Bariatrics
The Bariatric Wellness and Surgical Institute at JFK Medical Center is dedicated to helping patients achieve their weight loss and health goals through a multidisciplinary approach to morbid obesity. With comprehensive programs, including everything from Wellness Services for medical weight loss to surgical procedures, we provide thoughtful, patient-focused care for each individual.
Weight-Loss Surgery: Who is a Candidate?
It is imperative that you have reasonable expectations and are fully aware of the commitment necessary before considering bariatric surgery. There are several factors that determine candidacy for Gastric Bypass surgery:
- Candidates typically have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 or over.
- Candidates often have a life-threatening condition, a genetic condition, or other ailments including sleep apnea, diabetes or high blood pressure.
- Candidates must have tried, and failed, many previous weight-loss attempts.
Calculating Your BMI
Because the typical BMI benchmark for weight-loss surgery is 35 or over, it is critical that you know your own BMI. Your BMI is a number calculated from your weight and height, and provides medical professionals a reliable gauge of the amount of fat on your body. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a simple BMI calculator to help you determine your BMI.
Program Overview
Our surgical weight-loss program is staffed by a top-notch team of certified medical professionals. Surgical weight-loss procedures including laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band (Lap-Band®, Realize Band®), Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy and revisions of prior surgeries. Our caring team also includes nurses, nutritional and psychological counseling and support, physical therapy as well as extensive pre-operative education, insurance approvals and appeals coordination.
The Bariatric Surgery Program at JFK Medical Center has been accredited by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).
Procedures
Surgical weight loss procedures work through restriction, malabsorption or a combination of the two. Our experienced staff will advise you about the procedure that is best for your individual situation.
Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass is the most frequently performed weight loss surgery in the United States. Weight loss occurs from reducing the size of the stomach and producing a small amount of malabsorption by bypassing a modest amount of the small intestine.
Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band (Lap-Band®, Realize Band®)
The Lap Band is a surgical procedure that reduces the size of the stomach and encourages weight loss through restriction. This system uses an adjustable band that restricts the opening to the remainder of the stomach. This procedure is considered less invasive, however, weight loss is somewhat slower than the malabsorptive or combination procedures.
Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy
Sleeve Gastrectomy is a restrictive procedure. The surgeon creates a small, sleeve-shaped stomach. It is larger than the stomach pouch created during Roux-en-Y bypass (roughly the size of a banana). Sleeve Gastrectomy is typically considered as a treatment option for bariatric surgery patients with a BMI of 60 or higher. It is usually performed as the first of two procedures; the second part of the treatment is typically gastric bypass.
Revisions of Prior Surgeries
Patients typically look for surgery revisions for one of two reasons – either too much weight was gained back after the previous surgery or not enough weight was lost following the initial surgery. Surgical revisions have similar risks as your previous surgery, so make sure to discuss all of your options with your doctor.
Bariatric Information Sessions
On the fourth Thursday of every month, we hold information sessions to help answer questions about diagnosis, procedures and recovery for our Bariatrics program. Please call (561) 548-BARI (2274) for details and registration, or connect with us at:
Fit in JFK: 
For those of you that cannot attend an information session in person, we now offer a recording of an information session on YouTube for you to view at your convenience below.
View by topic:
- Who is a Candidate for Bariatric Surgery?
- Psychology and Bariatric Surgery
- Nutrition After Bariatric Surgery
- Procedures:
- Bariatric Surgery Program Requirements
Or view the entire presentation:
Our Team
Andrew Larson, M.D., Medical Director and Bariatric Surgeon, Fred Simon, M.D., Bariatric Surgeon and Srinivas Kaza, M.D. offer you a comprehensive approach to weight loss. Our specially trained surgical team, nursing staff, and hospital clinical personnel work together to provide the best patient care available anywhere.
 K. Andrew Larson, MD, FACS, FASMBS |
 Fred L. Simon, MD, FACS, FRCS, FASMBS |
 Srinivas Kaza, MD, FACS |
Contact Us
The Bariatric Wellness and Surgical Institute at JFK Medical Center is located at 465 South Congress Ave, Lake Worth, FL 33461. Please call (561) 548-BARI (2274) for more information.