News release from BIDMilton
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton (BID-Milton) has expanded its nationally accredited Weight Loss Surgery Program and is now offering gastric sleeve procedures as a minimally invasive surgical option for obese patients who also have obesity-related health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea.
With a gastric sleeve procedure, a surgeon removes up to 60% of the stomach leaving it in the shape of a tube of sleeve. Since the capacity of the stomach is shrunk, the amount of food an individual can eat is greatly reduced, leading to sustainable and long-term weight loss provided an aftercare program is followed.
According to Benjamin Schneider, MD, medical director of weight loss surgery at BID-Milton and a surgeon with the Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery Section of Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center as well as an instructor in surgery at Harvard Medical School, gastric sleeve has been shown to be an overwhelmingly safe and effective option for reducing weight and decreasing obesity-related conditions.
The first gastric sleeve procedure at BID-Milton was performed by Dr. Schneider on May 20. Since then, several more gastric sleeve procedures have been successfully performed at the hospital.
“We are very pleased to now be able to offer our patients the option of a gastric sleeve procedure here at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton,” said Dr. Schneider. “This is a major enhancement to our weight loss services at the hospital. It is a direct result of the expertise of our staff and the extremely high level of care provided to our patients.”
In addition to gastric sleeve weight loss surgery, the hospital’s Weight Loss Surgery Program also offers patients laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding as an option. Patients who choose a third type of weight loss surgery, gastric bypass, can have their surgery performed at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston but still receive their pre-and post-operative care at BID-Milton.
“Being able to provide our patients with the gastric sleeve option is a big step forward for our program,” explained Angela Fenton, MA, LMHC, program director. “We are now able to offer both lap adjustable gastric banding and gastric sleeve procedures in a convenient, low-cost, community hospital setting and still provide our patients with ready access to the substantial resources and expertise found at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.”
As a member of the Beth Israel Deaconess Bariatric Network, BID-Milton works closely with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in delivering a safe, comprehensive weight loss surgery program committed to excellent care and treatment. BID-Milton’s Weight Loss Surgery Program is nationally accredited under the Bariatric Surgery Center Network Accreditation Program of the American College of Surgeons. This accreditation ensures patients of the highest quality bariatric care that meets rigorous, national standards.
For more information about the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton Weight Loss Surgery Program, call 617-313-1440 or visit www.bidmilton.org/weightloss.