(Photo provided at the time of release)
Wexford, PA – The Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Obesity and Metabolism Institute currently offers the following obesity surgery services: AHN Wexford Hospital.. Patients living in the northern Pittsburgh community now have easy access to one of the region’s most experienced teams, offering a variety of advanced medical and surgical weight loss solutions.
AHN’s highly trained team of professionals includes board-certified obesity surgeons, endocrinologists, nutritionists, psychologists, nurses and anesthesiologists. Together, these clinicians create customized solutions for each patient’s unique health needs, such as weight loss and diabetes management.
“Our provider’s interdisciplinary team understands the physical and emotional effects of obesity,” he said. George Eid, MDChair AHN’s Variatric and Metabolic Institute.. “No matter where the patient is on the weight loss journey, we are here to help them reach their health goals.”
According to the CDC, obesity in the United States is approaching the epidemic rate, with more than two-thirds of adults in the United States being considered overweight or obese. According to the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, bariatric surgery is one of the most common selective surgeries in the United States, with approximately 300,000 cases performed in 2020.
Patients in AHN Wexford have many options available to treat obesity and its complications. Some of the options include laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Unlike traditional surgery, the laparoscopic approach uses several small incisions instead of one large incision.This minimally invasive technology means smaller scar And faster healing time. Gastric bypass surgery creates a small pouch that passes through most of the stomach and part of the small intestine to reroute food and limit food intake. This combination reduces the amount of nutrients your body consumes, leading to weight loss. Sleeve gastrectomy is a restrictive procedure that removes two-thirds of the stomach to reduce appetite and help the patient feel full faster.
Certain patients may be candidates for endoscopic obesity surgery. These procedures are performed using a small, flexible scope inserted through the patient’s mouth, so that they are less invasive, have no incisions, and are used to treat obesity and other metabolic disorders of the patient. It works by significantly reducing the volume of the stomach or modifying other parts of the digestive tract.
Dr. Eid and his partner, Michael “Logan” Rawlins, MDAre the two most experienced obesity surgeons in the country and have completed thousands of cases throughout their careers.
After obesity surgery, many patients experience improvements in self-confidence, energy, and overall physical and mental health. Obesity surgery can improve diabetes, heart disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint pain, and respiratory illness. Many patients may also begin to discontinue long-term medications if their weight is properly controlled.
Significant weight loss, whether it’s obesity surgery or a medical solution, also reduces the risk of COVID-19-related complications, Dr. Eid said.
“Obesity surgery is a life-changing and life-saving solution for many who are experiencing the negative health effects of morbid obesity,” he said. Alan Clapper, MD, President of AHN Wexford Hospital. “We are very pleased to be able to provide this advanced surgical function to the community serving as part of a wider range of weight loss services through Dr. Eid and his team.”
AHN Wexford opened its doors to patients last September. The 345,000-square-foot facility has a 22-bed emergency department, a state-of-the-art operating room with minimally invasive robotic surgery capabilities, a labor and delivery unit, a hybrid OR for advanced surgery, and a short-term stay observation unit. , Adult intensive care unit, advanced diagnostic imaging, etc.
The AHN Bariatric and Metabolic Institute offers free briefings where patients can meet with their healthcare provider and learn about medical weight loss and surgical options. Patients should call 412-DOCTORS to find a nearby session.
