Bariatric Surgeons in New Jersey
At Mountainside Medical Center, we understand that weight loss surgery is a big decision that can change your life. That’s why our bariatric doctors are prepared to answer your questions and offer you support every step of the way on your weight loss journey. We offer weight loss seminars and a variety of surgical treatments, including gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy, for patients who are eligible for bariatric surgery. Whenever possible, we also offer minimally invasive techniques and laparoscopic surgery to help reduce scarring and speed up recovery times.
Preoperative Weight Loss Evaluations
When diet, exercise and medication aren’t working, weight loss surgery may be an option for treating obesity. Research from The American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery shows that patients may lose as much as 60% of excess weight six months after weight loss surgery, and up to 77% of excess weight a year after surgery. The majority of patients also see comorbidities like diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and sleep apnea decrease or go away altogether after weight loss surgery.
You may be eligible for weight loss surgery if your body mass index (BMI) is higher than 40. If you have serious health conditions like diabetes or heart disease, bariatric surgery may be beneficial if your BMI is between 35 and 40. Patients with a BMI below 35 do not qualify for weight loss surgery.
If you’d like to learn more about bariatric surgery, attending a free seminar is a great place to start. Click here to browse our seminars.
Weight Loss Surgeries We Offer
There are two types of weight loss surgery: restrictive procedures and malabsorptive procedures. Restrictive procedures aim to decrease your food intake by reducing the size of the stomach. Malabsorptive procedures bypass a portion of the food directly to the small intestines, limiting the amount of nutrients the body absorbs.
At Mountainside Medical Center, our skilled surgeons are trained to perform various bariatric surgical procedures. Whenever possible, your doctor will perform surgeries laparoscopically or using minimally-invasive techniques.
We offer the following weight loss surgeries:
- Gastric band (LAP Band) — During this restrictive procedure, a silicone band is placed around the top of the stomach. This creates a small pouch and a narrow passageway into the rest of the stomach, which limits the amount of food you can consume. The band is then inflated with a saline solution. When food enters the pouch, it slowly empties into the rest of your stomach. Liquid passes through the narrow passageway and denser foods are delayed from passing through. Adjustments to the gastric band occur six to eight weeks after your surgery, and as needed thereafter. This procedure is fully reversible.
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass — This combined restrictive and malabsorptive procedure is the current gold standard procedure for weight loss surgery. During this procedure, the surgeon will separate the upper and lower portions of the stomach to create a small pouch. This pouch restricts the amount of food you can consume, which helps you feel full from smaller portions.
- Sleeve gastrectomy – During this restrictive procedure, the left side of the stomach is removed, leaving it smaller and roughly the size and shape of a banana. The nerves to the stomach and the outlet valve remain intact to preserve the function of the stomach while greatly reducing its volume.
After your surgery, our bariatric doctors will connect you with various resources, including support groups, dieticians, and other forms of follow-up care, to ensure you achieve your long-term weight loss goals.
Insurance Coverage for Weight Loss Surgery
If you are considering bariatric surgery, you will need to call your insurance company to verify your plan includes bariatric benefits for the treatment of morbid obesity.
You will need the following information from your insurance company:
- Does your plan cover bariatric services and surgery, or is it an exclusion or only covered if life-threatening (meaning they do not cover bariatric surgery)?
- If your plan covers bariatric services and surgery, you will need to know what pre-surgical requirements are necessary to qualify for surgery. For example, Medicaid requires six consecutive months of medical weight management and psychological evaluation.
- What is your portion of the cost? Confirm how much your insurance will cover for the procedure.
In case you need to contact your insurance company again, write down the name of the representative you spoke to, as well as a reference number for the call.
Here are the specific codes your insurance company may request:
- ICD code of obesity E66.01
- CPT code for sleeve 43775
- CPT code for bypass 43644
Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories
Deana Sroka, Age 45
Gastric Sleeve, April 2014
Total weight loss to date: *152 pounds
What’s your history with diet and exercise?
When I was young, I was a competitive figure skater and never thought in a million years that I would end up overweight. But once I stopped training, the weight slowly crept on. I didn’t just wake up one day and weigh 300 pounds; it was 20 years in the making, ten pounds a year.
When did you realize you had to make a change?
I was tired of being tired. It was getting harder and harder to do my job. To live my life. I wanted to set a good example for my daughter. And deep down I knew that 300-pound woman wasn’t me.
Why did you feel like surgery was the only option?
I knew I had the potential to lose the weight and get healthy, but I needed help to control my eating and make better choices. I knew that if I was going to do something as drastic and life altering as the surgery, I had to be really committed.
What did you learn at Dr. Strom’s introductory seminar that surprised you?
Before that seminar I had no idea how nutritionally deprived I was. I ate too much, but there was no nutrition, and I felt terrible. I just thought that was how I felt. I didn’t understand that it was a physiological reaction to the foods I ate.
Once you decided to have the procedure, what was the process like?
It was absolutely amazing. I feel like I have a support system there, I can call whenever I want, I can call the nutritionist with questions about diet and vitamins. They are VERY accessible. And I like the group meetings, too. I go whenever I can.
How is life different today?
Now I’m a new and improved Deana. My friends love the change because I’m more fun to be around. I have tons of energy. I exercise all the time. My husband and I run together. My competitive spirit is back—I live for race day, crossing the finish line, and getting my finisher medal.
What would you tell a friend considering this surgery?
I tell them I wish I’d done it fifteen years sooner. It’s life changing. And my life is so much better now.
*Results may vary based on a variety of factors.
Milka Ortiz, Age 31
Gasteric Sleeve, November 2014
Total weight loss to date: *101 pounds
What’s your history with diet and exercise?
After I had my first child and started taking birth control, I started to gain weight. So I joined Weight Watchers. But I’d lose the weight, then I’d gain it right back. Lose it, then gain it back again. And it was very hard to stay motivated.
Were you experiencing other health issues?
Yes, I had high cholesterol, swollen ankles, aches and pains in my legs and back.
What was the process leading up to surgery like?
I saw a nutritionist for six months before the surgery, so I learned a lot of behaviors I didn’t know before. Portion control, exercise, that it’s better not to eat and drink at the same time.
How was your experience at Mountainside?
They are a great team. I can call anytime with any concerns. I had some gallbladder issues that slowed my recovery, and they were very attentive to my concerns. They are the best team ever for this kind of surgery.
What would you say to a friend considering this surgery?
I would tell them to do their research first and be serious about it. It’s not just about looking pretty, you need to be doing it for health reasons. And you have to be ready and willing to change your behavior.
How has your diet changed since the procedure?
It’s very easy to control my portions now. I have a small stomach. I eat off a smaller plate. I eat protein first, then vegetables, then starches, which helps me a lot.
What else has changed?
Going shopping is interesting. I’ve forgotten and gone to the plus size section to shop, because I’m not used to my smaller body yet. I have clothes from when I was 17 and they’re too big!
And your life overall? How are you doing?
Once I got the surgery, I was already doing a lot better. Now I feel a lot lighter. And I can run now—I couldn’t do that before. I feel great, and I don’t worry that I’m going to have diabetes or high blood pressure. This is a great option for health.
Craig Smith, Age 58
Gastric Sleeve, July 2014
Total weight loss to date: *132 Pounds
What’s your history with diet and exercise?
I was always a big guy, but I was in good shape, and I carried my weight well. But in the ten years post-college I gained 40 pounds, and then I got married. I weighed 240 when I got married. Then the kids came along—that’s when I really started to put it on. I was 347 pounds when I decided to have the sleeve procedure.
How was your weight affecting your quality of life and your health?
When you get that heavy, doing anything—walking, going up a flight of stairs—is really difficult. My hip started bothering me, then my knee.
Then my cholesterol increased and my blood sugar got up to 149 (150 is Type 2 Diabetes). My blood pressure was 140/90. I had sleep apnea, which makes you extremely tired.
What prompted you to consider weight loss surgery?
A year and a half ago, I went for my checkup and the doctor said everything looked fine. But then a week later, the nurse called and said the doctor wanted to see me back in his office. I thought, “this is it—the call I’ve been dreading.” He said he was calling me back in as a friend and told me about Dr. Strom’s seminar. That was the wakeup call I needed.
What made you realize surgery was the right choice for you?
I had tried different diets many, many times over the years. I thought it was simply poor choices or a lack of willpower on my part, but Dr. Strom really helped me see that when you’re obese, there are many factors working against you that are largely outside of your control.
How long did it take you to recover from surgery?
It was quick. I had no complications. I went in at 7:30 a.m., and I was in recovery by 8:45. Home within two days, and within a week I was riding my bike.
And now that over a year has passed?
I have been back to my college weight for the past eight months. My blood pressure, my cholesterol, my blood sugar, my vitamin levels—all great. Sleep apnea—gone. I’m not sweating all the time. I have energy. I can be active. It’s the best thing I could have done for my health.
Weight loss success statistics
According to the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, patients typically experience the most significant weight loss within 1-2 years following bariatric surgery, with many losing up to 60% of their excess weight within six months and 77% within the first year. Even five years post-surgery, patients often maintain an average of 50% of their excess weight loss.
Additionally, the majority of bariatric surgery patients see significant improvements in obesity-related conditions such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea, with many experiencing complete remission of these diseases. Studies also indicate that bariatric surgery can reduce a patient’s risk of premature death by 30-50%, and it is considered as safe or safer than other commonly performed surgeries in the U.S., such as gallbladder surgery, appendectomy, and knee replacement.