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Thursday, September 13, 2012

Welcome to Our New Home

We have exciting news to share: We have officially opened our new office!

It’s located right across from Hudson Valley Hospital Center in Cortlandt Manor and is designed to serve all of Westchester photoCounty. Our new address: 1985 Crompound Road, Building C, Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567.

It’s our fourth New York Bariatric Group location. We also have offices in New Hyde Park, Port Jefferson and Manhattan.

We think you will find our new office to be warm and inviting. It has two rooms for physician consultations, two examining rooms and our main room, which is equipped with a TV and guest Wi-Fi. We also have free parking right in front of our building.

The most important feature: our compassionate and warm-hearted staff. In addition to Jackie Aldas, our receptionist, and Monica Mimoso, our Assistant Director of Physician Relations and Marketing, three surgeons will be on hand to meet with patients on Wednesdays and Thursdays:

  • Dr. Shawn Garber, who helped develop the single incision lap-band and sleeve gastrectomy techniques and teaches other surgeons around the country. You may have seen Dr. Garber on TV. He has been on The Dr. Oz Show, Good Morning America, Montel Williams, ABC News and NBC News. He is widely recognized as a leader in our field.
  • Dr. Galo Grijalva, who received his training at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in Brooklyn, before joining the U.S. Air Force, which gave him the opportunity to co-found a comprehensive bariatric surgery program and train with one of the country’s pioneers in anti-reflux surgery, Dr. Charles Filipe. Dr. Grijalva has more than 14 years of experience in advanced minimally invasive surgery.
  • Dr. Eric Sommer, who created the first bariatric program in southeastern Connecticut at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London. He trained at Boston Medical Center and completed a fellowship in advanced laparoscopic, bariatric and robotic surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center under the direction of world renowned surgeon Dr. Garth Ballantyne.

In addition to our in-office consultations, we will be holding monthly seminars at the Hudson Valley Hospital Center in the Wagner Conference Room.

Our new location is part of our commitment to be there when and where you need us.

No matter where you live in the New York area, if diets and exercise have not worked for you, we invite you to make an appointment to see one of our surgeons at a location near you by calling (516) 616-5500 or, if you prefer, click on “Live Chat” in the upper left corner of your screen to have a conversation now.

There’s no time better than now to take the right steps toward a healthier future.

Category: Weight Loss

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Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Think of It as a Life Changer

There are a couple of ways to think about weight-loss surgery.

You can view it as something that will change your size — but that’s only part of the story.

The real truth is it’s something that will change your life.

Surgery alone is not the answer to better health. The operation is a catalyst. It’s the launching point for an all-new way of living — and eating.

It’s a big step. And it’s important to have the right mindset before taking it. The surgery will force you to create new eating habits. Your stomach will be smaller, so you will get fuller faster. As a result, it will be more important than ever to make smart food choices.

Scan this series of blogs, and you will find the stories of several patients who have taken the big step. They have all learned a new way of eating. They’re taking in far less, but they say they don’t feel deprived. In fact, the most common comment among them is, “I wish I did it sooner.”

All surgery is a risk. But living with morbid obesity can be riskier. Chances of serious illness of various kinds multiply with excess weight.

Mindset is a critical factor in weight-loss surgery. Are you ready for a new life?

So if you’re thinking about taking the big step, here’s our advice: don’t view about it as a way to change your size. It’s much more than that. It changes …

  • your vitality
  • your diet
  • your physical capabilities
  • your attitude
  • how others view you

… in short, it changes your entire life.

Your next step? Here are three options:

1) Attend one of our free informational seminars. You’ll hear from our surgeons and our patients about the important things you need to know. You can sign up through this website.

2) Make an appointment to see one of our surgeons by calling (516) 616-5500.

3) Click on “Live Chat” in the upper left corner of your screen to have a conversation now.

You don’t have to face this challenge alone. Before and after your surgery, we are here to help you.

Category: Expert Advice, Health Benefits, Information Seminars, Weight Loss

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Monday, August 27, 2012

Do You Know Your BMI?

Most people can tell you what they weigh. Not many know their BMI.

BMI is your Body Mass Index. It’s the primary measure of obesity. It’s a measure of weight proportionate to height. You can calculate your BMI by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared, but the easy way is to enter your height and weight into the BMI calculator on the top of the home page of our website.

Here are the descriptions for each BMI rating:

  • 22 to 25: Normal
  • 25 to 30: Overweight
  • 30 to 35: Obese
  • 35 to 40: Severely Obese
  • Over 40: Morbidly Obese

BMI is generally considered to be an effective way to gauge whether a person is overweight or obese, but there are exceptions. Bodybuilders may have a BMI in the overweight range. However, they are not considered overweight because muscle tissue weighs more than fat tissue. In most cases though, BMI is a good indicator.

Our bariatric surgery specialists — and most insurance companies — consider people with a BMI of 40 as candidates for surgery, as well as those with BMI of 30 with a life-threatening complication from their obesity.

There are additional factors to be considered to determine if you’re a good candidate for weight-loss surgery. Generally, surgery should be considered only when other diet and exercise have failed to work for you.

Knowing your BMI is a good first step in educating yourself.

Another good action step: Attend one of our free information seminars, which we hold regularly. Our next one is set for Wednesday, Aug. 29, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at our new office at 380 Second Avenue in Manhattan. You’re welcome to bring family or friends. Dr. Shawn Garber and Dr. Spencer Holover will be there to answer your questions, and patients will be on hand to share their experiences first-hand.

You can reserve your spot at this seminar through this website. You can also check our full seminar schedule. We have many other sessions planned for Manhattan and Suffolk, Westchester and Nassau counties through December, in addition to online sessions.

We also invite you to make an appointment to see one of our surgeons by calling our office at (516) 616-5500 or, if you prefer, click on “Live Chat” in the upper left corner of your screen to have a conversation now.

There’s never a better time than right now to take the first step toward a healthier, happier life.

Category: Exercise, Expert Advice, Health Benefits, Information Seminars, Obesity, Weight Loss

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Tuesday, August 21, 2012

A Question You Should Always Ask

Thinking about weight-loss surgery? It’s a big step. It’s a life-changer. You can learn a lot about the experience on our website. Many patients have told their stories here.

If you’re considering your options, we have one important piece of advice for you. Before you select a bariatric clinic, always ask this question:

Are you a Center of Excellence?

The answer at the New York Bariatric Group: Absolutely!

We were awarded that designation by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

“Center of Excellence is a designation based on experience, good outcomes, safety record and hospital infrastructure, including special furniture, such a special beds, chairs and gowns, to make sure you are very comfortable during your hospital stay,” says Dr. Shawn Garber, head of the New York Bariatric Group. “All of the factors combined make for a much safer surgical experience for patients to undergo surgery.”

The Center of Excellence certification program was created by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery along with the Surgical Review Corporation to better ensure quality in bariatric surgery. The certification is based upon an independent review of programs.

To earn the Center of Excellence designation, we underwent a series of site inspections, during which all aspects of our surgical processes were closely examined and data on health outcomes was collected.

Only one out of every 300 bariatric surgery centers have earned this designation. Studies clearly show the best run bariatric centers have the highest success rates and the lowest rates of complications.

As a Center of Excellence, we agree to share information on clinical pathways, protocols and outcomes data — to be an active leader in our field.

And as a Center of Excellence, we provide you with the tools you need for a successful life-changing experience. We work together to find a program that’s right for you, so you can start living life to its fullest.

If you’re seriously considering weight-loss surgery, we invite you to make an appointment to see one of our surgeons by calling our office at (516) 616-5500 or, if you prefer, click on “Live Chat” in the upper left corner of your screen to have a conversation now.

We are fully committed to helping you along your journey of discovering a healthier you.

Category: Expert Advice, Obesity, Procedures, Weight Loss

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Friday, August 3, 2012

How Many Reasons Do You Need?

We’ve said it before: If you’re reading this blog, you’re doing the right thing. No one should take surgery lightly. The best course of action is to learn all you can about your options, and then make an informed decision.

In this series of blogs, you’ll find lots of personal stories from our patients who are happy to share their experiences about life after weight-loss surgery. They will tell you the surgery requires major life changes, but they will also tell you the changes were worth it.

Often times, the easiest course of action is to do nothing. In our minds, doing nothing does not seem risky. But when it comes to obesity, the risks are many.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers a service called Medline Plus, which provides a wealth of up-to-date health information. In just the last three months, the following articles have been published on Medline Plus about the health risks of obesity:

  1. Obesity Might Hinder Treatment of Some Breast Cancers (07/16/2012, HealthDay)
  2. Heavy People More Likely to Have Colon Polyps (07/12/2012, Reuters Health)
  3. Extra Weight Comes with More Knee Pain, Stiffness (06/28/2012, Reuters Health)
  4. Obesity, Depression Blamed for Daytime Sleepiness ‘Epidemic’ (06/13/2012, HealthDay)
  5. Bigger Waist Tied to Increased Risk of Diabetes (06/05/2012, HealthDay)
  6. Seniors with Asthma Do Worse if Obese (06/05/2012, HealthDay)
  7. Obesity May Raise Odds for Painful Leg Condition (05/30/2012, HealthDay)
  8. As Obesity Rates Rise, Cases of Kidney Stones Double (05/25/2012, HealthDay)
  9. Severely Obese Have More Complications with Spinal Surgery (05/24/2012, HealthDay)
  10. Obese More Likely to Be Diagnosed with Advanced Thyroid Cancer (05/21/2012, HealthDay)
  11. Being Obese May Make Job Search Tougher (05/17/2012, HealthDay)
  12. Pot Belly Boosts Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death (05/10/2012, HealthDay)
  13. Rising Obesity Rates Might Mean More Rheumatoid Arthritis (05/04/2012, HealthDay)

The long-term health risks of obesity are well-documented. Last month, James McIntosh, an economics professor at Concordia University in Montreal, released a study that showed obese individuals visit their doctor more frequently than regular smokers who are at a healthy weight.

His comment: “The fact that obesity is more serious than smoking helps people understand the gravity of the problem because they already have some kind of intuitive understanding of how bad smoking is.”

Weight-loss surgery is a course of action to consider when diets and exercise programs have failed to produce results. Is it the right thing for you?

We invite you to make an appointment to see one of our surgeons by calling our office at (516) 616-5500 or, if you prefer, click on “Live Chat” in the upper left corner of your screen to have a conversation now.

Best wishes to you. We’re here to help.

Category: Obesity, Weight Loss

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