Tidelands Health launches comprehensive weight-loss program

Aug. 28, 2024
Contact: Dawn Bryant
Tidelands Health
(843) 652-1636
dbryant@tidelandshealth.org
 
News for Immediate Release:

Tidelands Health launches comprehensive weight-loss program
Individuals with obesity who have struggled to lose weight and keep it off can benefit from a comprehensive program at Tidelands Health designed to help patients reach their health goals and improve quality of life.
A team of experts at Tidelands Health is dedicated to working with individuals to discuss options for losing weight, including weight-loss surgery.
Providers work closely with patients to determine the best weight-loss approach based on each patient’s individual needs and health goals. Patients will benefit from the expertise and support provided by a team of surgeons, nutritionists, cardiologists and other specialists.
“Our expert team recognizes that obesity is a disease, and maintaining a healthy weight is difficult for many people,” said Dr. Sara Shields Tarwater, a board-certified and fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon at Tidelands Health. “But individuals don’t have to continue to suffer, and they don’t have to do it alone. We work closely with patients through every step of the weight-loss journey, providing expertise and support, so they can reach their goals and enjoy the healthy lives they deserve.”
If health goals cannot be achieved and sustained through nutrition, exercise or other conservative measures, weight-loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, will likely help. Procedures such as gastric sleeve and gastric bypass change the way a body metabolizes food and controls hunger.
At Tidelands Health, board-certified surgeons perform these procedures using a minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery system that supports smaller incisions with more precision than traditional surgical approaches. The technology also speeds recovery.
Many insurance plans cover the costs of these procedures because they are proven to be effective, with the weight loss sustainable long term.
“Weight-loss surgery is life-changing for people who have struggled to lose weight and keep it off,” said Dr. James Givens, a board-certified surgeon with more than four decades of experience. “Patients not only lose weight -- weight-related conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea improve or are cured. Overall quality of life drastically improves through better health and mobility gained through weight-loss surgery.”
Sharon Abee, 68, lost 141 pounds after gastric sleeve surgery at Tidelands Health. No longer having to rely on a walker, Abee relishes her new mobility and range of movement, from getting in and out of the pool with ease to crossing her legs when she sits – things she couldn’t do before the procedure.
“I have noticed that my energy level has just exploded. I can go and do things I haven’t been able to do,” Abee said. “I felt a self-confidence that I hadn’t felt in a long, long time.” Learn more about Abee’s journey is a video here.
Individuals interested in learning more about weight-loss options can go to tidelandshealth.org or call 1-866-TIDELANDS to schedule an appointment.
###
About Tidelands Health
Tidelands Health, in collaboration with MUSC Health, is the region’s largest health care provider, serving the Carolinas at four hospitals and more than 70 outpatient locations. More than 2,500 employee, physician and volunteer partners work side by side with our communities to transform the health of our region – promoting wellness, preventing illness, encouraging recovery and restoring health.