Surgical Weight Loss

Morbid obesity is the number two preventable cause of death in the United States.

Northwest Medical Center is one of the few hospitals in South Florida recognized by insurance companies as a Center of Excellence For Bariatric Surgery. Our Medical Director, Dr. Paul Wizman, has performed over 800 successful bariatric surgeries, and is ranked one of the top three surgeons in Florida. Join us for a free lecture and see how we can help you lose the weight for life. Simply call 1-866-4HCA-DOCS (442-2362) to reserve your seat.

Along with the physiological impact of morbid obesity, there are significant medical health issues that affect the body's mechanical and metabolic functions.  These co-morbidities affect nearly every organ in the body and produce serious illnesses including diabetes, heart disease, gall bladder disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, sleep apnea, respiratory insufficiency, high cholesterol, and arthritic symptoms of weight bearing joints, just to name a few.

Northwest Medical Center and Paul Wizman, M.D. have received the designation as a Center of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.

This prestigious designation is granted to institutions who have demonstrated required resources to perform safe bariatric surgery, and have excellent short and long-term outcomes. These indices, therefore, not only document process, i.e. equipment, supplies, training of surgeons, and the availability of consultant services, but emphasize results. Application for designation as an ASBS Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence is voluntary.

The main benefits of being a Center of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery are, among others, patient safety and advocacy, continuous improvement of bariatric surgery through comparisons of patient selection, operative procedures, and care paths.

Northwest Medical Center's bariatric program, in association with Paul B. Wizman, M.D., Medical Director, offers you a comprehensive approach to morbid obesity.  Our demonstrated surgical techniques, multi-disciplinary approach to care, extensive pre and post -operative patient education and follow-up support provides you with a significant advantage over other programs.

Our specially trained surgical team, bariatric floor nursing staff, and other clinical personnel afford you the multifaceted standards, complex patient management and intricate guidelines that rule the bariatric field today.

Why choose Northwest Medical Center for your Surgery?

• We are a designated Center of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery
• We are a full service acute care facility
• Paul B. Wizman, MD, PA, Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery, has performed over 800 bariatric surgeries with proven success 
• Latest surgical technology and equipment
• Our patient rooms are customized for bariatric patients
• Clinical equipment specifically for bariatric patients
• Our nurses and other clinical personnel are specially trained to care for our pre and post-op bariatric patients
• Specially trained operating room bariatric team
• Extensive pre and post-operative patient education and support groups available to you 
• Access to bariatric specialists and surgeon 24 hours a day

Patient Results

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FUTURE!

For details regarding our next Information Session on Weight Loss Surgery, please call and register at 1-866-4HCA-DOCS (442-2362).  To speak with the Bariatric nurse, please call (954) 727-4549.

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (Lap Band)

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (Lap Band), recalls the principle of doing the least invasive procedure possible to achieve the desired results.  In this method, a band is placed at the top of the stomach, creating a small pouch.  The opening to the rest of the digestive track is adjustable through a subcutaneous port.  Most patients experience the same amount of weight loss however, at a slower rate.  Indications for Lap Band surgery are the same as the Roux-en-Y.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery is the most frequently performed weight loss surgery in the U.S.  This minimally invasive procedure is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity currently available.  Weight loss occurs as a result of reducing the size of the stomach and bypassing a portion of the small intestine creating a minimal amount of malabsorption.  By creating a small pouch, we limit the amount of food you can eat .  In most cases, patients report an early sense of fullness and satiety that decreases the desire to eat.

The laparoscopic approach results in a shortened hospital stay of 2-3 days, limited pain and discomfort, quicker recovery and reduced risk of infection and ventral hernias.

Benefits of Gastric Bypass Surgery

• Rapid weight loss
• Increased stamina and activity tolerance
• Increased self esteem
• Co-morbidities which are often improved and/or alleviated after Gastric Bypass: Hypertension, Heart Disease, High Cholesterol, Diabetes, GERD, Sleep Apnea, Respiratory Insufficiency, Stress Urinary Incontinence, Muscular-skeletal difficulties, Infertility
• Procedure takes approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours
• Short hospital stay (2-3 days)

da Vinci Sleeve Gastrectomy

Sleeve gastrectomies is the surgical removal of a portion of the stomach. Doctors generally perform a sleeve gastrectomy, a surgical weight-loss procedure in which the stomach is reduced to about one-quarter of its original size, on extremely obese patients where the risk of performing a gastric bypass or other weight-loss procedures would be too high. The procedure, which is not reversible, permanently reduces the size of the stomach. Northwest Medical Center is currently the only hospital in Broward and Palm Beach counties to offer this procdure using the da Vinci Surgical System.

• The Forum Newsarticle - (PDF - 1.49MB)
• Sun Sentinel Newsarticle - (PDF - 56.7KB)

Appropriate candidates must meet the following requirements:

• At least 100 pounds or more over ideal body weight
• Body Mass Index of 40 or greater
• Multiple failed medically supervised weight loss attempts (1-2 years)
• Between the ages of 18-60
• Psychologically stable

Medical Director: Paul B. Wizman, M.D.

Professional Credentials

• Graduate of McGill University and Medical School
• Board Certified and Fellowship trained in Laparoscopic Surgery
• Member of American College of Surgeons
• Member of Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons
• Extensive training in Bariatric Laparoscopic Surgery
• Member of American Society for Bariatric Surgery

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Insurance

Please check with your insurance provider to verify benefits and specific exclusions as each contract may vary.

All surgeries are performed at Northwest Medical Center. Please verify if Northwest Medical Center is a participating facility with your insurance carrier.

Insurance companies require a letter of medical necessity written by your primary care physician that must include certain "key words" as well as a psychological evaluation.

Dr. Paul B. Wizman is a provider for the following insurances:

• Aetna/First Health/US Healthcare
• Avmed
• CIGNA
• Humana
• Medicare
• Millenium/City of Margate
• Physicians Healthcare/Care Plus
• BCBS
• Best Choice Plus
• Beech Street
• Private Health Care System
• United
• Vista

Welcome message and information on Bariatric Surgery.

Other Links of Interest: Just click on each to be connected directly to the corresponding website

• Spotlighthealth.com
• Obesityhelp.com
• drwizman.com
• American Society for Bariatric Surgery
• Association for Morbid Obesity
• Obesity Law & Advocacy Center
• National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases
• American Obesity Association
• North American Association for the Study of Obesity

Disclaimer: Northwest Medical Center's Bariatric services may provide links to third-party web sites, however Northwest Medical Center does not promote, sanction or approve the content on these web sites. Northwest Medical Center is not responsible for the content of linked third-party sites, and does not make any representations regarding their content or accuracy. Your use of third-party websites is at your own risk.