Weight loss surgery is a big decision that can change your life for the better. That’s why we are excited that you want to learn more about the first steps to a new you. Our experienced medical staff and community is here to answer your questions and help you every step of the way to your weight loss success.
If you’re ready to schedule a consultation, call 201-781-1370, emailing lorena.eguez@hackensackumcpv.com.
When diet, exercise and medication aren’t working, weight loss surgery may be an option for treating morbid obesity. Research shows weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, is the most effective way to achieve long-term weight loss.
The benefits go beyond what you see on the scale. It can also improve a wide range of other health issues, such as diabetes, heart disease and sleep apnea.
If you are considering bariatric surgery, call your insurance company to verify bariatric benefits for the treatment of morbid obesity.
Information you will need from your insurance:
1. Does your plan cover bariatric services and surgery, or is it an exclusion or only covered if life-threatening (meaning they do not cover bariatric surgery)?
2. If your plan covers bariatric services and surgery, you will need to know what pre-surgical requirement are necessary to qualify for surgery.
3. What is your portion of the cost?
In case you need to contact them again, write down who you talked to as well as a reference number for the call.
Bariatric surgery may be an option for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more. If you have other serious health conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, bariatric surgery may be beneficial if your BMI is between 35 and 40. If your BMI is below 35, you will not qualify for surgery.
Use the BMI calculator below to see if you qualify.
The Bariatric Surgery Program at Pascack Valley Medical Center offers several types of procedures, including:
This is the most common procedure. A surgeon creates a small pouch from the stomach and connects it directly to the small intestine. This helps lower the amount of food you can eat in one sitting.
This procedure removes about 80% of the stomach, leaving a long, tube-like pouch. This smaller stomach can't hold as much food. It also produces less of the appetite-regulating hormone ghrelin, which can curb your desire to eat.
Similar to a sleeve gastrectomy, this procedure also divides part of the small intestine. This surgery offers weight loss along with less hunger, more fullness, blood sugar control and diabetes improvement.
If you’d like to learn more about bariatric surgery, attending a free seminar is a great place to start. Click here to browse our seminars.
If you decide bariatric surgery is right for you, schedule a consultation by calling 201-781-1370, emailing lorena.eguez@hackensackumcpv.com or visiting our Find a Doctor page.
At Pascack Valley Medical Center, we’re with you through every step of your weight loss journey and beyond. We offer comprehensive, compassionate care with modern treatment options and education and support programs that support the whole person. Our multi-disciplinary team works together to create customized plans to provide the most individualized experience possible.
The Bariatric Surgery Program at Pascack Valley Medical Center is accredited as a Comprehensive Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®), a joint Quality Program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). The hospital is a Five-Star Recipient for Overall Bariatric Surgery in 2023 and Received the Bariatric Surgery Excellence Award™ (2023) from Healthgrades.