
Medicinal Therapy
In case of existence of any underlying metabolic problems which cause the patient to gain weight, medicinal therapy is implemented by physicians who specialize in their fields in order to eliminate such problems (reactive hypoglycemia, insulin resistance, etc.) However, medicinal therapy should not be seen as a direct treatment for obesity by itself, as an FDA approved reliable and effective drug that may be prescribed for the treatment of obesity is not available as of today.
Obesity Surgery
Obesity surgery is based on two fundamental principles; reducing the stomach size and/or ‘malabsorption’, or limiting the absorption of foods at certain stages in the intestinal tract. These surgical procedures can save patients’ lives when implemented on the correct patient, at the correct time.
Who Can Benefit from Obesity Surgery?
Obesity surgery is recommended for patients who have a body mass index of over 35, and who are unable to lose weight through methods such as medical nutritional programs, exercise or medicinal therapies implemented under the supervision of a specialist. Obesity surgery is also recommended for patients with a body mass index of over 30, and obesity-related conditions such as hypertension, diabetes or sleep apnea that can influence the quality and length of life. The surgical procedure that is right for you is determined through a number of examinations and tests carried out by our physicians.
Female patients with short-term pregnancy plans should discuss this with their physician, as patients are advised to refrain from pregnancy for a period of 24 months following obesity surgery.
Treatment Methods in Obesity Surgery
Gastric Banding
Using the gastric banding method, also known as the lap band, the surgeon places an adjustable silicone band around the upper part of the stomach. In most cases, gastric banding procedure is implemented by means of laparoscopic methods. As the surgery involves only small incisions, the patients are able to return to their daily lives in a short amount of time.
Gastric Sleeve
Also known as “sleeve gastrectomy”, this surgical procedure aims to reduce the capacity of the stomach (to approximately 60-100cc), so patients feel themselves full by consuming lesser amounts of food. With gastric sleeve surgery, the stomach is partially removed, leaving a sleeve shaped stomach of about the size of a banana. During the surgery, the portion of the stomach which produces ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates hunger, is cut away. Gastric sleeve surgery does not interfere with food absorption and only limits the patient’s food intake. For this reason, vitamin or mineral supplementation is rarely required after the operation.
Gastric Bypass
With gastric bypass surgery, a small part of the stomach is used to create a new stomach pouch (roughly 30-50cc). The smaller stomach is connected directly to the small intestine, bypassing the rest of the stomach. As in other obesity surgeries, this procedure aims to decrease stomach capacity as well. Additionally, the intestines are partially bypassed, reducing absorption of food and nutrients. This allows patients to feel full quickly and eat less.
Robotic Surgery Method in Obesity Surgery
If your surgeon recommends surgery for weight control, this may mean that you may be a candidate for obesity surgery performed by the da Vinci robot. Such surgical operations, which are aimed to decrease stomach capacity and thus, cause patients to feel full quickly and eat less; are among the most efficient methods used today to obtain definite results in the treatment of obesity.
Depending on the patients’ physical condition, surgical intervention on obese patients may sometimes lead to certain weight-related problems. These problems may prevent efficient treatment of the required area.
Robotic surgery system is used widely in many medical specialties including urology, cardiology, gynecology and general surgery. Using robotic surgery allows us to conveniently perform various types of surgical operations, even on morbid obese patients.
The visual and technical capabilities of robotic surgery offer better outcomes for obese patients through reductions in blood loss, risk of infection, post-operative scarring and a quicker return to normal life.
Other Methods
Gastric Balloon Procedure
Using this procedure, an inflatable balloon is inserted through the mouth, into the stomach, by means of endoscopic tools. The balloon is then inflated, to provide a feeling of fullness. Unlike the other three methods, the gastric balloon procedure is non-surgical. However, another significant difference it presents compared to other methods is that, the balloon is needed to be removed after 6 months, and the results may not be permanent.
