The bariatric programs at Providence Little Company of Mary’s San Pedro and Torrance locations offer effective, long-term weight-loss solutions.
“The most surprising part for patients after bariatric surgery is not so much weight loss as their overall health improvement and the change in their quality of life. Not being in pain anymore, not having to take multiple medications, being able to exercise, even being able to run a marathon—those are the real life-changing benefits,” says bariatric program coordinator Karen Allen, RN.
In addition to surgery, the bariatric programs at San Pedro and Torrance now offer patients the option of the newer weight-loss injectable medications, including Wegovy and Zepbound. Although a wide array of doctors prescribe them, “these medications are best managed by weight-loss specialists,” Allen notes, because of the complexity of the weight-loss process. She says that Malgorzata Stanczyk, MD, medical director of the bariatric program at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro, has had good results with the temporary use of injectables for patients who have hit a plateau in the years after surgery. (Without bariatric surgery, though, patients need to stay on the drugs to avoid regaining weight.)
To qualify for surgery, a candidate must fulfill multiple requirements, including a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater or a BMI of 35 with a related illness such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea or polycystic ovary syndrome. The most commonly performed surgeries at Providence Little Company of Mary are the sleeve gastrectomy and the gastric bypass. After surgery, patients visit with their surgeons at two and four weeks post-operation, then again at six months and a year. The follow-up visits then become annual. And for those who need extra support, there’s a one-on-one “Back on Track” consultation with a dietitian.
Allen says that patients get a lot of support from the bariatric team both before and after the procedure. “To ensure long-term success, there’s more pre-op and post-op follow-up,” she says. “The program addresses the whole person.”
ASHLEY’S TRANSFORMATION AT PROVIDENCE LITTLE COMPANY OF MARY TORRANCE
Ashley Montagu was on the verge of hitting 300 pounds at age 21 when she made the decision to have a gastric bypass performed by Aileen Takahashi, MD, of the bariatric center in Torrance. “I was so tired of being unable to do simple things,” Ashley recalls, “like climb a flight of stairs or fit into a seat on my favorite ride at Disneyland.” But the tipping point, recalls the Coachella Valley resident, came when “my doctor told me I would likely not be able to become a mother without intensive medical intervention.”
Two years later, Ashley has fulfilled her dream of motherhood with the birth of her son. She has also become a personal trainer. “There’s no greater experience than motivating and inspiring others,” she says. For those considering following her path, she says, “undergoing bariatric surgery isn’t a quick fix; it comes with a lifetime commitment of working on your physical and mental health. But the motivation for that continued change comes from how much better my life is now.”
Houman Solomon, MD, medical director of the bariatric program in Torrance, says that watching that kind of transformation take place is rewarding for everyone. “I really love seeing our patients change their lives for the better. They feel so energized and accomplished after losing significant amounts of weight. It’s wonderful to see that.”
CRYSTAL’S TRANSFORMATION AT PROVIDENCE LITTLE COMPANY OF MARY SAN PEDRO
Crystal Ponce, 25, describes her decision to have bariatric surgery with Dr. Stanczyk at the San Pedro location as “the best decision I’ve ever made.” Crystal, a San Pedro medical assistant, has lost just over 100 pounds and says the reward has been “looking in the mirror and not seeing that insecure person I once was. And just feeling healthy waking up every morning with energy!”
Crystal opted for a sleeve gastrectomy and has worked diligently to change her eating habits and patterns. “Eating clean and being off sodas has made me feel so much better,” she says. “It feels amazing that my body limits me on how much I eat, so I can stay on track and never overeat again.”
Dr. Stanczyk says that she loves working with weight-loss patients, because it involves so much more than just helping them take the pounds off. “Bariatric care is a process. I get to see the patients transforming in front of me like a flower blooming—it’s fantastic. I compare it to being an obstetrician and being able to see the happiness of a new life begin.”
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE
Providence Little Company of Mary Torrance and San Pedro are comprehensive centers of excellence for weight-loss surgery, as designated by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). The MBSAQIP designation means a facility has undergone an independent, rigorous, voluntary peer evaluation in accordance with nationally recognized bariatric surgical standards.
For more information or to schedule a consultation with a Providence Little Company of Mary bariatric specialist, call 310-303-5613.
