Weight-Loss Surgery in West Palm Beach County

You’ve counted calories. You’ve counted steps. But for some people, diet and exercise aren’t enough to achieve their weight-loss goals. At Wellington Regional Medical Center, board-certified bariatric surgeons and a supportive staff guide you through the process of weight-loss surgery. Regain control of your weight and get the care you deserve.

Experienced Bariatric Surgeons: Why Choose Us?

The high quality of our bariatric surgery services and our commitment to patient safety have earned our Weight Management Center multiple accreditations, including:

• Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) from the American College of Surgeons.
• Center of Excellence in Robotic and Minimally Invasive Surgery from the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC)
• Aetna Institutes of Quality® (IOQ) Bariatric Surgery Center
• Cigna® 3-Star Quality Bariatric Center and Center of Excellence (COE) for Bariatric Surgery
• Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction^® Centers for Bariatric Surgery
• Optum Center of Excellence (COE) for Bariatrics

At our weight-loss surgery center, you’ll find:

• Board-certified bariatric surgeons: Our bariatric surgeons have board certifications in general surgery and additional fellowship training in bariatric surgery. They also specialize in minimally invasive surgical techniques such as laparoscopic and robotic surgery. You receive care from a highly skilled team. Meet our surgeons →
• Minimally invasive weight-loss surgery: We specialize in minimally invasive weight-loss surgeries that use smaller incisions, so you recover faster and with less pain. In fact, Wellington Regional Medical Center has accreditation from the Surgical Review Corporation as a Center of Excellence for robotic and minimally invasive surgery.
• Experienced support team: A certified bariatric nurse and registered dietitian help you prepare for surgery and guide you through recovery. From pre-surgical education to follow-up care, you receive expertise, guidance and support at every stage of your weight-loss journey.

Am I a Candidate for Weight-Loss Surgery?

Weight-loss surgery can be a life-changing treatment. We evaluate many factors to make sure you’re physically and mentally ready for major weight loss. You may be a candidate for bariatric surgery if you:

• Are between 18 and 65 years of age
• Have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 40 (more than 100 pounds overweight)
• Have a BMI greater than 35 and at least two obesity-related health problem such as:
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Sleep apnea
  • Heart disease
  • Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Gastrointestinal disorders
• Have tried other weight-loss methods such as diet and exercise without success
• Are medically stable and physically able to undergo surgery
• Are committed to lifelong healthy eating and exercise habits

Types of Weight-Loss Surgery We Offer

At our Weight Management Center, we offer two types of weight-loss surgery: gastric bypass surgery and gastric sleeve surgery. In most cases, we perform surgery using minimally invasive laparoscopic or robotic techniques.

Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery, or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, limits the amount of food you can eat. During the procedure, we divide your stomach to create a small pouch that holds food. Your surgeon reroutes part of your small intestine to the new pouch for digestion. We use staples to close off the remaining part of your stomach so it no longer holds food.

Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Gastric sleeve surgery, or vertical sleeve gastrectomy, involves surgically removing a large part of your stomach. Your surgeon closes the remaining part of your stomach (a long section shaped like a banana) to restrict the amount of food you can eat. Unlike gastric bypass surgery, your surgeon does not cut and reroute your small intestine.

Bariatric Revision Surgery

Bariatric revision surgery is a procedure to fix or enhance a previous weight-loss surgery. Revision surgery may be right for people who have complications from a past surgery, regain weight or don’t achieve adequate weight loss. Our surgeons routinely perform these procedures with excellent results.

During bariatric revision surgery, we may:

• Further reduce the size of your stomach so you eat less food
• Reroute your small intestine so you absorb fewer calories
• Remove a previously placed gastric band and convert your surgery to a gastric bypass or gastric sleeve, called lap-band revision

Patient Success Story: Jillian Doggett

Jillian had gastric sleeve surgery at The Weight Management Center. Watch as she discusses the process and how her life has changed for the better.

Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any surgical procedure. Talk with your doctor about these risks to find out if bariatric surgery is right for you.