Weight Loss Surgery

Welcome to Dr. Brian Jacob’s concierge weight loss surgery practice

Dr. Brian Jacob is focused on creating the very best surgical experience possible for each and every one of his weight loss surgery patients. Instead of waiting in crowded hospital waiting rooms, Dr. Jacob’s patients will receive a concierge experience, unlike no other in the region.

  • Excellence in Outcomes 
  • Excellence in Patient Care

Exceptional Outcomes

With over 17 years experience, Dr. Jacob has performed thousands of bariatric surgery procedures. This mastery level of experience helps to optimize surgical outcomes!

  • Most patients lose at least 50% or more of their initial excess body weight in the first 6 months!

Some other metrics are used by hospitals to independently measure patient outcomes. Dr. Jacob is elite in all:

  • Most patients average just 1 hospital night after a sleeve gastrectomy.
  • Complication rates are some of the lowest in the country (post operative bleeding 0.6%, leak 0.16%)
  • Readmission rates are also extremely low: <0.1% (top 1% of surgeons in the region)

Before & After Weight Loss Surgery

BeforeAfter weight loss surgery

Exceptional Recognition

For 8 consecutive years, Dr. Brian Jacob has been selected as one of the best hernia surgeons in NYC by The New York Times Magazine, and is listed by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. in New York Magazine as a Top Doctor (2012 – 2023).

Thorough Patient Care

This is not insurance-dictated care. He treats each patient as if they are family. From the first email or phone call, and for years after surgery, Dr. Jacob will be there for you and will consider every detail.

Accessible

We handle fewer cases with more personal care.  It’s the way our team chose to practice medicine. We spend the time to hear you, thoroughly assess your symptoms and test results and make ourselves available before, during, and after your procedure.

Post-surgery, Dr. Jacob makes himself personally available 24/7 for any concerns you may have.

State of the Art Weight Loss Program

Patients who seek weight loss surgery have often spent years worried about their weight. They have either spent every day trying to lose weight or maintain it. The cycle can be frustrating. The cycle also leads many patients to ask us two specific questions. One is “should I lose weight before weight loss surgery?” The other is “How can I maintain the results of surgical weight loss?” We are here to support both goals as is needed for each patient.

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It may seem odd to think about losing weight before weight loss surgery. Isn’t weight loss the whole point of the bariatric procedure to begin with? Yes. And also, there are good reasons to lose weight beforehand. The primary reasons a doctor may recommend this is to reduce the risk of surgical complications. Reducing fatty tissue in the abdominal region, in particular, is advantageous because excess fat here can make the liver too large for a safe and effective procedure. How much weight a person should lose is determined by their unique situation. Dr. Jacob sits with each of our patients to discuss how pre-surgical weight loss may serve them, what their ideal surgical weight would be, and also how to achieve that goal. When you choose our office for your weight loss procedure, you are never alone to achieve the goals of your treatment plan.

Another advantage of focusing on healthy weight management before bariatric surgery is that it serves as an entry-point to the healthy habits you will keep after your procedure. Pre-surgical weight loss can instill the behavioral and psychological changes that support long-term results after surgery.

Where will my concierge weight loss surgery take place?

Dr. Jacob performs bariatric procedures at Mount Sinai Medical Center, where he has one of the lowest complication rates for weight loss surgeries.

Weight Loss Surgeries that Dr. Jacob currently offers:

  • Sleeve Gastrectomy
  • Re-Sleeve Gastrectomy
  • Revisional Weight Loss Surgery
  • Lap Band and Lap Band revisions or conversions

What is the Difference Between Sleeve Gastrectomy and Lap Band Surgery?

Two of the most popular weight loss surgeries performed today, the sleeve gastrectomy and lap band procedures seek to achieve the same goal, minimize the size of the stomach. How each procedure does this is unique.

  • Lap band surgery restricts food consumption by separating the stomach into two pouches. The stomach is not cut, but “separated” through the application of a gastric band. Food first enters a small upper pouch, which feels full more quickly. It then passes to the lower pouch where digestion occurs.
  • Sleeve gastrectomy resizes the stomach to about 25% of its current capacity at the time of surgery. This maintains a single “pouch” for food to fill and be digested and is therefore known to not only reduce appetite but stimulate changes in gut hormones that can help control blood sugar.

Lap band surgery and gastrectomy surgery are the two most common bariatric procedures for weight loss. In lap band surgery, the doctor carefully places an adjustable band around the top area of the stomach. This reduces the capacity of the stomach to hold food. The gastrectomy procedure is more comprehensive in that it removes more than 50 percent of the stomach, revising it to a small, sleeve-shaped organ. The goal is the same, but the approach is different. 

Dr. Jacob performs both of these procedures and is very careful in his patient-selection process. He will determine the best weight loss procedure for you based on certain criteria. Generally, lap band surgery is performed in cases of BMI over 30 but not higher than 40. Gastrectomy, on the other hand, may be a better option for you if you've been diagnosed as morbidly obese, meaning that your BMI is over 40 and you have one or more health problems as a result. 

How Do I Prepare for Weight Loss Surgery?

Chances are, if you're considering weight loss surgery, you've had little consistent success with traditional weight management habits. It might sound contradictory to dial in your diet and exercise before undergoing bariatric surgery but it's beneficial. Making small changes to your daily lifestyle before surgery can help you transition more aptly after your procedure. Dr. Jacob can discuss his recommendations related to your daily caloric intake and activity level, but some general tips for preparing for surgery include:

  • Begin eating as you will eat after surgery. In this way, we mean to slow down when you eat and chew your food more than you are used to. After bariatric surgery, your digestion will be quite different because you'll have fewer digestive enzymes and less gastric acid working to break down your food. Without them, your chewing becomes immensely important to your digestive process. 
  • Develop an eating schedule before surgery. After your procedure, you may be advised to eat a small meal every three to four hours. If your current eating habits are to snack frequently or eat fewer, bigger meals, your transition could be difficult. It's beneficial to ease yourself into it starting before surgery. Because you'll need to eat every few hours, it's also helpful to plan ahead. You'll need to have healthy food options with you at all times to prevent unnecessary hunger and stress.
  • Begin building a list of ways that you can cope with stress that do not include food. Many of the reasons people overeat relate more to emotional comfort or boredom. It can help to work with a qualified therapist to identify other ways to manage the factors that can lead to overeating.
  • Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! After surgery, you'll be limited in the amount of fluid you can take in at one time. To prevent discomfort, you'll sip water all day long. It can take time to develop this habit of sipping water several times every hour, and we mean every hour. Going an hour without drinking after surgery can quickly lead to dehydration, which we want to avoid. 
  • Don't drink when you eat. Your prime real estate in your tummy will be extremely limited after surgery and it's important to give priority to protein. To avoid reducing your already-limited stomach space, keep all meals food-focused, not beverage-focused. 

How Long is the Recovery from Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

You may be able to return to work within a week of your gastrectomy procedure. That said, this will depend on a few different factors. The type of work that you do is one. We want to make sure you're well enough to maintain comfort and sustained energy for your day before we clear you for work. If your job is quite strenuous, you'll most likely need more time off. Your overall healing process will also influence how much time you will need off from work and other activities. It's important that your body is allowed to heal at its own pace. Doing too much too soon could prolong the transition process, which should feel exciting and gratifying. 

Surgical recovery is measured in two ways. First, we look at your return to everyday activities. Then, we look at your complete recovery. While you may be back to most of your normal activities within a week or two of surgery, your stomach will still be healing for many weeks. After about one month, you may be able to increase your level of activity to include more strenuous work and exercise. 

How Long is the Recovery after Lap Band Surgery?

As it pertains to recovery, lap band surgery is considered easier. You may regain comfort sooner and be able to resume normal activities more quickly. However, you'll need to prepare for some massive dietary restrictions to help your stomach get used to its new size and capacity. For the first week after this procedure, diet is limited to clear liquids. After one week, it may be possible to add other liquids. Gradually, you can add in soft foods like mashed potatoes and scrambled eggs, then small amounts of foods that require more chewing. 

We want you to achieve success with your post-surgery weight loss and quality of life! Dr. Jacob and our experienced team are here to answer questions, follow-up with you, and support you through your exciting transformation. 

How will I know which weight loss surgery is right for me?

Multiple studies have shown that bariatric surgeries provide the most consistent, reliable results for patients diagnosed as obese or morbidly obese. Procedures such as sleeve gastrectomy can achieve long-term weight loss for patients with BMI >40. In some cases, such as unmanageable diabetes, a patient may be a good candidate for bariatric surgery with a lower BMI of approximately 35.

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Advances in surgical techniques have significantly improved patient outcomes and decreased risks. Procedures like sleeve gastrectomy and lap-band surgery are no riskier than gallbladder surgery. For this reason, more people are seeking to take control of their weight with the help of an experienced weight loss surgeon. Dr. Jacob has been performing bariatric procedures for nearly twenty years. He trained with one of the pioneers in this industry, and maintains a high-level of patient care, treating each person as a valued part of our extended family.

Helping a person understand their treatment options is paramount to patient-centered care. Today, sleeve gastrectomy is a leading procedure for maximum results, followed by lap-band surgery. These two techniques are known for achieving excellent results through minimally-invasive steps. Many patients already have an idea of which procedure they think will be right for them by the time they see a specialist. Our objective is to ensure the best outcome. To achieve this, we plan treatment not around a particular procedure but around the patient.

When you visit Dr. Jacob, you can expect to spend a lot of time talking about your health history, medical conditions, and expectations for your future as a slimmer, healthier version of yourself. Based on our conversation with you, Dr. Jacob will discuss which weight loss surgery may best meet your needs.

How long does it take to recover from weight loss surgery?

Weight loss surgery is minimally invasive and requires a brief hospital stay. Some patients go home as early as the day after surgery. Once home, patients are often ready to return to much of their normal life after a week or so of relative rest (balanced with walking or other movement to maintain adequate circulation). After your procedure, you will likely be advised to follow a special diet for a short time. This is intended to help the stomach heal as quickly as possible. Even when you can return to work and more consistent daily activity, you may find that you tire more easily than you did before surgery. This is simply a result of the body healing. Most of your energy is going toward tissue repair. Be patient, after about a month, you may be fully recovered and ready to begin a more rigorous exercise habit that feels good for your body.

After Your Procedure

Studies show that most people who have a bariatric procedure for weight loss maintain good habits for at least one year following their procedure. The only guarantee that you have for long-term weight loss is you and the habits you keep. Some tips that may help you prepare for your new way of living include:

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  • Schedule regular visits with our team! We do not stop caring after surgical care is complete. We want you to love your body and live in good health for the rest of your life, so remain interested in keeping you on track.
  • Drink plenty of water and other clear liquids. Calorie-free or very low calorie beverages help create a feeling of fullness. Staying hydrated is also important for systemic regulation related to everything from satiation to energy balance.
  • Avoid snacking and grazing. These habits lead to accumulated calories without ever feeling full.
  • Follow your recommended nutrition plan. This is designed just for you to ensure your body is receiving the vital nutrients it needs to burn fat and support good muscle mass. If you find you begin to have trouble following your plan, reach out for help. This may come in the form of a support group or a visit to our office.
  • Stay active. Remember that exercise need not feel obligatory. It can be fun! Experiment with different activities that get your heart pumping and make you use your muscles.
  • Don’t be embarrassed if you regain some weight. Schedule a visit with us as soon as possible. We understand the complexity of obesity and are here to help you live your best life.

Schedule a Weight Loss Surgery Consultation

To schedule an appointment for a Weight Loss Surgery consultation, please call us at 212-879-6677 and our office will be in touch with you. Thank you for choosing Dr. Brian Jacobs at NYC Hernia!

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