Have you tried to shed the pounds and keep them off? For some people, a combination of diet and exercise is the best way to lose weight but it doesn't work for everyone. Our nationally recognized physicians can help you determine if surgical weight loss is the right option for you.
What Surgical Options are Available?
Weight loss surgery is also called bariatric or gastrointestinal surgery. The procedure can be a life-saving option for those with severe obesity (100 pounds overweight or more). Our surgeons may also recommend the operation if you suffer from a weight related health problem, such as type-2 diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, high blood pressure or other ailments.
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Laparoscopic Gastric bypass surgery involves reducing the size of the stomach's normal volume from approximately one gallon to a few ounces. In recent years, great strides have been made in using laparoscopic (minimally invasive) surgery, which involves much smaller incisions, often resulting in shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery.
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Laparoscopic Lap band surgery offers patients a tool to restrict intake and affect weight loss as well by sectioning off the stomach as opposed to actually changing the size through laparoscopic (minimally invasive) surgery. Patients who have the surgery lose weight because they simply cannot eat as much food comfortably.
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Sapala Micropouch® gastric bypass system, the only patented gastric bypass in the United Stated, was developed by Lutheran's own James Sapala, M. D. , F. A. C. S. The Sapala Micropouch gastric bypass procedure is the result of lessons learned over many years in thousands of patients. This procedure reduces the stomach to the size to about the size of a grape. To date, no patient with a Micropouch® has required revision (surgical reversal) because of complications.
Meet our surgeons
Lutheran Medical Center Surgical Weight Loss Institute's skilled bariatric surgeons, George S. Ferzli, M.D., F.A.C.S., James Sapala, M. D. F. A. C. S., and Armando E. Castro, M.D., F.A.C.S., lead a trained team in multidisciplinary approaches to provide a fully comprehensive weight loss program to patients.
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Dr. Ferzli is a nationally recognized leader in minimally invasive surgery. He is currently chairman of the Department of Surgery at Lutheran Medical Center, a professor of surgery at SUNY and is board certified and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Ferzli has been featured in New York Magazine for the past nine years also listed as one of the top 100 surgeons in the country. He has performed more than 10,000 laparoscopic (small incision) procedures. Additionally, he is the holder of five patents in art and science of surgery as well as, a publisher of more than 100 peer review articles and twelve medical textbooks. To reach Dr. Ferzli call 718-630-THIN (8446). |
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Dr. Sapala is an accomplished surgeon and considered a "pioneer" by many experts in the field of bariatric surgery. As an expert in weight loss surgery he has contributed to more than 50 peer review articles as well as two chapters in surgical textbooks. He is board certified and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Additionally, Dr. Sapala is the physician founder of the Centers for Obesity Related Illness. Dr. Sapala developed the Sapala Micropouch® gastric bypass operation, which is the only U.S., patented gastric bypass in America. Dr. Sapala has performed this unique form of gastric bypass procedure more than 4,000 times in the last 12 years. To reach Dr. Sapala call 718-630-7522. |
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Dr. Castro is a fully trained board certified general surgeon and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is the vice chair of Department of Surgery and chief of Minimally Invasive Surgery at Lutheran Medical Center. To reach Dr. Castro call 718-630-THIN (8446). |
Click on "Find a Physician" to make an appointment with one of our bariatric surgeons.
Lutheran's Surgical Weight Loss Institute is the only center in Brooklyn to be designated as a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery while also holding a Level 1 accreditation from the American College of Surgeons. This means that patients (including those using Medicare) can be reimbursed for this life-saving surgery at a medical center with one of the highest standards of quality. Lutheran's Surgical Weight Loss Institute is also the only bariatric center credentialed by Aetna in New York, New Jersey and Staten Island.
Our Surgical Weight Loss Institute has been designated a center of excellence from the following insurance companies, Aetna, CIGNA, Blue Cross Blue Shield & HIP Health Plan of New York.
