365mc`s Bariatric Surgery Center in Seoul, Korea

The number 365 represents our commitment to serving our clients all year round, and "mc", an abbreviation for most convenient, most comfortable, or multi-clinic, shows that we will provide high-quality, customer-oriented medical services.

The 365mc`s bariatric surgery center has been supported by the 365mc`s Obesity Clinic Network nationwide in Korea. Our center provides well organized and proven bariatric procedures as well as specialized pre-operative and post-operative programs for weight-loss surgery, and also recognizes 365mc`s Bariatric Surgery Center in Seoul.

The 365mc`s Obesity Clinics is a unique facility to treat and manage for the obesity in Korea. The 356 Obesity Clinics has nationwide network in Korea. They have treated more than 100,000 of the obese patients for weight loss and their body sculpture during 5 years since 2003.

The aim of our team is "To provide a center of excellence for the treatments of the morbid obesity". Our bariatric surgery programs have been customized to Western Morbidly Obese patients based on the bariatric program of the Bariatric Institute of Cleveland Clinic Florida. We can provide a language assistant and accommodations for the convenient medical travel. Furthermore, we also provide almost half price of surgery fee for the weight loss surgery compared to the American bariatric surgery center. This payment includes all of doctors, nurses and hospital fee as well as the medicine and anesthesia. Your consultation or interview with the surgeon or other team members is absolute free to pay. If you any question, feel free to contact with us.

Weight loss surgery is growing use to treat morbid obesity is the result of five factors:

1. The significant health risks of morbid obesity
2. The relatively low risk and complications of the procedures versus not having the surgery
3. The ineffectiveness of current non-surgical treatment to produce sustained long-term weight loss
4. The development and growing of minimal invasive laparoscopic surgery and their techniques
5. The postoperative nutritional supports as well as vitamins and minerals.

The American Society for Bariatric Surgery describes two basic approaches:

1. Restrictive procedures that decrease food intake
2. Malabsorptive procedures that alter digestion, thus causing the food to be poorly digested and incompletely absorbed

We are completely equipped and specialize in the following Bariatric procedures:

• Sleeve Gastrectomy
• Adjustable Gastric Band
• Gastric  Bypass Roux-en-Y

Our confidence of delivering great results & satisfaction to our customers lie completely with our knowledgeable staff. bariatric surgeon Minyoung Cho, MD, PhD is a bariatric surgeon in Korea who has been trained under Dr. Roul Rosenthal, Cleveland Clinic Florida, FL, and USA during 2 years since 2004. He also was a bariatric surgeon and a full-time faculty of School of Medicine, Korea University in Seoul. He is able to speak English for your interview and comfortable hospital stay. Our bariatric team consists of a bariatric surgeon, physician, specialized coordinator, dietitian, physical therapist and nurses. 

If you get a scheduled visit or surgery day, we can arrange and manage your travel for your convenience including accommodations and transportation. Please feel free to contact us and ask them.

Please click here to request additional information from 365mc`s Bariatric Surgery Center

Are you a Candidate for Weight loss Surgery?
There are several medically accepted criteria for defining morbid obesity. The following criteria must be met before a candidate is accepted for a surgical weight loss procedure:

• You are more than 100 pounds over your ideal body weight, or
• You have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 40, or 
• You have a BMI of over 35 and are experiencing severe negative health effects,hypertension, diabetes, chronic low back pain, osteoarthritis (joint problems), pulmonary-function abnormalities, gallbladder disease, hiatal hernia, esophagitis and any other medical condition that can be improved or alleviated by weight loss or
• You are unable to achieve a healthy body weight for a sustained period of time, even through medically efforts,including mainstream dieting
• You are absence of medical problems that would make surgery/anesthesia hazardous.have willingness to make necessary changes in eating habits and a demonstrated motivation toward weight loss

Weight loss surgery`s growing use to treat morbid obesity is the result of five factors:

1. The significant health risks of morbid obesity
2. The relatively low risk and complications of the procedures versus not having the surgery
3. The ineffectiveness of current non-surgical treatment to produce sustained long-term weight loss
4. The development and growing of minimal invasive laparoscopic surgery and their techniques
5. The postoperative nutritional supports as well as vitamins and minerals.

In most cases, the minimum qualification for consideration as a candidate for the procedure is 100 pounds above ideal body weight or those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater. Occasionally a procedure will be considered for someone with a BMI of 35 or higher if the patient’s physician determines that obesity-related health conditions have resulted in a medical need for weight reduction and, in the doctor’s opinion, surgery appears to be the only way to accomplish the targeted weight loss.? Most surgeons require patients to demonstrate serious motivation and a clear understanding of the extensive dietary, exercise and medical guidelines that must be followed for the remainder of their lives after having weight loss surgery.

The American Society for Bariatric Surgery describes two basic approaches:

1. Restrictive procedures that decrease food intake
2. Malabsorptive procedures that alter digestion, thus causing the food to be poorly digested and incompletely absorbed

What are obesity related health issues:

Any surgery entails a certain amount of risk, and complications cannot always be avoided. Therefore, before making the decision to undergo surgery, it is important to consider the following:

Immediate Risks:

• An obese person has a higher risk of complications from anesthesia than a non obese person.
• Possible bleeding
• Pulmonary embolism or blood clots to the lungs
• Pulmonary atelectasis or partial collapse of some segments of the lungs may occur and can develop into pneumonia if not treated properly.

Delayed Complications:

• Wound infection
• Staple line disruption leakage
• Vomiting
• Abdominal abscess
• Small bowel obstruction
• Weight loss failure.

Our Offices & Procedures

We are part of the 365mc`s Obesity Clinic Network located in Seoul, Capital city of Korea. We specialize in the surgical and medical treatment of obesity utilizing new and minimal invasive procedures. We are a unique center specializing in the surgical treatment of morbid obesity in Korea as well as the medical & surgical treatments of obesity including body sculpting procedures. When you call or contact us, we will ask a few questions to determine if you are a candidate for bariatric surgery. If you qualify and you have an appointment to visit our office, you will get several forms to fill out via e-mail or fax. Please bring here with you to your first visit or send them to us by e-mail.

At you first visit, you will meet a bariatric surgeon who will perform a history and physical to determine if you are good candidate for surgery. Certain tests will be ordered according to your own medical needs. We are arranged and scheduled test. You usually take the tests on the same day you visit.

You will be given important pre-op instructions that you must follow to promote a safe surgery and successful weight loss.

Your family can wait in your room and we will contact them as soon as the operation is over. After surgery, you will be started on a liquid diet and remain on this diet for one week. Most patients are in the hospital for less than 72 hours after surgery. You will be up and about at the hospital as soon as awake from anesthesia. It is important that you do as much as walking in the hospital and when you get home. Your post-op visit to the office will be scheduled at the discharge.

We look forward to helping you on your way toward your new life.

Please click here to request additional information from 365mc`s Bariatric Surgery Center

We are completely equipped and specialize in the following Bariatric procedures:

Sleeve Gastrectomy: Sleeve Gastrectomy, also called Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, is a basic and relative new weight loss surgery procedure that the stomach is completely divided with a stapler along the right hand side, leaving a long thin tube down to a normal piece of stomach that is approximately 75 percent of the stomach to create a sleeve-shaped stomach which restricts food intake. The natural pyloric valve between the stomach and intestine is not altered, so it is rare for patients to have food blockage problems. The small stomach creates a sense of fullness early so that only a small amount of food can be taken in at any sitting. However, if the patient eats too fast or takes in too much at one time, vomiting may occur. This procedure does not bypass any intestine, so calorie absorption is not changed. When performed laparoscopically, most patients stay in hospital 3 nights and are back at work in two weeks.

Advantages:

• Technically easy to perform as compared to bypass procedures
• There are no ananstomosis (connection between the intestines) to leak
• Because the duodenum is not bypassed, there is no need for iron supplementation long term
• Relatively rare development of long-term nutritional disturbance
• For patients who are well motivated, this may be all the operation that is needed
• Cost is cheaper than the bypass

Disadvantages:

• No long term large series have been reported so long term results are uncertain
• Some patients may still need a further operation if weight loss is insufficient

Risks: The risks are similar to the bypass

• Pulmonary embolus
• Leakage from staple lines of stomach
• Late formation of gallstones,however, the risk of internal hernia and leakage from an anastomosis are absent.

Adjustable Gastric Band: The Lap-Band weight loss surgery involves placing an adjustable silicone band around the top part of the stomach to create a small upper stomach which restricts the amount of food eaten at one time. All food must pass through the narrowed outlet created by the band before reaching the lower stomach, so patients have a feeling of fullness after eating a small amount of solid food. However, liquids pass easily through the banded area and may wash food through more quickly, so caloric liquids must be avoided and a solid-food only diet is recommended for achieving optimal results. This means that weight loss can be regulated according to your needs and your optimal well-being.
Gastric banding should induce an early feeling of satiety, and decreasing the amount of food intake. The band is able to induce sustainable weight loss, which in turn leads to a healthier lifestyle with less risk of obesity-related secondary diseases. If, however, the gastric band is removed you will most likely quickly regain your lost weight.

At 4 weeks after the surgery, the band may be tightened to increase the feeling of restriction. Thereafter, you will gradually be able to introduce normal food into your diet. ?Most foods will need to be carefully chewed. You should understand that this surgery is not a quick fix. It is always associated with at least some degree of risk. There is also no guarantee of a successful outcome for each and every individual.

Advantages:

• Technically easy to perform as compared to bypass procedures
• There are no ananstomosis (connection between the intestines) to leak
• Because the duodenum is not bypassed, there is no need for iron supplementation long term
• Relatively rare development of long-term nutritional disturbance
• Relative small incidence of operative complications
• Adjustable food amount to pass through stomach

Disadvantages:

• Vomiting or Acid Reflux
• Repeated visit to office for adjustment of filling
• Relatively slow weight loss
• To be possible quickly regain your lost weight when the band is removed

Risks:

• Puncturing the gastric wall with an instrument
• Tearing the spleen causing bleeding
• Puncturing another organ with one of the laparoscopic instruments
• Damaging the band
• Pulmonary embolism
• Pneumonia
• Obstruction by the band requiring revision
• Infection of the device requiring it to be removed
• Bleeding from an abnormal vein in the hiatus requiring urgent open surgery to stop the bleeding.

Gastric  Bypass Roux-en-Y: In recent years, better clinical understanding of procedures combining restrictive and malabsorptive approaches has increased the choices of effective weight loss surgery for thousands of patients. By adding malabsorption, food is delayed in mixing with bile and pancreatic juices that aid in the absorption of nutrients. It is one of the most frequently performed weight loss procedures in the United States. In this procedure, stapling creates a small (15 to 20cc) stomach pouch. The rest of the stomach is bypassed and no longer receives food. The procedure also bypasses a section of the small intestine, which reduces the amount of calories absorbed from food and fluids consumed. The length of bypassed segment of the intestine can be increased to produce lower or higher levels of malabsorption.

Advantages:

• The average excess weight loss is generally higher in a compliant patient compared to purely restrictive procedure
• Studies show that after 10 to 14 years, 50-60% of excess body weight loss has been maintained by some patients

Risk & Complications:

• Anastomotic leak
• Intestinal obstruction
• Bleeding
• Perforation of intestine
• Peritonitis with or without abscess
• Marginal ulcer
• Dumping syndrome
• Requiring life time vitamin & mineral supplement: chronic anemia, osteoporosis

Our confidence of delivering great results & satisfaction to our customers lie completely with our with knowledgeable staff.

Please click here to request additional information from 365mc`s Bariatric Surgery Center

Minyoung Cho, MD, PhD.
Director of Bariatric Surgery Center
Bariatric Surgeon

Dr. Minyoung Cho graduated from the University of Korea in 1989, and received his MD degree from the same university. He completed his general surgery from 1990-1994 and was invited to be a fellow at upper gastrointestinal surgery of Korea University Medical Center from 1997 to 1999. He graduated from postgraduate school of medicine, Korea University in 1997, and received his Ph.D. degree. He completed a fellowship in minimal invasive surgery (laparoscopic surgery) at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York City in 2000. He was invited a fellow at gastric surgery of Yokohama City University, Japan until June 2000. After that, He was appointed to the department of surgery of Korea University as an assistant professor in 2000. He completed his bariatric exchange fellowship at the Bariatric Institute and Minimal Invasive Surgery of Cleveland Clinic Florida, Fl, U.S.A from 2004 to 2006. In 1997 he left the university to set up a private in surgery. Dr. Cho from 1997 until 2003 his major emphasis was the surgical treatment of patients with gastric cancer. After getting back to Korea from Cleveland Clinic Florida, He set up the bariatric surgery and became a director of 365mc`s bariatric surgery center at the 365mc`s obesity clinic network in Seoul, Korea that has nationwide network for obesity treatment. The center is directed by Dr. Cho and utilizes a laparoscopic approach for most patients. The center offers a full service of bariatric care including a dietitian and fitness practitioner. Our center also performs abdominoplasties when appropriate. He has authored many scientific articles for bariatric surgery and treatment of morbidly obese patients published in peer reviewed journals.

Sun Ho Lee, MD.
Vice Director of Bariatric Surgery Center
Bariatric Physician

Jin Mo Ahn, MD.
Co-director of 365mc`s Obesity Clinic Network
Bariatric Anesthesiologist

Please click here to request additional information from 365mc`s Bariatric Surgery Center

If you get a scheduled visit or surgery day, we can arrange and manage your travel for your convenience including accommodations and transportation.