Posted on October 29, 2011 in Latest News, Vitamins
Have you guys heard about the buzz regarding multivitamins linked to increased death rates? This month in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers found a slightly increased death rate in individuals who consume multivitamins on a regular basis over a 19 year period. The study gets respect interms of the amount of patinets studied (about 40 thousand women), and the extended follow up period, but needs some serious perspective in stating its results:
-This sudy merely shows and association. It does not prove cause and effect… meaning it doesn’t show that the multivitamins increase your risk.
-It does not address nutritional needs of post surgical weight loss patients. It is clearly shown that bariatric patients need some type of nutritional supplement to prevent vitamin defficiencies.
-It fails to discuss the real issue of overall decreased nutrition of Americsns. Our generation eats greater amounts of simple sugars, modified fats, and highly processed foods with decreased nutritional content. A multivitamin can help offset this poor diet, and it’s certainly better than nothing…. but the real message should be centered on educating and supporting a society towards good nutritional food consumption.
Posted on in Latest News, Sleeves
With Medicare reviewing its coverage criteria for the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, ASMBS, has decided to update its Position Statement. The ASMBS is the society that represents bariatric surgeons and is also responsible for setting up the Centers of Excellence (COE) Program. Up to now, ASMBS held the position that the Sleeve looked “promising” with early and intermediate follow up data, and that the procedure should be studied more, before a final recommendation for its use would be made. The new statement to be released considers the sleeve as a viable alternative surgery option to the Band and Bypass, and that the SLEEVE CRITERIA FOR COVERAGE SHOULD BE THE SAME AS FOR THE BAND AND BYPASS. This is a great step in the right direction for increasing options for surgical weight loss patients. All of these procedures have their distinct advantages and disadvantages. This should help us match an operation more closely to a patients’ expectations for improved health and weight loss.
Posted on October 10, 2011 in Latest News, Sleeves
The CMS, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, recently announced a decision to review the current literature on the vertical sleeve gastrectomy. CMS determines coverage criteria for surgical weight loss procedures. This is an optimistic step towards possible sleeve coverage by Medicare. A preliminary decision should be released in March 2012, with a final policy decision in mid 2012. Medicare currently only recognizes the Bypass, Band and Switch for surgical weight loss operations performed at Centers of Excellence, COEs.
If Medicare decides to recognize the Sleeve as another option with similar criteria to the current procedures, this could create a wave of private insurers following suit. I personally look forward to seeing UHA and HMA recognize the sleeve, and especially for HMSA to remove their 60 BMI barrier to this operation.
Posted on September 16, 2011 in Latest News
Join us at one of our support groups near you! If you have any questions, please call our office or contact us.
| Maui |
Kona, Big Island |
| Date: 8/23 then 3rd Tuesday at 6:00pm
Location:
Maui Medical Group
2180 Main St.
Wailuku, 96793
Annex Building |
Date: 8/24, then 4th Tuesday at 6:00pm
Location:
Aloha Center
73-4080
Huilikoa Drive
Kailua-Kona |
| Hilo, Big Island |
Kauai |
| Dates: 8/23, then 4th Tuesday at 6:00pm
Location:
Living Waters Assembly of God
89 Maikai St.
Hilo, HI |
Date: 8/23, then 4th Tuesday at 6:00pm
Location:
New Beginning Christian Center
3-4251 Kuhio Hwy
|
Posted on June 14, 2011 in Video Testimonials
Posted on June 10, 2011 in Latest News
Dr. Fowler Offers First Single Incision Weight Loss Procedure in Hawaii
At his Honolulu, HI bariatric surgery practice, Dr. Steven Fowler is the first surgeon to offer single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS). While Dr. Fowler says his first priority is patient safety, he believes the ability to decrease the aesthetic impact of weight loss surgery and perform the LAP-BAND Surgery® for weight loss through a smaller incision is also important to his patients.
Dr. Steven Fowler, a board-certified bariatric surgeon in Honolulu, is the only surgeon to use an innovative technique which allows for a smaller incision when performing the popular LAP-BAND Surgery in Hawaii. Dr. Fowler says patient safety is the top priority for any weight loss procedure, and patient satisfaction also plays an integral role in the overall success of treatment, which is why utilizing the latest technological advancement in bariatric surgery – known as SILS, or single incision laparoscopic surgery – is a top priority for him as well.
While Dr. Fowler admits safe weight loss and a healthy transformation remain the top priorities for any weight loss procedure, whether that be the LAP-BAND System® or a gastric bypass, patients often express concern over the size and shape of the scar. From the initial consultation, Dr. Fowler says he carefully explains the various weight loss surgery options available, while addressing each step of the process from pre-operative responsibilities to recovery, which includes the aesthetic appearance once all is said and done. “A true benchmark of a surgeon’s performance is safety. But in addition, if an incision can made smaller, why wouldn’t a patient consider that procedure.”
Whether Dr. Fowler is performing a procedure using the SILS method, or another recent innovation in the field of bariatric surgery known as the gastric sleeve, he says he always remains conscious of the overall aesthetic impact of each procedure. As the first surgeon in Hawaii to offer this cutting-edge approach to the LAP-BAND System®, he adds he still enjoys the general surprise patients express at the lack of scarring. “I’ve had patients tell me that their friends couldn’t find the scar left behind by their weight loss procedure.”
About Dr. Fowler
Dr. Steven Fowler earned his medical degree from the Boston University School of Medicine, and then completed his surgical residency at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, CA. He is the acting medical director at Castle Medical Center, which was designated as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence® by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
Aloha Surgery is located at 928 Nuuanu Ave. #400 in Honolulu, HI 96813, and can be reached at (808) 521-1300, or found online at alohasurgery.com or the Aloha Surgery – Dr. Steven Fowler Facebook page.
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Posted on March 16, 2011 in Uncategorized
For all you patients who underwent the LapBand procedure over the last year, I want to thank you for your great work! As you know, in November of 2009, we started doing Single Incison Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS) Lap Bands. This is where the operation is done through a cut in the belly button, thereby creating less scarring. The lack of any visible scar is so good, that I have some patients where you can’t even tell they had an operation.
I went to Hokkaido, Japan in February to present our data on this procedure to the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity (IFSO). It was an honor to share our data on the excellent results our patients are having. Yes, we missed the earthquake by a week, and my heart goes out to all the people suffering from this incredible natural disaster.
It is my feeling that the SILS LapBand, when done safely, provides an excellent result with high patient satisfaction. I think that this “new technique” will eventually catch on with other surgeons as they see the positive results.
