Services > Hospital > Bariatric Surgery

Click here for Before & After PhotosThere’s a lot to think about when considering the surgical option for fighting obesity, but no need to travel long distances to find the answers. The Richard Rubenstein MD Center for Bariatric Surgery at Peconic Bay Medical Center treats people who are so overweight that they suffer severe health consequences.

The program has earned top marks from the field’s leading surgeons by gaining the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery’s (ASMBS) “Center of Excellence” designation, an honor shared by the surgical and support staff. To earn that distinction, the center was subjected to a series of inspections and a close examination of its surgical procedures. The ASMBS also scrutinized the results of the treatment offered to East End patients

The bariatric surgery option reduces the size of the stomach, allowing the patient to experience the feeling of being “full” while taking in less food. The result is usually the loss of a substantial amount of weight that stays off over the years.

Bariatric surgery is intended for those categorized as “morbidly obese” whose excess weight can contribute to a host of life-threatening health problems, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and both breast and colon cancer. Candidates for bariatric surgery include men with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more and are roughly 100 pounds overweight and women 80 pounds overweight with a BMI of 35 to 35.9. BMI is determined through a formula based on height and weight.

The Richard Rubenstein MD Center for Bariatric Surgery, named for the program’s founder and current director, offers two procedures; gastric bypass and gastric banding. Gastric banding surgery is done laparoscopically, which reduces the risks that come with conventional surgery. It also allows a quicker recovery.

On the other hand, weight loss tends to be greater with gastric bypass. Researchers report a long-term weight loss of 65% to 70% with gastric bypass and 55% with gastric banding. These are averages and individual results may vary greatly.

Patients who wish to undergo the surgery must go through a one-month multidisciplinary program that includes pre- and post-operative counseling and education. Patients are supported by nurses, registered dieticians, instruction in fitness and exercise and psychological support. The physicians and staff provide a full range of help, from pre-operative counseling to a support group for recovering patients.

Working with Dr. Rubenstein is veteran bariatric surgeon Paayal Pinky Mehta, M.D. They can be reached at 631-369-4370 (Riverhead), 631-475-1013 (Patchogue) or at www.suffolksurgical.com.