What is bariatric surgery?
Bariatric surgery is a weight-loss procedure that changes the size of your stomach to assist with weight loss, treats complications from obesity — such as joint pain, headaches, and reflux — and reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Want to learn more? Call 512-421-4408 to learn more about our free educational bariatric surgery seminars.
If you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher and are between the ages of 18-70, bariatric surgery could be the right treatment for you.
Obesity affects around 40% of all Americans, increasing the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.
Meet our bariatric surgery team
Our bariatric surgery team has undergone extensive training, including Si/Xi robotic surgery certification, and Dr. Medina has performed hundreds of surgeries throughout the last five years. With the support of our registered dietitians, we work with you before and after the surgery to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Director, ARC Bariatric Surgery Department - Board Certified, General Surgery
- Board Certifications
Board Certified in General Surgery | Si/Xi Robotic Surgery Certification Program, Morristown Medical Center, 2017 - Residency
Morristown Medical Center, Morristown, NJ, 2017 - Medical School
Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador, 2008 | Research Fellow, NYU Langone Medical Center Localio Lab, New York, NY, 2010-2012 - Education
B.S. in Biology and Chemical Sciences, Rafael Borja High School, Cuenca, Ecuador, 2001
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Bariatric surgery options
ARC specializes in the following bariatric surgery procedures:
Bariatric revision surgery
Revision surgery is a personalized approach that contemplates the correction or improvement of previous bariatric surgeries depending on the type of bariatric surgery that was previously performed.
We will start with an EGD (upper endoscopy) of the esophagus and stomach to evaluate the general shape of the anatomy. Once we have that information, we can see what options are right for you.
Gastric band removal is a common revision in our practice.
Vertical sleeve gastrectomy
This weight-loss surgery reduces the size of your stomach and limits the amount of food you can eat in one sitting. The route of digestion is preserved as part of the stomach is removed and the remaining is formed into a vertical sleeve. As a result, you will feel full sooner and longer.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
Gastric bypass surgery alters the way your stomach and small intestine process food. The surgeon creates a small pouch in the stomach and attaches it directly to a portion of the small intestine. The small pouch allows food to bypass a part of the small intestine and reduces the amount of fat and calories you absorb from the foods you eat.
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG)
ESG is an incisionless, endoscopic approach to weight-loss surgery. During the ESG procedure, a flexible endoscope is inserted through your mouth into your stomach. While inside your stomach, the endoscope uses special suturing devices to create a series of permanent sutures. This reduces the size of your stomach, making it a smaller banana-shaped pouch. The smaller stomach size helps you control your appetite and limits the amount of food you can consume. Learn more about the procedure.
Duodenal switch
Duodenal switch is a weight-loss surgery designed to treat patients with severe obesity. It combines two procedures — a sleeve gastrectomy and an intestinal bypass. Although it is more complex than other bariatric surgeries, it is also the most effective for supporting long-term weight loss.
Additional details
Am I a candidate?
Bariatric surgery is right for you if:
- You have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher
- You are between the ages of 18-70
Use our BMI calculator below to find out if weight-loss surgery is right for you.
BMI calculator
This information is not saved.
Patient transformations
We thank our patients for sharing their weight-loss transformations and are proud to have helped guide them step-by-step to a healthier lifestyle.
A new lease on life
Misty says she tried every diet in the book but found that she would always plateau at a certain point. Since her bariatric surgery, she says she feels better than ever.
Initial bariatric surgery consultation
New patient appointments are focused on the individual patient and their health needs and concerns. You will also meet with the bariatric coordinator to discuss insurance-specific requirements for surgery.
Before your appointment, a financial counselor will contact you to discuss your insurance coverage. Bariatric surgery costs may be covered through some insurance plans.
What to expect with bariatric surgery
Before surgery
- 3-6 months of preparation *may vary per patient case and patient insurance
- Regular office visits with surgeons, along with nutrition and psychological coordination
- Workups for underlying causes of obesity and complications of obesity, such as sleep apnea (OSA) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Nutrition education
Around the time of surgery
- Peri-operative visits
- Nutrition education in preparation for surgery
- Up to two nights in the hospital
After surgery
- Nutrition education and instructions post-surgery
- Follow-up visit(s) with the bariatric surgeon
- Improvements in blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels due to new weight loss
- Increased energy and activity
- Reduced weight of about 50-100 pounds five years after surgery with maintained diet and exercise
Getting started
If you are interested in bariatric surgery, please call 512-421-4408. After your appointment is scheduled, our bariatric coordinator will send a video link via ARC MyChart that includes standard information about bariatric surgery. Before your appointment, a financial counselor will contact you to discuss your insurance coverage. Bariatric surgery costs may be covered through some insurance plans.