Dr. Thoman Offers "Scarless" Weight Loss Surgery for Fresno Patients

    SANTA BARBARA, CA, August 10, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Central Coast bariatric surgeon Dr. David Thoman of Advanced Surgical Associates of Santa Barbara (www.sbmis.com) offers a minimally-invasive approach to weight loss surgery for Fresno area patients. The revolutionary technique, known as the SILS procedure, allows Dr. Thoman to operate using a single incision through the belly button, rather than the standard 3 or 4 half-inch incisions required for most laparoscopic surgeries.

"The SILS technique streamlines the surgical process through a single point of entry, thereby eliminating many of the traditional scar patterns associated with weight loss surgery," Dr. Thoman says. "A single-incision approach enables my bariatric surgery patients in Fresno and elsewhere to receive the same level of care while enjoying a better cosmetic result."

Dr. Thoman specializes in minimally-invasive laparoscopic gastrointestinal and weight loss surgery, including the LAP-BAND procedure and gastric bypass surgery. He is the first surgeon on the Central Coast of California to offer LAP-BAND using the SILS technique, and frequently performs LAP-BAND for Bakersfield, Fresno, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Los Angeles residents. During this procedure, Dr. Thoman creates an incision in the belly button using the SILS approach and then uses microscopic instruments, including a camera, to guide him during the procedure. An adjustable silicone band is inserted through this incision and placed around the top of the stomach to restrict food consumption. Most patients are able to return home the same day, or within 24 hours.

"Because the SILS technique is minimally-invasive, I am able to perform weight loss procedures like LAP-BAND on an outpatient basis, thereby eliminating lengthy hospital stays," Dr. Thoman says. "Additionally, there are fewer risks associated with the SILS approach than traditional surgical measures, and my patients generally enjoy a faster, more comfortable recovery."

Not everyone is a candidate for the SILS procedure, however. Some men or women with previous abdominal surgeries or individuals who weigh more may not be good candidates for surgery using the SILS technique. In these cases, Dr. Thoman may instead create small incisions in the abdomen through which to insert the surgical tools.

"Whether through the SILS technique or more traditional measures, weight loss surgery is truly life changing," Dr. Thoman states. "My patients enhance their self-esteem and body image. They can even improve their health if they have obesity-related health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure."

Dr. David S. Thoman (www.sbmis.com) is a board-certified surgeon in Santa Barbara, California, who specializes in minimally invasive and laparoscopic gastrointestinal and weight loss surgery. He is the first surgeon on the Central Coast to offer several procedures using the single-incision method, which results in less scarring and faster healing. Dr. Thoman earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery and the Associate Director of Surgical Education at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. He is also a member of several professional societies including the American Medical Association, American College of Surgeons, Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons, American Society of Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, and Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgery.

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