Bariatric Times Article Features Knoxville Weight Loss Surgery Practice

Bariatric Times, a peer-reviewed journal intended for surgeons, physicians, nurses, and other professionals in the field of weight loss, recently featured Dr. Stephen Boyce’s center for bariatric surgery in Knoxville in its latest issue. The article spotlights patient care and services at the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery in East Tennessee, highlighting Dr. Boyce’s staff and available procedures.

At the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery, Dr. Stephen Boyce and his practice are featured in the latest issue of Bariatric Times. As a bariatric surgeon in Knoxville, Dr. Boyce focuses on weight loss procedures ranging from laparoscopic greater curve plication (LGCP) to vertical sleeve gastrectomy. The Bariatric Times article highlights Dr. Boyce’s practice by analyzing the inner workings of an American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery-designated Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence®, including the pre- and post-operative process, and available patient education services and life strategies program. Dr. Boyce says the article gives his office the opportunity to spotlight their attention to patient care and pursuit of the highest quality services and the safest, most effective results.

The New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery associates with Parkwest Hospital, a 300-bed hospital in Knoxville, and performs an average of 450 weight loss procedures each year. With a staff including registered bariatric nurse coordinators, psychologists, certified bariatric dietitians, physiologists, and a life strategies coach, Dr. Boyce says the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery is well-equipped to facilitate the surgical process and get patients on the track to a healthier daily life. The spotlight article in Bariatric Times also outlines patient care at the Knoxville bariatric surgery practice as well as emerging trends in bariatric technology and innovative procedures such as LGCP.

Dr. Boyce says publication in the Bariatric Times offers him the chance to promote the well-being of his patients by staying active in seeking the latest techniques and technology. He adds that he hopes the article will encourage patients to thoroughly research the credentials and dedication of a bariatric practice before considering any procedure. “When evaluating a weight loss program, patients need to make sure it is a Center of Excellence dedicated to long term comprehensive care.”

About Stephen G. Boyce, MD

Dr. Stephen Boyce received both his Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science from Texas A&M University and his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He completed a surgical residency at the Parkland Memorial Hospital. Dr. Boyce has performed thousands of weight loss surgical procedures and has advanced training in laparoscopic surgery, in addition to completing a Masters Certification in Bariatric Surgery. Dr. Boyce’s practice, The New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery, is also the only ASMBS-designated Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence® in East Tennessee to offer all approved Bariatric operations.

Located at 200 Ft. Sanders West Blvd MOB 1, Suite 200 in Knoxville, TN, the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery can be contacted at (865) 694-9676. It can also be reached online through the website parkwestcwlc.com or facebook.com/newlifecenterbariatricsurgery.

###

The article also mentions Dr. Boyce’s recent selection to participate in an investigational bariatric surgery procedure called laparoscopic greater curvature placation (LGCP), a treatment designed to “shrink” the stomach without removing part of it or relying on implantable devices such as gastric bands. LGCP is also a reversible treatment. Dr. Boyce is one of only 45 surgeons in the nation trained to perform the procedure, and the New Life Center will shortly begin accepting qualified candidate patients into the study.

We are so proud of Dr. Boyce’s inclusion in Physician Spotlight, and we invite you to visit the East Tennessee Medical News website at the following link to read the full article: http://easttennessee.medicalnewsinc.com/news.php?viewStory=2158.

Please contact the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery for more information, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Boyce.

Bariatric Surgeon in Knoxville on Maintaining Nutrition Levels after Weight Loss Surgery

According to the latest study from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), bariatric surgery may increase life expectancy for the morbidly obese by 89% and reduce the risk of premature death by 30 to 40% as compared to those who do not have surgery. Dr. Stephen Boyce, a bariatric surgeon in Knoxville, says that although weight loss surgery can offer the tools for effective relief of morbid obesity, patients must maintain a strict regimen of certain vitamins, minerals, and supplements to prevent nutritional deficiency.

Dr. Stephen Boyce of the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery, a practice focused on weight loss surgery and nutrition bariatric supplements in Knoxville, says that while weight loss procedures can dramatically improve a person’s ability to lose weight and make healthy lifestyle changes, patients need to be aware of the effects of certain procedures on their nutrition. According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), life expectancy may increase by 89% for patients whom undergo bariatric surgery. The ASMBS study also shows a reduction in the risk of premature death by 30 to 40% as compared to those who do not have surgery. However, Dr. Boyce says weight loss surgery procedures also reduce the intestine’s ability to absorb nutrients effectively, which can often cause deficiencies that result in poor hair, skin, and nail health. He adds that through vitamins and mineral supplements, patients are able to maintain their proper nutritional intake, preserving their well being, including hair, skin and nail health.

Because bariatric surgical procedures restrict food intake and can create malabsorption, the body cannot absorb as many nutrients through the gastrointestinal process as before. Therefore, weight loss surgery is often associated with hair loss, sagging skin, and poor nail health because of insufficient nutrient intake. Dr. Boyce says this insufficiency necessitates strict attention to dietary choices and vitamin and mineral supplementation. He says achieving safe and effective results following surgery depends on a patient’s ability to adhere to a daily regimen of nail, hair and skin vitamins and minerals. “If the patient wants to minimize their hair loss after weight loss surgery, they need to provide their body with the critical vitamins and minerals that it needs.”

Before undergoing a weight loss procedure, Dr. Boyce recommends patients find a bariatric surgical practice dedicated to providing post-surgery diet plans using a comprehensive range of nutritional vitamins, minerals, and supplements with continued nutritional education and follow up to minimize the risks of developing other serious medical complications associated with nutritional deficiency. He adds that patients should be sure to thoroughly research vitamin intake and their nutritional needs so as to achieve the safest and most effective results possible.

“It doesn’t make any sense to have weight loss surgery in order to cure diabetes, sleep apnea and hypertension only to develop serious medical conditions due to nutritional deficiencies. Patients who do not take adequate supplements are at risk for anemia, paralysis, osteoporosis, and fractures, as well as hair loss, excess skin and unhealthy nails. Hair health is known to rely on adequate iron, biotin, and high levels of Vitamin B and omega fatty acids. The New Life Hair Skin and Nails pack goes beyond the ASMBS’s recommendations in these vitamins and minerals in order to ensure optimal conditions for hair, skin and nail health.”

About Stephen G. Boyce, MD

Dr. Stephen Boyce graduated from Texas A&M University, obtaining his Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science, and received his medical degree at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He completed a surgical residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital. Dr. Boyce has completed thousands of weight loss surgical procedures over the past twenty years and has received special training in advanced laparoscopic surgery. He is also a recipient of a Masters Certification in Bariatric Surgery and an Educator for Ethicon Endosurgery.

Located at 200 Ft. Sanders West Blvd MOB 1, Suite 200 in Knoxville, TN, The New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery can be reached at parkwestcwlc.com, newlifebariatricsupplements.com, or facebook.com/newlifecenterbariatricsurgery.

###

Knoxville Bariatric Surgeon Now Performing Laparoscopic Greater Curve Plication Weight Loss Procedure

Knoxville bariatric surgeon Dr. Stephen Boyce is now performing laparoscopic greater curvature plication (LGCP) at his practice. He says the new procedure is designed to help patients lose significant amounts of excess body weight without removing stomach tissue or introducing foreign body implants. He also says he is excited about the procedure’s potential for patients to lose more than 50% of their excess body weight and improve their daily life through a healthier body.

At the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery in Knoxville, Dr. Stephen Boyce is offering laparoscopic greater curvature plication (LGCP), a procedure approved for patients with a body mass index of 30 or greater. Performed without the introduction of foreign body implants or stomach tissue removal, Dr. Boyce says the LGCP technique reduces stomach capacity from an average of 32 ounces of liquid to 4 ounces, causing patients to feel full earlier during meals. Although the LGCP procedure is still in clinical trial, Dr. Boyce says, compared with other weight loss surgery procedures, gastric plication in Knoxville has proven to eliminate many of the risks associated with procedures that involve removing parts of the stomach or imposing foreign implants such as with the LAP-BAND® System.

LGCP is performed by dissecting one side of the stomach, allowing access to both the front and back surfaces, and then folding in the rounded part of the stomach and sewing it together. The result is a narrowed stomach diameter, allowing patients to experience fullness after eating less amounts of food. Because LGCP does not involve removal or rearrangement of the stomach or bowel, Dr. Boyce says the surgery is less risky than other traditional methods of weight loss procedures. “Early studies indicate that the LGCP is a safe, effective and less expensive weight loss surgical option for patients with a BMI between 30-50.”

Dr. Boyce says he hopes the new gastric plication technique will allow him to offer his patients in East Tennessee more options for weight loss procedures. He also adds that LGCP can provide patients with an innovative and advanced way to lose weight and gain confidence on the journey towards healthier living. Dr. Boyce says he looks forward to the what the future of bariatric surgery will bring and how procedures like LGCP can pave the way for more developments in weight loss. “I am most excited that new bariatric procedures like the LGCP will make bariatric surgery more accessible to patients who need help.”

About Stephen G. Boyce, MD

Dr. Stephen Boyce received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He completed his surgical residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital and went on to receive special training in advanced laparoscopic surgery and a Masters Certification in Bariatric Surgery. Dr. Boyce developed the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery in 2002, becoming one of the nation’s first Centers of Excellence in 2005. His practice is also the only Center of Excellence in East Tennessee to offer all approved Bariatric operations.

New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery is located at 200 Ft. Sanders West Blvd MOB 1, Suite 200 in Knoxville, TN and can be contacted at (865) 694-9676. It also can be reached at parkwestcwlc.com or facebook.com/newlifecenterbariatricsurgery.

###

The purpose of this study is to describe the life changes that occur in the 12 to 18 months after undergoing bariatric surgery.

Thank You for My New Life: The Bariatric Post-Operative Experience written by

• Angela F. Wood RNC, NNP-BC, PhD Associate Professor, Carson-Newman College
• Stephen G. Boyce MD, FACS, FASMBS Medical Director, New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery
• Jama K. Stinnett LPN, CPHQ Program Coordinator for new Life Benter for Bariatric Surgery

Click here to read Thank You for My New Life

Dr. Boyce Discusses LAP-BAND FDA Approval

At his Knoxville bariatric surgery practice, Dr. Stephen Boyce discusses the latest news from the U. S. Food and Drug Administration that could potentially affect 26 million Americans.

The FDA has approved the LAP-BAND System®, a surgical weight loss technique, for use in patients with a Body Mass Index of 30-35 with one or more obesity-related comorbid conditions. This new approval could affect 26 million Americans classified as such. According to Dr. Stephen Boyce, a bariatric surgeon in Knoxville, TN and medical director at the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery, the latest decision from the FDA is exciting news because the millions of Americans that fall into this category can now take the first step toward living healthier lives with slimmer physiques.

According to the yearly data collected by the Centers for Disease Control Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the new FDA approval could more than double the number of patients now eligible for weight loss surgery. Dr. Boyce adds that billions of dollars are spent each year in the U. S. on dieting, which amounts to a much greater cost per pound lost when compared to the expense of weight loss procedures, such as the LAP-BAND System®.

Dr. Boyce stresses that any patient considering bariatric surgery must first commit to significant and permanent lifestyle changes as they pursue a healthy transformation. However, with the new FDA approval, and help from experienced institutions such as the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery, he adds that millions of Americans can receive safe and effective weight loss support with proven results.

About Dr. Boyce

Dr. Stephen Boyce earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He then completed his surgical residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital, as well as a Masters Certification in Bariatric Surgery. The New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery has helped thousands of patients in the East Tennessee area achieve their weight loss goals, and has been designated a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence® by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

The New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery is located at 200 Ft. Sanders West Blvd., MOB 1, Suite 200 in Knoxville, TN 37922, and can be found online at www.parkwestcwlc.com or the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery Facebook page.

###

Keith Stewart is 60 pounds lighter following the unique, medically supervised program at Covenant Weight Loss Management Center. Since losing the weight with the help of Stacy Smith and Barbara Foster of the Covenant Weight Management Center, and their medical director, weight loss surgeon Dr. Stephen Boyce, Stewart has completed a mountain-climbing adventure and has run a total of 52 miles in the form of two half marathons and one full marathon.

To show his appreciation for the support and guidance he received, Stewart presented the Covenant Weight Management Center team with his medal from the Key West Half Marathon. He says running the recent Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon is especially important to him because it is sponsored by the weight management center, and exemplifies their dedication to permanent weight loss and a healthy transformation.

About the Covenant Weight Management Center

Offering both nonsurgical and surgical weight loss options, the Covenant Weight Management Center specializes in individualized patient care for patients who are affected by morbid obesity. The bariatric procedures are performed at Parkwest Medical Center, where the center also sponsors free weight loss surgery seminars every month. For more information, call the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery (865) 694-9676.

About Dr. Boyce

Dr. Stephen Boyce provides bariatric surgery in Knoxville, along with all-encompassing weight loss support to ensure permanent and healthy weight loss with a nutritionally-balanced diet. He earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, and completed his surgical residency at the Parkland Memorial Hospital. Dr. Boyce has performed thousands of weight loss surgeries, and has completed his Masters Certification in Bariatric Surgery and is a Fellow of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

His New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery is an ASMBS-designated Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence®, and is located at 200 Ft. Sanders West Blvd., MOB 1, Suite 200, in Knoxville, TN 37922, and can be reached at (865) 694-9676, or found online at www.newlifebariatricsurgery.com or the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery Facebook page.

###

Dr. Boyce Improves Weight Loss Surgery Post-Op

At his Knoxville bariatric surgery practice, New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery, Dr. Steven Boyce discusses his latest presentation which was coauthored with Jama Stinett, LPN, CPHQ and Dr. Angela Wood, “Thank You for My New Life: The Bariatric Post-Op Experience,” . The paper will be delivered at the 28th annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) to be held from June 12-17, 2011 in Orlando, FL. and says it is based on research that explores the “new life” patients experience following their weight loss surgery.

Dr. Wood of Carson Newman College and Jama Stinnett, program coordinator at the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery will deliver a presentation at the 28th annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), which will be held at the Gaylord Palms Resort and convention Center in Orlando, FL from June 12-17, 2011. “Thank You for my New Life: The Bariatric Post-Op Experience” is based on a research report coauthored by Dr. Boyce, Jama Stinnett, LPN, CPHQ of the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery, and Dr. Angela Wood of Carson-Newman College.

Dr. Boyce says the presentation explores patient changes during the 12 to 18 month period following bariatric surgery, based on the specific experiences of seven patients. He adds that Dr. Angela Wood and Jama Stinnett will present the findings of the report at the invitation of the ASMBS Program Committee during the Integrated Health Main Session. The annual meeting of the ASMBS draws more than 2,200 of the top metabolic and bariatric surgery professionals from the U. S. and beyond. Dr. Boyce says he looks forward to the event and is especially interested in the impact this innovative study will have on the future of weight loss surgery, and procedures such as the LAPBAND System® and vertical gastric sleeve.

About Dr. Boyce

Steven Boyce, MD earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He completed his surgical residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital where he worked with several leading pioneers of the weight loss surgery field. Dr. Boyce’s New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery is an ASMBS-designated Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence®. He also supports patients with a bariatric supplement and vitamin brand designed to improve the overall success rate and health of each patient.

New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery is located at 200 Ft. Sanders West Blvd., MOB 1, Suite 200, in Knoxville, TN 37922, and can be reached at (865) 694-9676, or found online at www.parkwestcwlc.com, www.newlifebariatricsupplements.com, or the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery Facebook page.

###

Southeastern bariatric surgery patients are the focus of a study to be presented during the 2011 annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) at the Gaylord Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Researchers from the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery in Knoxville and Carson-Newman College performed the study.

The presentation, “Thank You for My New Life: The Bariatric Post-op Experience,” is based on a research report co-authored by Dr. Stephen Boyce and Jama Stinnett, LPN, CPHQ, of the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery and Dr. Angela Wood of Carson-Newman College. The research report explores the “new life” that patients experience after bariatric surgery.

The qualitative research using Grounded Theory explored the patient changes that occur in the 12 to 18 months after bariatric surgery. The results are based on the experiences of seven bariatric surgery patients.

Dr. Boyce has over 20 years of surgical experience and has served as medical director of the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery since the clinic opened in 2002. He is a graduate of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and did his surgical residency under the tutelage of one of the pioneers of weight-loss surgery, Dr. Otto Wilbanks.

Dr. Wood earned her Ph.D. in nursing from the University of Tennessee and now is associate professor of nursing at Carson-Newman College. With an interest in qualitative research, she currently teaches the undergraduate research course.

At the invitation of the ASMBS Program Committee, Wood and Stinnett will present the findings during the Integrated Health Main Session at the 28th annual meeting of the ASMBS in June. This meeting draws more than 2,200 of the top professionals in the field of metabolic and bariatric surgery. For more information about the meeting, visit http://www.asmbs.org.

About New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery

The New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery has been designated a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. The center offers both medically supervised and surgical weight loss programs that are physician-monitored and designed to improve health through sustained weight loss based on reasonable long-term goals. For more information, visit http://www.newlifebariatricsurgery.com.

Medical expenses associated with obesity and the related health problems accounted for 9.1% of the total U. S. medical expenditures in 1998, according to a study concerning the significant economic impact the disease has on the U. S. healthcare system. Since this study, the prevalence of obesity has continued to rise at an alarming rate, prompting Healthy People—a government program striving to improve the health of all Americans—to encourage each state to reduce their overall prevalence of obesity to 15% among their adult population. Organizations like Healthy People and the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) remain committed to the fight against obesity by utilizing the expertise of specialists across the U. S., such as bariatric surgeons Dr. Stephen Boyce and Dr. K. Robert Williams.

The ASMBS is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of individuals affected by the growing obesity epidemic and lessening the burden of the disease throughout the global community. Dr. Boyce and Dr. Williams, board-certified bariatric surgeons at the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery in Knoxville, TN, have been certified by the ASMBS for their work in advancing the mission of the largest bariatric society in the world, and improving overall patient care for individuals undergoing weight loss procedures.

The use of bariatric vitamins is one area in particular the surgeons at the New Life Center for Bariatric surgery are succeeding at improving the lives of their patients in Knoxville, TN. Dr. Boyce specifically has been helping people lose weight with medically supervised diets and weight loss surgery for over twenty years. He says the vitamins and other supplements provided, such as meal-replacements and energy drinks that support a bariatric surgery diet, are comprised of the only formula that meets and exceeds the ASMBS vitamin criteria.

As Dr. Boyce and Dr. Williams continue to strive for exceptional patient care by supporting each facet of the weight loss process, they say attaining certification with a prestigious and dedicated organization like ASMBS validates their commitment to improving the lives of individuals affected by obesity. With the help of programs like Healthy People and organizations like the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the doctors at New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery say a reduction in the prevalence of obesity becomes an attainable goal for individual patients and the nation as a whole.

About Dr. Boyce and Dr. Williams

Dr. Stephen Boyce earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He completed his surgical residency at the Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he studied with one of the pioneering fathers of weight loss surgery, Dr. Otto Wilbanks. Dr. Boyce then completed his Masters Certification in Bariatric Surgery, with special training in advanced laparoscopic surgery. He is the most experienced weight loss surgeon in East Tennessee, and the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery is the only Center of Excellence (as designated by the American Society of Bariatric Surgery) in the area as well.

Dr. K. Robert Williams earned his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency at the Union Memorial Hospital and began performing laparoscopic bariatric surgery in 2003. Dr. Williams is a fellowship-trained, minimally-invasive bariatric surgeon, and assisted Dr. Boyce in the development of the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery after he joined him at the Parkwest Hospital in 2006.

The New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery is located at 200 Ft. Sanders West Blvd., MOB 1, Suite 200 in Knoxville, TN 37922, and can be reached at (865) 694-9676, or online at http://www.parkwestcwlc.com/ http://www.newlifebariatricsupplements.com/ or the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery Facebook page.