Designated as a Center of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery, we offer a comprehensive program to support patients interested in a surgical solution to weight loss. Our program staff coordinates your needs with Torrance Memorial surgeons who are experienced in bariatric surgery. We are dedicated to offering services, technology, equipment and a commitment to quality healthcare that meets the unique needs of severely obese patients. In addition, our staff will help with psychological and nutritional counseling and provide physical rehabilitation.
Surgery for weight loss, also known as bariatric surgery, both restricts the amount of food that can be consumed and reduces the number of calories absorbed. With appropriate management, surgical weight loss patients frequently lose more than 100 pounds and maintain that loss for life.
Selection by Blue Cross, Blue Shield and Medicare
The Centers of Excellence designation for bariatric surgery was granted to Torrance Memorial by the American Society for Metabolic and bariatric Surgery. This agency is one of two organizations selected by the federal government's Medicare program to establish strict criteria to be eligible to perform bariatric surgery on Medicare patients.
In addition, several private PPO plans have followed suit. Torrance Memorial has been selected by Blue Cross and Blue Shield for their limited networks approved for bariatric surgery.
Surgical Weight Loss Options
Torrance Memorial offers two surgical weight loss options and follows the National Institutes of Health Guidelines, which are the same for both procedures.
Surgeons perform the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure using the laparoscopic and open methods. Roux-en-Y is the most widely performed surgical procedure for weight loss. The procedure reroutes a variable length of the small intestine to connect to a newly created stomach pouch, bypassing a portion of the digestive system. The procedure promotes weight loss not only by limiting food intake, but also by decreasing absorption ability of the digestive system.
Torrance Memorial also offers LAP-BAND®, an alternative to gastric bypass. LAP-BAND® is one of the least invasive approaches to obesity because neither the stomach nor the intestine is cut. The LAP-BAND® System involves the laparoscopic placement of a hollow silastic band around the upper part of the stomach. This band divides the stomach into a small upper pouch above the band and a larger pouch below the band. This small gastric pouch limits the amount of food that a patient can eat at one time. Because the band is adjustable and does not permanently alter the anatomy, it provides an option to the Roux-en-Y procedure.
Contact Us
Martha Lopez R.N., Bariatric Program Coordinator
Torrance Memorial Medical Center - 3330 Lomita Blvd., Torrance, CA 90505
Phone: 310-325-9110 ext. 7767
Direct: 310-891-6735
E-mail: mlopez3@tmmc.com