Written By: Clarissa Aznar

THURSDAY, October 13th, 2011 —SWLC is delighted to return to the largest trade show for women in Canada on Friday,  November 11 – Sunday, November 13 at the Toronto National Women’s Show at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. This is SWLC’s 3^rd consecutive year in showcasing its clinic and effective weight loss programs for achieving and maintaining weight loss. Since 2005, SWLC has been a proud contributor and have helped over 3,000 patients overcome their struggle with obesity.

At this year’s National Women’s Show, SWLC will be introducing an exciting never before feature in which visitors will get a chance to meet a Lap-Band patient and ask their questions. This is a great opportunity for those interested in learning more about SWLC’s  program in recognizing the benefits and life-changing possibilities associated with the Lap-Band.

Most notably, SWLC Medical Director and Surgeon, Dr. Chris Cobourn, will be making an appearance on the Health & Wellness Stage on Sunday, November 13^th at 11:15am for his presentation on “The Lap-Band and Gastric Balloon: Innovative Solutions for Sustained Weight Loss”. Not only has Dr. Cobourn been a recognized surgeon in the medical community since 1989, but he has served on expert committees to help establish worldwide standards for bariatric surgery. In addition to his record of accomplishments, Dr. Cobourn is an international and national contributor to Lap-Band research regarding its effectiveness and safety with three publications in his profile.

Find out more by stopping at the SWLC booth! Meet Dr. Cobourn, ask your questions, and get free goodies during your visit!

See you there!

Hello Everyone,

SWLC is proud to announce the publication of our 2^nd clinical research report in the prestigious “Obesity Surgery Journal” in September of 2011.  This study shows that the Lap-Band procedure can be safely performed in out-patient facilities – even for patients who would otherwise be considered high risk due to sleep apnea or respiratory problems. If you are a health care professional or you would like more information about this research report, please go to the SWLC HCP section.

This study documented that Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB) can be safely performed in an outpatient facility in a group of patients at high risk for sleep apnea. This review was conducted in association with Dr. M. Kurrek, Dr. A. Kiss and Dr. S.L. Dain & Dr. Z. Wojtasik and myself from the Surgical Weight Loss Centre (SWLC). We reviewed 2,370 patients who undergone Lap-Band surgery between 2005 and 2009 who were classified as high risk for sleep apnea or met at least three STOP-BANG criterias.

A total of 746 of the 2,370 patients (31%) met criteria for or were at high risk for sleep apnea. There were no deaths and no cases of respiratory failure or re-intubation. The 30 day anesthesia related morbidity was less than 0.5%.

This clinical report was conducted due to the controversy that exists regarding perioperative management of patients at high risk of sleep apnea.

For more information on the clinical study, tables, figures and references, visit http://bit.ly/p2Vh5p.

Happy reading!

Dr. Cobourn

Written by: Clarissa Aznar

THURSDAY, September 15th, 2011 —- The Surgical Weight Loss Centre (SWLC) is pleased to announce the latest added service dedicated to providing excellence in care for patients. Effective September 1^st SWLC can now assist our patients arrange financing with payments as low as $85 per week with $0 down payment.  As part of SWLC’s ongoing commitment in providing the highest quality of care to patients, not only will this new service provide assistance to those financing their weight loss procedures, but is also convenient.

Since 2005, SWLC has helped over 3,000 patients throughout Canada in achieving sustained weight loss to improve their overall health and quality of life. SWLC is Canada’s distinguished provider of the Lap-Band and Gastric Balloon programs. Its qualified surgeons are internationally known as experts and are active in research and submitting publications regarding the Lap-Band, its efficacy and safety.

For more information on how SWLC can assist with financing, please contact a patient coordinator at (905) 278-8000 or toll-free 1 (888)278-7952 or at info@swlc.ca.

Link to Article | http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4434781

Written by: Ted Michaels

WEDNESDAY, Sept 7th, 2011 (Sports Network)— Mike Jovanovich knew exactly when it happened.

The former offensive lineman, who graduated from Boston College, signed as a free agent with the Seattle Seahawks in 1992. He joined the Hamilton Tiger- Cats after being released by Seattle, and also played for the Toronto Argonauts, Ottawa and Montreal.

Like many of his peers, Jovanovich waged a running battle with his weight, during and after his playing days.

“My first year as a freshman at Boston College, I weighed 300 pounds,” he told Inside the CFL. “At the end of my playing days there, I weighed 285 pounds. In my CFL days, I played around 300-305 pounds.”

Then, he admits, the problems started.

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Link to Article | http://www.newscanada.com/print-july-canadians-are-motivated-to-lose-weight-despite-setbacks-68484

TUESDAY, June 14th, 2011 (www.newscanada.com) — A new survey from the Canadian Obesity Network–Réseau canadien en obésité (CON–RCO) found that 84 per cent of Canadians with severe obesity are motivated to lose weight and eight–in–ten respondents say their main motivating factor is to improve their overall health. This is not surprising given that 75 per cent report having one or more accompanying conditions, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Lucille Bisignano is familiar with the motivation to lose weight to improve her overall health. “In addition to being severely obese I was also living with diabetes and high blood pressure, taking countless medications. I had seen a number of doctors and dietitians about my weight but nothing worked for me. I knew I needed to make a change and that’s when I decided to undergo the gastric banding procedure. Since having the procedure, I’ve lost over 190 pounds. As a result of my weight loss, my blood pressure has stabilized, my diabetes is in remission and I no longer have to take any medication.”

Many Canadians face the same struggles that Lucille did in achieving sustained weight loss. Sixty-one per cent of Canada’s severely obese population report that weight loss is an uphill battle for them as they have too much to lose, and four in 10 feel discouraged about trying another weight loss program for fear of failing again.

Dr. Christopher Cobourn is the medical director and surgeon at the Surgical Weight Loss Centre. He sees hundreds of patients each year who want to lose weight, but struggle.

“Many patients who come into my office are frustrated and depressed with their repeated failure to sustain weight loss,” says Dr. Cobourn. “It’s critical that these patients understand that there is no ‘one–size–fits–all’ approach to weight loss. Only after understanding all the treatment options, including surgery and medically–assisted weight loss procedures, can these patients make an informed decision. This allows them to feel empowered to live their life without being controlled by their weight issues.”

In Canada, there are different medically–assisted weight loss procedures available, including: the gastric balloon, laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (or gastric banding) and gastric bypass. You can learn more about these procedures online at www.yourmomentoftruth.ca.

Written By: Rosalyn Solomon

TUESDAY, May 31st, 2011 (24 Hours) — Gillian Taggart was tired with dealing with her obesity and did something about it.

In January 2010, Taggart, a mother of two from Brampton decided to undergo Lap Band surgery, a minimally invasive procedure that places a band around the top part of the stomach. The band holds food for a short time before letting it pass through the stomach, sending signals to the brain of being full or satisfied.

“I had reached a point in being overweight where I felt trapped, I felt I couldn’t lose weight on my own, or I could but I would just gain it all back,” said Taggart who has since lost 120lbs. and is living an active lifestyle.

According to a survey released by the Canadian Obesity Network, 31% of Canadians with severe obesity have struggled with weight their entire life.

Dr. Chris Cobourn, Medical Director and Surgeon of Surgical Weight Loss Centre in Mississauga says not only do these individuals have health issues such as high blood pressure and diabetes to deal with, but also social pressures.

“Some people come to this moment, and we call it the moment of the truth…’why are you here now?’ after dealing with weight issues all their lives,” Dr. Cobourn said.

“For most people, something’s happened in their lives…it’s a health motivator and a social one also.”

PLEASE JOIN US!

Surgical Weight Loss Centre Lap-Band Information Seminar – A Solution to Achieving & Maintaining Weight Loss

Tuesday, May 3rd 2011

7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Delta Bow Valley (Downtown Calgary Hotel) – Conservatory Room

209-4^th Avenue SE, Calgary, AB

Parking: $6.00 flat rate (underground parking)

Surgical Weight Loss Centre Alberta is hosting its first Lap-Band Information Seminar for those interested in learning about an effective sustained weight loss treatment that has been performed on over 750,000 patients worldwide. Dr. Phil Mitchell, Medical Director and Surgeon of SWLC Alberta will be hosting the seminar and cover topics such as:

• What is the Lap-Band and how does it work?
• How much weight will I lose and how fast?
• What are the benefits of the Lap-Band versus other weight loss procedures?
• What are the risks and how fast is the recovery?
• How will the Surgical Weight Loss Centre support me after the procedure?
• How do I know if I am a candidate for the procedure?

If you have a family member or a friend who is also interested in the Lap-Band program, we encourage their attendance. Light refreshments will be provided.

Register now to reserve your seat and the chance to win an exciting door prize. Please RSVP to info@swlc.ca by May 1^st or call 1-888-278-7952.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Dr. Mitchell and the Surgical Weight Loss Centre Team

MONDAY, April 4th, 2011 — On Monday’s episode of The Dr. Oz Show, two Lap-Band patients share their experience after undergoing Lap-Band surgery while three healthcare professionals discuss the pros and cons of the minimally invasive procedure. Watch it here!

Article: Long Term Outcomes of Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding

Authors: Jacque Himpens, MD; Guy-Bernard Cadiere, MD, PhD; Michel Bazi, MD; Michael Vouche, MD; Benjamin Cadiere, MD; Giovanni Dapri, MD

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine the long-term efficacy and safety of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) for morbid obesity.

Design: Clinical assessment in the surgeon’s office in 2009 (>12 years after LAGB).

Setting: University obesity centre in Brussels, Belgium.

Patients: A total of 151 consecutive patients who had benefited from LAGB between January 1, 1994, and December 31, 1997, were contacted for evaluation.

Intervention: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.

Main Outcome Measures: Mortality rate, number of major and minor complications,  number of corrective operations, number of patients who experienced weight loss, evolution of comorbidities, patient satisfaction, and quality of life were evaluated.

Results: The median age of patients was 50 years (range, 28-73 years). The operative mortality rate was zero. Overall, the rate of follow up was 54.3% (82 of 151 patients). The long-term mortality rate from unrelated causes was 3.7%. Twenty-two percent of patients experienced minor complications, and 39% experienced major complications (28% experienced band erosion). Seventeen percent of patients had their procedure switched to laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Overall, the (intention to treat) mean (SD) excess weight loss was 42.8% (33.92%) (range, 24%-143%). Thirty-six patients (51.4%) still had their band, and their mean excess weight loss was 48% (range, 38%-58%). Overall, the satisfaction index was good for 60.3% of patients. The quality-of-life score (using the Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System) was neutral.

Conclusion: Based on a follow up of 54.3% of patients, LAGB appears to results in a mean excess weight loss of 42.8% after 12 years or longer. Of 78 patients, 47 (60.3%) were satisfied, and the quality of life index was neutral. However, because nearly 1 out of 3 patients experienced band erosion, and nearly 50% of the patients required removal of their bands (contributing to a reoperation rate of 60%), LAGB appears to results in relatively poor long-term outcomes.

Arch Surg. Published online March 21, 2011. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.2011.45

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I have reviewed the article published in the Archives of Surgery by Dr. Jacques Himpens and colleagues from Belgium.  Review of the paper shows that the authors completed 151 gastric band procedures over a four year period (average of 38 procedures per year). The technique and device implanted are no longer used in today’s gastric banding procedures. This is an ill-constructed, single-center clinical assessment that does not meet the high clinical standards we should expect from peer-reviewed data, and is not reflective of today’s clinical standards. 

This particular study in question contains various flaws and is contradictory to a large number of well-controlled clinical studies published in peer-reviewed literature today.  Specifically, I would like to call your attention to the following important facts that impact the study’s conclusions:

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Obese Patients Belly Up to Lap-Band Surgery

Written By: Celia Milne

TUESDAY, January 18th, 2011 (Metro Canada) — You could call it the belly bandwagon.  Belly band surgery is increasingly popular among obese patients.

Dr. Chris Cobourn, a general surgeon at The Surgical Weight Loss Centre in Mississauga, performs Lap-Band surgery, and watches as patients as heavy as 575 lbs lose weight and get healthy.

“They love their band. No one wants to be obese. They are incredibly frustrated and depressed and a lot of patients have low self-esteem. This gives them a simple, elegant solution and they are the happiest patients in the world,” says Dr. Cobourn.

“It’s very safe,” he adds, “We’ve done over 3,000 here with no major complications or deaths.”

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