Comprehensive Options for Effective Obesity Management

Ragui Sadek, MD, Chief of Bariatric Surgery at RWJBarnabas Health, gives an overview of the Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery program which has changed the lives of thousands of patients across New Jersey. As one of the best weight loss programs in the nation, the Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery program at RWJBH uses the most advanced technologies and experienced surgeons to help patients lose weight and gain back their freedom.

Discover Your Bariatric Surgery Options for Sustainable Weight Management

Many people struggle with their weight, but in some cases, lifestyle changes aren't enough to counter adverse health effects of obesity. Today there are more weight loss options than ever before, from nonsurgical weight loss options including Orbera, a gastric balloon that helps you lose weight by enforcing portion control, to prescription medications to bariatric surgery. These options help people lose the weight they need to stabilize their health and transform their lives.

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Bariatric Surgery

Weight loss surgery — also known as bariatric surgery — involves reducing the size of the patient's stomach. This means that they will feel full sooner, eat less, and with the help of other lifestyle changes, reduce their weight.

There are two types of bariatric surgical procedures: restrictive and malabsorptive. Restrictive surgery reduces the size of the stomach. Malabsorptive procedures reduce the body’s ability to absorb nutrients.

For adults who have not had success with nonsurgical weight loss options, RWJBarnabas Health provides various surgical procedures that are clinically proven to help people lose the weight they need to stabilize their health and transform their lives.

Our facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art surgical robotic technology for bariatric surgery that offers patients the benefits of a reduced risk of infection, shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery time than with traditional surgery. The introduction of robotic-assisted surgical systems has revolutionized general and bariatric surgery and created an intuitive approach to complex surgery. This technology has enabled our surgeons to perform delicate operations through only a few small incisions with greater surgical precision, increased range of motion, improved dexterity, enhanced visualization and improved access.

If you are interested in weight loss surgery options, our friendly, knowledgeable team is ready to assist you.

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Types of Bariatric Surgery We Offer

Our expert bariatric surgeons specialize in a range of procedures from gastric banding to the innovative Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, ensuring high success rates. Some of the surgical procedures we provide include:

  • Gastric banding. Gastric band surgery works by reducing the size of the stomach, making the patient feel full from less food.
  • Gastric bypass. A small pouch is made in the stomach which can make the patient feel fuller more quickly. The lower end of the small intestine is attached to this pouch, which allows food to bypass most of the small intestine. This prevents the small intestine from absorbing excessive nutrients.
  • Gastric sleeve surgery. Also called sleeve gastrectomy. A surgeon uses staples to divide the stomach vertically and remove 60 to 80 percent of it. By creating a smaller stomach, the stomach fills more quickly, and the person feels satisfied from eating less food.
  • Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. This is a form of gastric bypass surgery in which the small intestine is redirected to bypass the larger portion of the stomach and a portion of the small intestine so that the body absorbs fewer calories and nutrients. The new structure forms the shape of the letter Y.
  • Loop duodenal switch. A combination of two bariatric procedures combines the restrictive sleeve gastrectomy with a duodenal switch procedure. This procedure reroutes food so that it bypasses a significant portion of the small bowel, preventing the body from absorbing too many calories and nutrients.
  • Revisional surgery. When bariatric surgeries fail to result in adequate weight loss or when there is a complication from an initial bariatric procedure, surgeons may have to do a revisional procedure to improve or correct the outcome.

Medical Weight Loss

Weight loss medications have proven to be effective in helping people who have had difficulty losing weight in the past. Some medications regulate hormones that control appetite, so you will consume fewer calories. Others regulate blood sugar levels, making you feel full, and helping with overall weight management. Some medications you may have heard of are Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, and Mounjaro. Talk with your doctor about whether medical weight loss is right for you.

A Multidisciplinary Team of Experts on Your Side

Our weight loss centers offer a comprehensive approach to weight loss and bariatric surgery, and our physicians and counselors can help you identify and establish the lifestyle changes you need to make your weight loss surgery a success. Our multidisciplinary team includes:

  • Bariatric surgeons
  • Gastroenterologists
  • Bariatric coordinator
  • Nutritionists
  • Exercise physiologists
  • Clinical psychologists

At RWJBarnabas Health, we realize that weight loss is a journey, not a destination. We understand that the struggle with obesity is often complex. Obesity can be influenced by family history, physiological, environmental, socioeconomic and psychological factors.

Effective, successful weight loss requires lifelong changes and commitment.

Comprehensive Care

We make a long-term commitment to our patients' health by offering a comprehensive treatment plan. Our comprehensive approach makes RWJBarnabas Health stand out from other programs. If you decide that weight loss surgery might be right for you, you will be guided through pre-surgery consultations, surgery, recovery and post-surgery support programs.

We will be with you every step of the way.

Our free informational seminars offer those considering bariatric surgery an informative, convenient, and understanding environment in which to learn about surgical options.

Our post-surgical care and support result in an ongoing relationship to promote a long-term successful outcome for each person.

Award-Winning and Accredited Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery Care

ACS Surgical Quality Partner, MBSAQIP Metabolic and Bariatric Accreditation

As an award-winning hospital system, RWJBarnabas Health has received numerous accreditations and recognitions from state and national organizations. Our Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery program has been awarded accreditation by The American College of Surgeons. This accreditation program, known as MBSAQIP (Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program) certifies that our program has met standards of the MBSAQIP by providing high-quality and patient-centered care.

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Weight Loss Treatments

Delivering Advanced Weight Loss Treatments Right Here in New Jersey

RWJBarnabas health offers comprehensive and leading-edge treatments for obesity, from nutritional consultation to medications to bariatric surgery.

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Find the Right Doctor for Your Care

RWJBarnabas Health offers you the ability to book appointments online or via the MyChart app on your phone.

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Patient Stories

  • “You are transforming the lives of people who feel lost because of their weight. I’ve found the joy of living again.”

    Vera
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  • "I'm proud to say that I am down 160 lbs, and I feel incredible."

    Pam
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  • “My wife, Patty, said it was the best decision she ever heard me make.”

    Walter
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Patient Stories

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(973) 322-7000
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Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery Treatment & Care

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