Weight Loss Surgery at CNOS
Tired of feeling like you’ve tried every diet and failed? Worried about how your weight is impacting your health and happiness? We’re here for you!
At CNOS, we understand the obstacles that stem from the disease of obesity. Our goal is not only to help our patients lose weight but also improve their quality of life while positively impacting their health and well-being. Please refer to the BMI calculator below to see if you are a candidate for Weight Loss Surgery.
Am I a Candidate for Weight Loss Surgery?
Obesity is measured by a scale called Body Mass Index (BMI). Your BMI is a numerical value of your weight in relation to your height. Please enter your weight and height into the calculator below to find out if you qualify for Weight Loss Surgery.
BMI Calculator
Are You Ready to Get Started?
To find out more about weight loss surgery at CNOS, please watch the video to the right to learn more!
After watching the video, please contact our Bariatric Coordinator, Heather Garlinghouse and she will verify that your insurance covers weight loss surgery and will schedule your surgery consultation with one of our weight loss surgeons: Dr. Rizk or Dr. Hegvik.
Contact Us Today!
Heather Garlinghouse (Bariatric Coordinator)
(605)-217-5511 OR at heather.garlinghouse@cnos.net
BMI of 40 or greater: You are a candidate for Weight Loss Surgery.
BMI of 35-40: You are a candidate for Weight Loss Surgery if you have 1 or more of the following obesity-related health conditions (diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, heartburn, high cholesterol).
BMI 30-34.9: You are a candidate for self-pay Weight Loss Surgery if you have 1 or more of the following obesity-related health conditions (diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, cardio vascular disease, heartburn, or bone and joint disease).
Pictured from left to right:
Kathy Hart (Bariatric Nurse),
Heather Garlinghouse
(Bariatric Coordinator),
Dr. Hegvik, Dr. Rizk,
Megan Cleveland (Registered Dietitian)
The CNOS Weight Loss
Surgery Difference
The surgeons at CNOS have been performing weight loss surgery since 1976, and are proud to offer the latest technologies in laparoscopic surgery. Since 2002, these surgeons have performed over 2,100 laparoscopic weight loss surgeries, with fewer complications than the national average.
Since 2003, this multidisciplinary team has taken a dynamic approach to weight loss surgery care by utilizing a comprehensive educational program for our patients. This team includes registered nurses, insurance specialists, and an in-house dietitian to help our patients make lasting changes to their lifestyles to promote long-term success.
Check out your weight loss surgery options below:
Sleeve Gastrectomy
The Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy – often called the sleeve – is performed by removing approximately 80 percent of the stomach. The remaining stomach is a tubular pouch that resembles a banana. The excised portion of the stomach is removed from the body.
The new stomach pouch holds a considerably smaller amount of food than the normal stomach. This helps reduce the amount of calories that can be consumed. This surgery seems to greatly affect the gut hormones that impact a number of factors including satiety, hunger, and diabetes. Like other metabolic surgeries, it also helps to establish a lower, healthier body fat set point by changing the signals between the stomach, brain, and liver.
Gastric Bypass
The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass – often called gastric bypass – is considered the gold standard of weight loss surgery.
During gastric bypass surgery, the surgeon creates a small stomach pouch, about the size of a golf ball. The surgeon then attaches a section of the small intestine directly to the pouch. This allows the food to bypass a portion of the small intestine, which absorbs calories and nutrients.
Having the smaller stomach pouch causes the patient to feel full sooner and eat less food; bypassing a portion of the small intestine means the patient’s body absorbs fewer calories. Like other metabolic surgeries, it also helps to establish a lower, healthier body fat set point by changing the signals between the stomach, brain, and liver.
Gastric Bypass cont.
The portion of the small intestine that would normally absorb calories that is bypassed in this surgery is also responsible for absorbing nutrients. This leads to less absorption of calories and nutrients. This means, following this surgery you will need to be on a vitamin and mineral regimen for the rest of your life.
Most importantly, this rerouting of the digestive system produces changes in gut hormones that promote satiety, suppress hunger, and reverses one of the primary mechanisms by which obesity induces type 2 diabetes.
Your Weight Loss Journey Step-by-Step
One of the most critical elements of a successful bariatric program is the offering of a “holistic” model of treatment of care, involving pre- and post-surgical services and lifestyle support. Our main priority is to be an asset to our patients and provide assistance and care for life. Learn more about life after weight loss surgery and how to keep your health a priority.
Step 1: Schedule Your Initial Consultation
Contact Heather Garlinghouse (Bariatric Coordinator): heather.garlinghouse@cnos.net or 605-217-5511
At the time of your initial consultation, you will have a general outline of the surgical process explained to you by your weight loss surgeon. The surgeon will then complete an individual history and physical with you at which time he will help you decide what surgical option is best for you. You will also meet with our Bariatric Coordinator who will discuss insurance benefits, requirements, and your financial responsibilities. We know the insurance process can be overwhelming. Our Bariatric Coordinator will be here to walk you through the entire process.
Step 2: Complete Our Educational Program
Our educational program consists of a multidisciplinary team that will walk you through the lifestyle changes necessary for long-term success. Part of our team includes an in-house Bariatric Dietitian and Bariatric Nurses who will educate you on everything from how your surgery is performed, to your pre-and post-operative diet and exercise plan, to teaching you how to make these changes to your lifestyle.
The program includes a series of Behavior Modification Classes that will focus on education of eating management, compliance with behavioral changes, body image changes, relationship issues, eating triggers, and coping skills designed to assist in modifying your lifestyle.
The Weight Loss Support Educational Team will follow up with you before and after surgery. In addition to the classes at CNOS Sioux Point Clinic, your weight loss surgeon will refer you to a psychologist for a psychological examination. This evaluation may address general psychiatric functioning, depression, eating disorders, alcohol abuse/dependence, trauma issues, or support/relationship issues.
Our program also features a Weight Loss Support Group that you will attend prior to and after your surgery. As a staff, we understand your struggles and we want to help. Our team is specialized in weight loss surgery and all of our team members have been trained in bariatric sensitivity. Lastly, all of our education classes take place in a facility that is geared toward our patients – with chairs and scales to accommodate all bariatric patients.
Step 3: Confirm Insurance Approval and Schedule Surgery
The Bariatric Coordinator will work closely with you and your insurance company during the insurance approval process. Once we have an insurance approval and you have completed the educational classes, you will be ready to schedule your surgery.
Step 4: Undergo Surgery
The CNOS weight loss surgeons perform their surgeries at the Dunes Surgical Hospital and MercyOne Medical Center. You will spend a maximum of one night in the hospital and then go home the next day. We are now offering the sleeve gastrectomy as a same-day procedure. Most patients are to work approximately 2 weeks after surgery.
Step 5: Attend Post-Op Meetings
After surgery, you will continue working with your Weight Loss Surgery Team. Your surgeon will request that you have labs drawn yearly so that we can monitor your nutritional health. CNOS also has a Weight Loss Surgery Support Group in place to provide information, support, and a place to connect with others who have had weight loss surgery or are researching surgical options. These meetings are educational and supportive. You are invited to come and share experiences with other weight loss surgery patients in a fun and exciting environment.
Weight Loss Surgery Financing
After your initial consultation, the surgeon will gather information to include in the insurance request. Our bariatric coordinator will also review your insurance information and explain your financial responsibilities to you.
Insurance
CNOS offers Insurance Specialists who will be available to provide answers and support beginning at your initial appointment and throughout your entire surgical experience. The insurance process is a vital part of your surgery. This process can take time, but it will help relieve your financial burden in the end. Our Bariatric Coordinator will work with you to make sure everything is in place to obtain approval from your insurance company.
Self-Pay
If your health insurance company does not offer benefits for weight loss surgery, we do offer self-pay options to cover our procedures. These prices include the surgeon’s fee, anesthesiologist’s fee, the pathologist’s fee, the facility fee, and the fee for our educational program.
SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY $14,000
GASTRIC BYPASS $17,500
Disclaimer: All prices are subject to change. Self-pay prices are quoted for procedures performed at the Dunes Surgical Hospital.
If you have any questions, or would just like more information about this program, please contact our Bariatric Coordinator, Heather Garlinghouse, at (605) 217-5511. You can also reach Heather by email: heather.garlinghouse@cnos.net.
Weight Loss Support Group Schedule & Details
Free and open to the public!
WHEN & WHERE?
CNOS – Sioux Point Clinic (Formerly Midlands Clinic)
705 Sioux Point Road Dakota Dunes SD, 57049
6:00-7:00 pm (1st & 3rd Tuesday of each month)
Facilitators
Megan Cleveland, RD & Kathy Hart, RN
Questions? Call 605-217-5566
Support Group Topics
- June 20: Moving – The New Exercise Prescription
- July 4: NO SUPPORT GROUP!
- July 18: Physical Activity – Popular activity trends and how to get started
- August 1: Open Question & Discussion
- August 15: Breaking the ‘Diet Mentality’ after Weight Loss Surgery
- September 5: Open Question & Discussion
- September 19: Emotional Changes after Weight Loss Surgery: the psychology of rapid weight loss
Our Weight Loss Surgery Specialists
CNOS Weight Loss Surgery Clinic Locations
The following CNOS clinics offer weight loss surgery in communities throughout Siouxland. Find a clinic near you to visit with a weight loss specialist.