Recovery includes a four-day hospital stay, plus three to six weeks at home. Fobi has trained about 50 U.S. doctors to do the procedure, and their names are available through the American Society of Bariatric Surgery. He has not yet received authorization to officially use his name in association with the procedure. As with other bypass surgeries, complications may include vomiting, nausea, vitamin deficiencies, protein deficiencies, and rapid weight loss, which can cause dizziness. Most patients learn to overcome these side effects, if no other cause is found.
Support groups are available.
Ideal candidates are people who are at least 75 pounds above their ideal weight. But as we realized more and more how safe the procedure was, we can now say that the best patients should weigh at least 75 pounds above ideal weight. You find that they are the ones who have a difficult time losing weight and keeping it off. Often, this is considered an elective procedure, so insurance will not cover it, says Fobi. Most patients are paying out of pocket.