Dignity Health | St. Rose Dominican | Reach

“Deciding to have bariatric surgery

saved my life—both physically and mentally,” says

Corinne Pace.

Corinne had struggled with her weight her

whole life, says her bariatric surgeon, Thomas

Umbach, MD. And she’s certainly not alone. The

obesity rate in the U.S. is nearly 35 percent,

according to Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention. “That’s more than 1 in every 3

Americans,” says Dr. Umbach.

“As a physician, these numbers are particularly

concerning considering the serious health conditions

related to obesity, including stroke, heart disease,

type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.”

Time for a change

“I had thought about having bariatric surgery for a

while,” Corinne says. “But it wasn’t until I went to

Dr. Umbach’s seminar and got all of the facts that I finally

made the decision. I listened, thought about it, and

talked with my family. We have a history of health issues

that include cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure,

and diabetes. I wanted to improve my health and,

hopefully, avoid those health issues.”

There are several types of bariatric surgery. “Together,

Corinne and I decided her best option was gastric sleeve

surgery,” says Dr. Umbach. This procedure permanently

reduces the size of the stomach—by about 80 percent—

limiting food intake. It’s done laparoscopically—through

tiny incisions.

BARIATRIC SURGERY

‘I found the

…and the love of my life’

real

Winter 2016