New Options for Weight Loss

The bariatric programs at Providence Little Company of Mary’s San Pedro and Torrance locations offer effective, long-term weight loss solutions.

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“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.

“I love seeing our patients change their lives for the better.”

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 many 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 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. Patients visit their surgeon two weeks after the operation and again at one month, six months and one year post-surgery. The follow-up visits then become annual. 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 decided to have gastric bypass surgery performed by Aileen Takahashi, MD, of the bariatric center at Providence Little Company of Mary 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.”

The Coachella Valley resident recalls the tipping point: “My doctor told me I would likely not be able to become a mother without intensive medical intervention.”

Today, 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 people considering following her path, Ashley advises, “Undergoing bariatric surgery isn’t a quick fix; it comes with a lifetime commitment to 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 watching that kind of transformation take place is rewarding for everyone. “I 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 Providence Little Company of Mary San Pedro 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 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. “I feel amazing that my body limits me on how much I eat so I can stay on track and never overeat again.”

Dr. Stanczyk says she loves working with weight loss patients because it involves so much more than 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 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.