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Jackson Hospital
COMMUNITY
WEIGHT LOSS
What’s your BMI? Find
out at
www.jackson.org/ bmicalculator .L
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benefits
of bariatric
surgery
Undergoing a bariatric
procedure to lose weight is not a decision
to be taken lightly. Surgeries like sleeve
gastrectomy are not for everyone who is
extremely overweight. But for those who
qualify and are willing to make permanent
choices to lead a healthier lifestyle, the pro-
cedures can be lifesaving and life-changing.
Back in the summer of 2014, Cindy
Tucker decided to take control of her life.
“I realized I was about to be
40 years old, and I was about to reach
400 pounds,” she says. “My child is
18 years old now, and I wanted to be
able to enjoy traveling with my husband.
I couldn’t fit into an airplane seat. I was
mentally prepared to change my life.”
General Surgeon Brian Gary, MD, with
The Jackson Clinic, performed Tucker’s
vertical sleeve gastrectomy procedure.
She has lost a remarkable 172 pounds
since her surgery.
“I feel like a new person!” Tucker says.
When asked about her journey,
Tucker says the next step is to get rid of
her excess skin. She has almost reached
her goal to lose 180 pounds.
Is sleeve gastrectomy
for you?
What is sleeve gastrectomy?
The
laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is
a bariatric procedure in which the
surgeon removes approximately
85 percent of the stomach, shaping the
remaining stomach into a tube or
sleeve
.
It can be used as a first-stage operation
prior to a gastric bypass or as a stand-
alone procedure.
What are the advantages of the
laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy?
During the laparoscopic gastric sleeve
procedure, the nerves of the stomach
and the outlet valve (pylorus) are not
“I wanted to be able to enjoy travel-
ing with my husband. I couldn’t fit
into an airplane seat.” —Cindy Tucker
of Americans older than 20
are
OVERWEIGHT
or
OBESE
.
Brian
Gary,
MD
69%
NUMBERS
AND
QUOTES