St. Francis LifeCare Surgery and Advanced
Weight Loss
Dedicated to the treatment of severe obesity, the St. Francis LifeCare
Surgery and Advanced Weight Loss team provides innovative,
comprehensive and compassionate care for patients undergoing
weight loss surgery. The Bariatric team represents a combination
of training, expertise and recognition unique and unparalleled in
Mercer County and throughout the State of New Jersey. With three
full time surgeons on staff and a complete multidisciplinary approach,
the St. Francis LifeCare Surgery and Advanced Weight Loss program
provides the best bariatric surgical care available.
St. Francis Center for Advanced Weight Loss, our Bariatric Surgery
Program at St. Francis Medical Center, provides obese and morbidly
obese patients with non-surgical and surgical options to
help achieve their weight loss goals and improve the quality of their
lives.
Louis G. Fares II, M.D. Board Certified Surgeon with years of surgical
experience and 25 years laparoscopic expertise, lead this comprehensive
program. Bariatric surgeon Peter Benotti M.D. provides both
experience in bariatric surgery and advanced laparoscopic skills
to the surgical team. Valerie Batezel, MSN, BSN, RN, CBN, ANP, FNP,
BC coordinates the team approach in guiding each individual patient
through the pre and post-operative process. A unique feature of our
program is the comprehensive nutritional counseling and behavior
modification program that patients go through during both the preoperative
and postoperative process. John Bock MS, RD, CNSD specializes in
the individual nutritional needs of patients that are overweight
and obese and guides their behaviors before and after surgery.
- LifeCare Surgery and Advanced Weight Loss uniquely provides
patients with:
- A 6-month preoperative multidisciplinary behavior modification
program that is second to none
- A comprehensive preoperative workup for all patients
- Monthly support group sessions for patients and their families
- Individualized postoperative care to motivate patients in
achieving their behavioral, diet, and exercise goals.
We have updated our outpatient and inpatient facilities with state-of-the-art
equipment to specifically care for our patients. Surgical
options offered include Laparoscopic or Open Roux-en-Y Gastric
Bypass and Laparoscopic Gastric Banding.
Medical problems associated with obesity such as diabetes, high
blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea and osteoarthritis can
be improved or resolved after weight loss surgery. Talk with your
primary care physician if you wish to have a consultation to begin
your road to successful weight loss.
The Impact and the Effects of Obesity
The health factors that are associated with obesity are alarming.
Despite increasing national and local attention, the epidemic
of obesity in our country continues to increase:
- About 94 million adults in the United States are either overweight
or obese.
- In New Jersey, 20-24% of our population is obese.
Overweight and obesity are proven risk factors for:
- Diabetes
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Hyperlipidemia
- Stroke
- Hypertension
- Gallbladder disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Sleep Apnea and other respiratory illness
- Certain Cancers: uterine, breast, colorectal, kidney, and gallbladder
Obesity is also associated with:
- Complications of pregnancy
- Menstrual irregularities
- Urinary stress incontinence
- Psychological disorders (depression)
- Increased surgical risk
- Increased risk of death
Treatment of Obesity
The awareness of these health risks, the poor quality of life,
and the excessive costs associated with obesity have led to increased
attention to prevention and treatment of this problem.
- Diet, behavior modification, and exercise strategies
have been developed and proven effective for short term weight
control. Unfortunately for the majority of patients, diet and exercise
treatments in severe obesity are not as effective.
- Bariatric Surgery has evolved since its origin
in the 1970’s and became an accepted treatment for life threatening
obesity in 1991. Now bariatric surgical procedures are the treatment
of choice for patients that are severely obese and have failed
more conservative treatments. Current bariatric surgical procedures
produce long term weight control with minimal complication rates.
Surgical weight loss improves health by:
- Resolution or improvement in diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea,
hyperlipidemia, joint problems, coronary artery disease
- Marked reductions in cardiovascular disease risk factors
- Reducing mortality
Do I qualify for bariatric surgery?
The National Institutes of Health has developed recommendations
for patients seeking bariatric surgery. These requirements are as
follows:
- BMI 35 - 40 with a significant weight related health problem
Significant weight loss may help to improve hypertension, diabetes, sleep
apnea, and many other obesity-related problems. If you suffer from one
of these problems, you may benefit from weight loss surgery. Remember that
your BMI is only one factor in the decision to have weight loss surgery.
Other factors such as your overall medical condition and age are also considered
before deciding if you’ll make a good candidate for weight loss surgery.
- BMI over 40
With a BMI over 40, you are considered severely obese. This category of weight
puts you at increased risk for multiple health problems, or co-morbidities,
that people with obesity face. It is unlikely you will be able to permanently
lose a substantial amount of weight by dieting and exercise alone. Weight
loss surgery may be an option for you.
- Calculate your BMI http://www.stayinginshape.com/5libc/libv/d15.shtml#
We have developed a "patient-driven" support group and
informational session for potential surgical candidates and patients
that have already undergone bariatric surgery. The topics covered
during the monthly meetings include: eating behaviors, general weight
loss strategies, exercise, vitamin therapy and discussion on life
after bariatric surgery. The meeting takes place on the last Tuesday
of each month at the Crean Hall Auditorium located in the School
of Nursing at St. Francis Medical Center. This gives our patients
the opportunity to help others and discuss topics associated with
their experiences. For questions regarding support group times and
location, contact us at 609-581-6060.
New Patient Seminars
Weekly seminars for new patients are scheduled each Wednesday by
appointment only. Please call (609) 581-6060 to schedule an appointment
or for additional information.
