Reflux Surgeon Near Me, El Paso
Is Reflux Surgery Right for You?
During your consultation, your reflux surgeon will determine the severity of your condition. Your doctor will explain that acid reflux occurs when the stomach acid flows backward in the esophagus causing heartburn and other symptoms. Mild reflux symptoms can be relieved by prescription drugs, diet, and healthy life changes. If acid reflux (GERD) symptoms are severe and cannot be relieved by medications and life changes, your doctor may recommend reflux surgery.
Reflux surgery focuses on repairing or replacing lower esophageal sphincter (LES). It is this valve that normally keeps acid from flowing back from the stomach. If this valve is weakened or damaged, GERD occurs.
Choosing Your Reflux Surgeon in El Paso TX
Finding the best surgeon to provide compassionate and professional care is essential when deciding to have reflux surgery. Dr. Clapp is committed to providing individualized care for each patient, as he understands that each and every client requires different needs. When you come for your consultation you can expect the following:
- Every patient is treated respectfully and with care
- You’ll be seen at your scheduled time without unnecessary waiting lines
- Dr. Clapp and his dedicated staff will explain everything in detail to ensure you fully understand all things that pertain to your treatment.
- You’ll be comfortable throughout the duration of your appointment and treatment.
If you have unbearable acid reflux, it may be time to visit your reflux specialist in El Paso TX to determine if reflux surgery is right for you. Schedule your consultation by contacting our offices today!
Gallbladder Removal Surgeon in El Paso
What to Expect
Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery (cholecystectomy) is done to get rid of gallbladder and gallstones through a lot of little incisions in the abdomen. The surgeon in charge of this operation enlarges your abdomen with carbon dioxide or air to view the operation area properly.
The surgeon fixes a scope that is lighted on a video camera (laparoscope) which is inserted into one incision close to the belly button. The surgeon then uses a video monitor as a guide while inserting surgical instruments into the other incisions in order to be able to remove your gallbladder.
Before the removal of the gallbladder, you might need to have a special X-ray procedure done. This procedure is called intraoperative cholangiography and it shows the inside of the bile ducts. A minimum of 2 hours of general anesthesia is needed to carry out this surgery.
After the surgery, bile flows from the liver from the main bile duct and takes into the small intestine. Because the gallbladder has been taken out, the body will not be able to be to store bile after meals. In most cases, this doesn’t affect digestion.
Schedule Your Consultation
Not everyone is a good candidate for laparoscopic surgery. No matter what information you read online, the absolute best way of finding out whether or not laparoscopic surgery is the right choice is to schedule an in-person 1-on-1 consultation with our experienced laparoscopic surgeon in El Paso today.
Looking for Weight Loss Surgery in El Paso
There are many ways to lose weight, but when you want to achieve a significant result in as little time as possible, weight loss surgery is recommended. Actually, weight loss surgeries produce instant results that will make you happier and healthier.
Who Needs Weight Loss Surgery?
Weight loss surgery is recommended for individuals whose Body Mass Index (BMI) is 35 or above, with two associated medical problems related to obesity. It is for individuals who are technically obese, regardless of how they feel about their weight and body.
How Weight Loss Surgeries Are Performed In El Paso
If you decide to have a weight loss surgery, there are two major options we will recommend for you – gastric bypass and gastric sleeve.
Gastric bypass is a laparoscopic procedure performed through small incisions. In this method, a small pouch will be created in the upper portion of your stomach, bringing up a piece of the intestine and bypassing the distal stomach and portion of the small intestine. It is possible for patients to lose between 70 and 80% of their extra body weight after this surgery.
Gastric sleeve is also a laparoscopic procedure, but it is a little more ambitious as it requires resecting about 80 – 90% of the stomach. After the procedure, patients’ metabolic status can change significantly, and this can result in up to 70% loss of extra body weight.
Patients may need revisional bariatric surgery for weight loss, which is when patients need their previous surgeries revised or modified. Our surgeon, Dr Benjamin Clapp, is also an expert in this type of surgery.
Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery
Weight loss surgeries performed by El Paso Bariatric Surgery has many benefits, including:
- Instant weight loss of up to 100 lbs.
- Improvement of medical issues after surgery.
- Better quality of life for the patient.
- Quicker recovery time due to the laparoscopic methods.
Do you think you are a good candidate for weight loss surgery? Book an appointment with us for a one-on-one consultation and treatment by one of the best Bariatric Surgeons in El Paso and surrounding areas.
Why choose reflux surgery? El Paso
GERD occurs due to a weakened or damaged lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which is the valve that normally keeps acid from flowing back from the stomach. This acidic liquid may cause irritation on the lining of the esophagus, over time leading to a chronic condition called esophagitis.
Gastro Reflux Disease is a chronic condition itself. Even when an injured esophagus is treated and heals, the injury is bound to come back a few months later. Reflux surgery addresses this by repairing or replacing this valve, and in so doing:.
- Help you avoid long-term medications for GERD
- Help to prevent complications such as inflammation of the esophagus
When to seek treatment for GERD
The three primary symptoms of an uncomplicated case of acid reflux include:
- Heartburn or chest pain – Most people with GERD will feel chronic burning sensations or mild pain in the region above the stomach and the neck. However, in some cases, the pain is sharper or feels like pressure in the chest that may extend to the back.
- Regurgitation – This occurs when the fluid from the stomach goes past the esophagus and up into the throat where it’s felt as a bitter taste at the back of the mouth. In some cases, the liquid may breach the upper esophageal sphincter (UEL) and result in mouthfuls of liquid or food.
- Nausea – As a symptom of GERD, nausea is not as common as regurgitation or heartburn. But even if it was, it would be hard to attribute to GERD as it is a symptom of many other common conditions.
Schedule Your Consultation
We are devoted to providing you with the best surgery for GERD to enhance the quality of your life. Our doctor will discuss keenly your reflux surgery needs to determine which surgery for GERD is the best for you. Surgical options include Fundoplication, Nissen fundoplication, and Hernia repairs including hiatal hernias and paraesophageal hernias (diaphragmatic hernias). Contact your Reflux Surgeon in El Paso TX to schedule your consultation.
What to Expect at Your Bariatric Consultation in El Paso?
Often patients are nervous when attending their bariatric consultation. Patients can be more at ease by understanding what to expect during the consultation and preparing for the surgery themselves. Dr. Clapp and his staff work closely with patients to determine if bariatric surgery is best for them.
Pre-Surgery Bariatric Consultation
Our bariatric surgeon in El Paso provides a comprehensive surgical weight loss program which focuses on delivering long-term health and includes a number of activities before surgery, as well as post-operative care, a customized workout routine, nutritional counseling, support groups, and more.
To determine if you are a good candidate for bariatric surgery, your doctor will provide:
- A complete psychological assessment by a specialist
- A pre-surgery dietary assessment by a dietitian
- A comprehensive exercise assessment and program development
- A dedicated team of compassionate physicians and professional care before and after your surgery
Understanding Bariatric Surgery
Before taking the step to get rid of your weight surgically, we expect you to have done as much research as possible about bariatric surgery. Generally, not every overweight individual is a good candidate for bariatric surgery. However, any person whose health has been affected by their extra weight, or who has failed to shed the fat by other means may be eligible. But keep in mind that your procedure will be combined with exercise and diet changes for great success.
Taking the steps to enhance your quality of life is easier with a team of specialists walking alongside you during the process. To get started on your weight loss journey and life of better health, contact our bariatric surgery office in El Paso, TX.
Finding a Gastric Bypass Specialist in El Paso
Weight loss surgery solutions can help you lose weight when diet and exercise fail to provide the results you want.
Managing obesity is not simply a matter of changing your appearance and getting rid of the extra weight. Being overweight is often associated with a large number of health issues that range from high blood pressure and heart disease to joint problems and depression to infertility.
Why choose surgery?
Bariatric surgery is an effective way to reduce your weight while warding off the dangers of obesity, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, among others. Weight loss surgery involves reducing the size of your stomach to directly reduce your food intake. The procedure also causes changes in your appetizing hormone levels, which helps to lower your appetite and boost insulin sensitivity, which often causes diabetes remission.
There are many different approaches to bariatric surgery, though Dr. Dr. Benjamin Clapp recommends Gastric Bypass for severely obese patients. This procedure involves bisecting the stomach and small intestines into two segments, and then linking the smaller ones together to reduce both your food intake and absorption in the intestines. It can result in 60-80% excess weight loss, with long-term results that extend over 20 years after surgery. The procedure also helps to resolve most obesity-related health problems.
What to Expect
Our comprehensive surgical weight loss program is focused on delivering long-term health, and includes a number of activities before your surgery, as well as post-operative care, a customized workout routine, nutritional counseling, support groups, and more.
Dr. Clapp will determine if you’re a good candidate for gastric bypass surgery. For this, you can expect:
- A complete psychological assessment by a specialist
- A pre-surgery dietary assessment by a dietitian
- A comprehensive exercise assessment and program development
- A dedicated team of compassionate physicians and professional care before and after your surgery
Gastric Bypass surgery can help you get rid of a substantial amount of weight, and also improve your overall health and quality of life, enhancing your well-being and possibly adding years to your life. Please visit us today to learn more about this procedure.
Minimally Invasive Style of Hernia Repair in El Paso
In the Laparoscopic Hernia Repair three ½-1cm incisions are made by a surgeon in the abdominal wall. A long, thin camera (laparoscope) is then fixed in through an access tube by one incision and two surgical instruments are fixed in through the two remaining incisions. This gives the surgeon a clear “internal” view of the abdominal wall to locate where the hernia defect is. The defect is then medically fixed from inside of the abdominal wall through a piece of surgical mesh.
In comparison to other normal open method, the laparoscopic repair comes with a faster recovery time, with minimal pain and a faster time to return to work and engage in other activities. The approach is best for patients who have bilateral hernias (on both the left and right sides) because they can both be fixed at the simultaneously without any more incisions, and literally no additional discomfort.
Most Patients that have hernia that reoccurs also the perfect candidates this laparoscopic repair, because “open” treatment for recurrent hernias often leads to complications such as relapse, injury to blood vessels and nerve injury. The little incisions that are made during Laparoscopic Hernia Repairs also leads to an different cosmetic result when it is put at par with open procedure.
However, not all patients should have Laparoscopic Hernia Repair. Especially patients who have undergone prostrate surgery, abdominal surgery, or have an history of obesity might not be the best candidate for a laparoscopic repair because visualization might not be possible in their cases. In isolated cases, a laparoscopically surgery might have to be converted to an “open” procedure to increase the success rate of their surgery.
Candidates for Hernia Repair Surgery in El Paso
If you are think you are a candidate for a Laparoscopic Hernia Repair you should undergo physical examination and a detailed consultation to be sure that it is best for you. You must check the risk and benefits and your doctor should inform you on all the possibilities relating to converting from a laparoscopic procedure to an open one. The decision on whether to undergo or switch to an open procedure will be made by your surgeon on or before the actual operation. When a need to make, the switch arises and the surgeon thinks it is best to revert the laparoscopic procedure into an open one, It might not be as a result of a complication, but as a result of the surgeon’s better judgment. The decision to revert from a Laparoscopic Hernia Repair to an open procedure is strictly because of the safety of the patient.
Not everyone is a good candidate for laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. The best way of finding out whether or not surgery is the right choice is to schedule an in person 1-on-1 consultation with our experienced bariatric surgeon, Dr. Benjamin Clapp.
To schedule an appointment or for cost & pricing information, please call 915-351-6020 or conveniently request an appointment online.
Gastric Bypass Procedure Overview | El Paso
The gastric bypass is performed laparoscopically (through small incisions). A small pouch is created in the upper portion of the stomach, bringing up a piece of intestine and bypassing the distal stomach and a portion of the small intestine.
Useful Gastric Bypass Resources:
Benefits of Gastric Bypass Surgery
The gastric bypass has been one of the most popular bariatric surgeries for weight loss results. The procedure was named the most popular bariatric surgery option in 2015 and is considered the “gold standard” for bariatric surgery.
- You will lose weight. The average person loses 70-80% of their excess body weight in the first 18 months post surgery.
- Those with type 2 diabetes will see significant improvement. In some cases may even eliminate the condition.
- You will not physically be able to consume large meals due to your smaller stomach size following the procedure.
- You can get sick from eating too many carbohydrates, including sugar, which helps keep weight off.
- Those who are on medication for high blood pressure or high cholesterol may see improvements significant enough to lower medications or come off of it entirely.
- Studies have shown 90% of patients maintain at least 50% of excess weight loss after surgery.
- You may see hormone improvements, including increased testosterone and metabolism improvements.
Award-Winning Gastric Bypass Surgeon in El Paso
Benjamin Clapp, MD FACS has played an integral role in the research & publication of various professionally written articles pertaining to Gastric Bypass and other bariatric surgical procedures.
Weight Loss Treatments in El Paso
When weight loss treatments were introduced a few decades ago, its sole purpose was to help people lose weight. Today, it does a lot more than just that. Weight loss procedures have been shown to improve symptoms of weight-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, acid reflux, sleep apnea, and heart disease. What’s more, doctors can now tackle weight from multiple angles, making almost any case of overweight or obesity remediable by surgery.
By consulting with your bariatric specialist, you can discover which treatment is best for you. Most specialists recommend weight loss treatments after other interventions have not helped to improve your health. Common procedures include:
Gastric Bypass
Gastric bypass is performed to limit the amount of food your stomach can hold. The surgeon creates a pouch at the top end of your stomach, to which the small intestine is cut and connected. Food thus flows into the intestines without getting into the main part of the stomach, effectively reducing the amount of food you can take per sitting and, consequently, the number of calories your body absorbs.
This may be the best type of surgery if you have acid reflux as it reduces the upward pressure that pushes up stomach content into the esophagus.
Sleeve Gastrectomy
This procedure is pretty similar to gastric bypass, except for the fact that the cut portion of the stomach is removed entirely from the body. The objective is straightforward – to physically reduce the size of the stomach, so you get full without eating much. The surgery also reduces one’s urge to eat as the hormone that alerts the brain when one gets hungry is located in the section of the stomach that is cut off.
Sleeve gastrectomy heals more quickly than gastric bypass and is suitable for people who have had multiple other surgeries in the abdominal area.
Adjustable Gastric Band
In this, an inflatable balloon is placed inside a silicone ring, which is attached to the upper part of the stomach. A small tubing is attached to the balloon with one of its endings connected to a port placed under the skin in the abdomen.
Using the port, the surgeon can modulate the diameter of the opening at the top of the stomach and create a pouch where food sits for a while after a meal so the individual feels full faster.
Biliopancreactic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (BPD/DS)
The BPD/DS involves two procedures: a sleeve gastrectomy – where part of the stomach is tied into a banana-shaped pouch – followed by the surgical attachment of the small intestine to the pouch. It is known as a malabsorptive surgery as it is designed to regulate the number of calories absorbed along the gut. It makes the food storage part of the stomach much smaller and makes the food reach the small intestine faster.
Schedule Your Consultation
Weight loss surgery is the way to go if you’re looking for a quick and effective way of shed the few extra pounds. To find out if surgery is right for you, contact your weight loss specialist in El Paso TX to schedule your consultation.
Bariatric Surgery FAQs in El Paso TX
What is bariatric surgery?
Medically known as bariatric surgery, weight loss surgery is recommended for patients suffering from severe obesity, meaning that they have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 and above.
How do I know if I am a candidate for bariatric surgery?
Most people are good candidates of a weight loss procedure, though the first criteria that physicians look at your BMI. There are three main categories of people who can benefit from bariatric surgery:
- People with mild obesity and BMI of 30 to 35
- People with moderate obesity and BMI of 35 to 40
- People with severe obesity and BMI of over 40
Physicians recommend that patients consider bariatric surgery when dealing with moderate obesity, and a BMI between 35 and 40, rather than waiting until their BMI is over 40 or even 50 when the patient is less likely to enjoy the full benefits of the procedure.
Is the surgery safe and how does it work?
Bariatric surgery is a fast, safe, and effective way to reduce your weight while warding off the dangers of obesity, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, among others.
Weight loss surgery involves reducing the size of your stomach to directly reduce your food intake. The procedure also causes changes in your appetizing hormone levels, which helps to lower your appetite and boost insulin sensitivity, which often causes diabetes remission.
What are the types of weight loss surgery options?
There are many different approaches to bariatric surgery, though the most common ones are:
- Sleeve gastrectomy – Used by around 60 – 70% of obese patients, the procedure requires the doctor to remove 80% of your stomach. This procedure is particularly suited for patients with a BMI of 35 to 40.
- Gastric bypass – This procedure is recommended for severely obese patients. It involves bisecting the stomach and small intestines into two segments and then linking the smaller ones together to reduce both your food intake and absorption in the intestines.
Keep in mind that surgery is almost always a last resort, where diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes are ineffective. Your bariatric specialist in El Paso, TX can help you determine if surgery is your best option But after the procedure, you will need to adjust your lifestyle choices.