Weight Reduction (Bariatric) Surgery

The National Center for Health Statistics reports that 63% of Americans are overweight, and more than 30% are obese or morbidly obese.  For African Americans and Hispanic Americans, the statistics are even worse. 

In addition to the social stigma and self-esteem issues attached to being severely overweight, obesity is linked to serious health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, lung/respiratory disease, osteoarthritis, some forms of cancer, depression and more.  Obesity—and obesity-related health problems—are blamed for over 300,000 deaths in the United States every year. 

The facts are sobering, and knowing the risks is important.  But information isn't always enough to help you make the changes needed to get—and stay—on the right track.

A multidisciplinary, holistic, approach to permanent weight loss

Montefiore's Center for Weight Reduction Surgery understands what you've been through.  We know how hard you've tried...we know that weight loss and weight management is often a lifelong battle...and we're here with help.  With an expert, multidisciplinary team that includes top physicians, surgeons, psychiatrists, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, physician's assistants and nurse practitioners—many of whom are native Hispanic—we address your issues professionally, holistically and compassionately.  Our goal is permanent success.

Because weight reduction surgery is just the first step on your journey, all of our patients undergo comprehensive education to help prepare for life before and after your procedure.  Our team works closely with you to create a fully customized, personalized plan based on your history, your health, and your habits that will maximize your chances of long-term success.  Your plan of care will include nutritional and exercise counseling, behavior modification, stress reduction techniques, weight gain prevention, close monitoring of your physical and psychological health, and even support for your family and other loved ones.

Reducing risk with minimally invasive techniques

At Montefiore, we now perform virtually all of our gastric bypass procedures using minimally invasive surgery. This method lets us operate via a small incision in the abdominal wall.  Benefits to our patients are many, including significantly less pain and scarring, faster recovery and prevention of post-operative complications associated with traditional surgery.
 

Designated Center of Excellence by the American College of Surgeons

Montefiore has been designated a Center of Excellence in Bariatric Surgery by the American College of Surgeons. We specialize in advanced laparoscopic, minimally invasive bariatric obesity surgery, and have extensive experience in the most effective surgical weight reduction techniques, including laparoscopic and open gastric bypass surgery, laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, and sleeve gastrectomy.

Proven techniques...proven results

Thanks to our expertise and multidisciplinary approach, Montefiore is uniquely equipped to handle even the most complicated weight-management cases. We have vast experience in treating patients at the extremes of obesity, once considered too risky for surgery.

Following gastric bypass surgery, most patients lose an average of one-third of their initial weight during the first 12 to 18 months. In addition, the vast majority of obesity-related health conditions are improved or resolved.

Montefiore's Center for Weight Reduction Surgery is led by Diego R. Camacho, MD, FACS, who also is Director of Minimally Invasive and Laparoscopic General Surgery at Montefiore Medical Center and Assistant Professor of Surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.  In addition to his expertise in advanced laparoscopic and bariatric obesity surgery, Dr. Camacho is a pioneer in single incision laparoscopic surgery for procedures such as cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal).

 

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