The first step is for you to attend a free information seminar conducted by one of our Bariatric Staff. These seminars are offered weekly at each of our office locations.

If you have decided that weight-loss surgery is for you, then we offer a fast-track session in Middletown, Suffern, Fishkill that includes a review of your history and a physical examination with a Nurse Practitioner, a nutritional evaluation and consultation with a Dietitian, a meeting with our insurance specialist who will go over your specific insurance plan’s coverage, and a meeting with a patient navigator, who will explain all of the pre-operative tests and consultations that you will need. Should you take advantage of the fast-track option, the only cost to you for meeting with all our team members is your co-pay.

The entire process from seminar day to surgery typically takes 2-6 months.

Many insurance companies now require a 3-6 month period of supervised medical weight loss.

We highly recommend that you attend at least 2 of our support groups before surgery. We have several scheduled group meetings each week, at different times and locations.

Our program strongly encourages a 5% pre-operative weight loss to decrease your risk of surgery, and also to get a head start on your weight loss journey. A few insurance companies require a 5% weight loss. Be assured that our team will assist you with this.

Our team of professionals is here to assist you with meeting these requirements. We view this as an opportunity to help you get fully prepared for major changes in your diet and lifestyle that will greatly increase your chances for long-term success.

Most insurance companies now cover weight-loss surgery for severely obese patients.

Each insurance plan has its own specific set of requirements.

Our insurance specialist can assist you in all matters regarding your insurance.

If you do not have insurance or find out that your plan does not cover weight-loss surgery, we offer attractive finance programs that can be custom tailored to your needs.

All three procedures require very similar significant changes in food choices, portion sizes, and eating techniques to achieve successful weight loss. Each surgery provides a different type of tool to assist with weight loss.

The Sleeve Gastrectomy is a restrictive bariatric surgery. The restriction comes from the new size of the stomach which is 2/3 smaller. The stomach will hold about 2 to 3 ounces of food. The new smaller stomach allows a person to eat a smaller amount of food to feel satiated. A decrease in physical hunger occurs because a large part of the stomach is removed from the body, reducing the level of Ghrelin, a hunger-promoting hormone produced in the stomach tissue.

The Lap-Band is a very safe, effective, and reversible surgical tool to assist patients with weight loss and maintenance of their weight loss. The properly adjusted band reduces physical hunger and provides satiety with small meals.

The Lap-Band® is a very safe, effective, and reversible surgical tool to assist patients with weight loss and maintenance of their weight loss. The properly adjusted band reduces physical hunger and provides satiety with small meals.

The Gastric Bypass causes both restriction and some malabsorption of food. The restriction comes from the small size of the new stomach pouch. The malabsorption comes from the food bypassing a portion of the small intestine (the duodenum and a portion of the jejunum), so fewer calories and nutrients are absorbed.

Our professional staff can assist you in deciding which procedure is right for you.

• The Lap-Band surgery takes about 30 minutes.
• The Sleeve Gastrectomy takes about 45 minutes.
• The Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y takes about 75 minutes.

Most patients having Lap-Band surgery are discharged on the same day.

Most patients having the Sleeve Gastrectomy are discharged the day after surgery.

Most patients having Gastric Bypass surgery are discharged on the second post-operative day. Some patients have been discharged on the first post-operative day.

Depending upon the nature of your work, you may return to work in 1-3 weeks.

If you have a light, sedentary job, then you should be able to return in 1 week.

If your work entails heavy physical activity, then you may return in 3 weeks.

We encourage as much physical activity as you can tolerate comfortably after surgery.

The first 5 days after surgery, you should have 3 ounces an hour of sugar-free, fat-free clear liquids.

During the next 2 weeks, you should only have low-calorie protein drinks and an additional 64 ounces of sugar-free, fat-free clear liquids.

Subsequently, our dietitians will see you every 2 weeks to guide you through the semi-solid and solid foods, until you are comfortably adjusted to your new food choices, portion sizes, and eating technique.

Once you have advanced to solid foods, we continue to encourage you to make proper food choices, which include lean proteins, such as fish, chicken, egg whites, and appropriate protein drinks, fresh vegetables, and fresh fruit. We discourage all forms of sugars and carbohydrates not present in vegetables and fruits.

Generally, patients that strictly follow our dietary guidance can expect to lose approximately 2-3 lbs per week.

Moderate exercise can increase weight loss by an additional pound a week.

Introducing sugars, carbohydrates, and fats can significantly slow or stop weight loss.

Patients that undergo the gastric bypass surgery will generally lose weight more quickly due to the greater restriction they experience and due to the malabsorption imposed by the bypassing of the first part of the small intestine. It is very important for gastric bypass patients to consume enough protein and additional supplements to avoid deficiencies.

All patients will be seen by the surgeon on the 5th – 10th postoperative day.

Subsequently, patients will be seen every two weeks by our dietitians and/or nurse practitioners for several visits.

Once you and our staff are comfortable with your mastery of proper food choices, portion sizes, and eating technique, and are seeing a satisfactory weight loss in progress, then the recommended frequency of visits is once a month.

After reaching your weight loss goal, we encourage you to visit us at 3-month intervals to monitor your maintenance of weight and address any potential nutritional deficiencies.