Bariatric Surgeons in St. Louis Offer Patient Education Workshops and Seminars

ST. LOUIS, MO--(Marketwire - Nov 13, 2012) - Teaming up with the My Healthy Weight surgical weight loss program at Jefferson Regional Medical Center, Drs. Van Wagner and Jay Snow, weight loss surgeons at Heart of America Bariatrics, have incorporated a monthly Wellness Workshop for Bariatric Surgery Patients in their St. Louis weight loss surgery program. Heart of America Bariatrics is sponsoring the program as a way to enhance their patient care and improve the success of their results by fostering a community of support for patients who have undergone bariatric surgery in St. Louis, Missouri, and surrounding states. Drs. Wagner and Snow say they are excited about the opportunity and hope it will serve as a consistent, encouraging outlet for patients in the fight against obesity.

Drs. Snow and Wagner say the Wellness Workshops for Bariatric Surgery Patients are designed to help patients find inspiration and consistency in the upkeep of their post-surgical nutrition plans and exercise regimens, as well as a resource for reliable education in weight loss surgery. Both doctors stress that the groups are open for patients who may have had any bariatric or weight loss surgical procedure, whether it be the LAP-BAND® System, gastric bypass, or a gastric sleeve. Dr. Wagner says the groups provide a more inclusive opportunity for patients who may have been lacking in support and detailed patient information close to home. He says they are beneficial to both patients and the entire Heart of America Bariatrics staff.

The next workshop will be held on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Doubletree Hotel in Collinsville, IL. The feature for the November workshop will be a live "Healthy Holiday Cooking" demonstration. The Wellness Workshops will be offered once per month and have guest speakers frequently, such as a registered dietitian, a personal trainer, a psychologist, plastic surgeon, healthy chef, and more. Wellness Workshops meet in conjunction with the practice's educational weight loss surgery seminars, and patients are encouraged to attend both if they are looking to better understand the bariatric surgery process.

"These workshops are important to the entire practice because they provide the patients with an opportunity to learn more about nutrition and fitness, as well as share ideas with fellow patients on how to handle common bariatric surgery struggles. This should help our patients be more successful in reaching their weight loss goals," says Dr. Snow.

Regardless of whether patients are determined to be a good candidate for one of the many available bariatric procedures or need a more effective weight loss plan, Drs. Snow and Wagner say consulting with an experienced and board-certified bariatric surgeon is essential for achieving the proper results and a safe, effective outcome. They say patients who partner with a dedicated practice that provides nurturing educational opportunities and seminars have the opportunity to make a significant change in their lives and improve their overall health, confidence, and appearance.

For more information about the seminar schedule, patients can contact the Heart of America Bariatrics office at (314) 776-7112 or visit hoab.org.

About Van L. Wagner, MD

Dr. Van Wagner earned his medical degree from New York Medical College in Valhalla and completed his general surgery residency at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He is a board-certified general surgeon and a member of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Dr. Wagner has performed over 1000 gastric banding procedures, 500 gastric bypass procedures, 25 sleeve gastrectomies, and countless other weight loss surgeries. His practice, Heart of America Bariatrics, has been designated a Bariatric Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

About Jay M. Snow, MD

A graduate of the University of Missouri, Dr. Jay Snow received his medical school education at MU and completed his general surgery residency at the University of Oklahoma. He received further training during a year-long fellowship in Bariatric Surgery at the Minnesota Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery. Dr. Snow is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the American College of Surgeons, and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons.

Located at 10007 Kennerly Road in St. Louis, MO, Heart of America Bariatrics can be reached by new patients at (314) 221-8937 or existing patients at (314) 776-7112. The practice can also be contacted online via the websites hoab.org or facebook.com/heartofamericabariatrics.