General Practitioners

• Medical Weight Loss
  The LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Banding System is the most revolutionary surgical treatment for morbid obesity in the United States. It induces weight loss by reducing the capacity of the stomach, thereby restricting the amount of food that can be consumed at one time. This simple yet effective bariatric procedure helps patients gradually lose weight and keep it off! The term “lap band” is often mistakenly referred to as the generic name for any stomach banding weight loss procedure, however, LAP-BAND is the registered trademark for the original FDA approved adjustable gastric banding device manufactured and sold by Allergan, Inc. of Irvine, CA.
• Nutritional Counseling
  The ROSE procedure is performed using a small flexible endoscope and a new EndoSurgical Operating System (EOS). The scope and the EOS instruments are inserted through the mouth into the gastric pouch the same way as a standard endoscope. Tissue anchors are used to create multiple, circumferential tissue folds around the stoma to reduce the diameter, typically to about 10mm. Dr. Gonzalez will then use the same technique to place anchors in the gastric pouch to reduce its volume capacity. After the procedure, the patient will enter the Center for Obesity Surgery’s standard bariatric surgery follow-up program of nutritional counseling and exercise, similar to the one prescribed after their original gastric bypass surgery.
• Sleep Disorders
• High Cholesterol
• Urinary Incontinence
• Diarrhea

Gynecologists

• Female Infertility
• Pregnancy

Internists

• Colon Cancer
  Some of the ways to prevent the colon cancer include high fiber diets and vitamins, avoid smoking and alcohol consumption, lose weight in case you are obese, and a healthy life style can lessen risk of colon cancer.
• Endoscopy
  Patients who were initially successful in losing weight after the Gastric Bypass surgery and now find themselves regaining weight may be ideal candidates for this procedure. After an initial screening, you will undergo a series of evaluations including nutritional and dietary counseling, a full medical exam and endoscopy to determine if you are a good candidate.

Psychiatrists

• Depression
• Mental Health
  Those who are considering Gastric Bypass should also be in good mental health, as the recovery and necessary lifestyle changes can be challenging. Certain health conditions, like Crohn’s disease or hyperphagia disorder, may disqualify someone from Gastric Bypass, and this procedure is also not recommended for heavy smokers. Gastric Bypass is often recommended for those who suffer from acid reflux (GERD) because of the lower risk of GERD after surgery versus gastric sleeve.

Endocrinologist

• Diabetes Care
• Endocrinology
  ** American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) / American College of Endocrinology (ACE) Statement on the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Obesity (1998 Revision). AACE/ACE Obesity Task Force. Endocr Pract. 1998; Vol. 4 No. 5: 297-330.

Radiologist

• Ultrasound
  Gallstones and cholecystitis (inflammation of the gall bladder) can be easily diagnosed through ultrasound. Other advanced techniques or tests include endoscopic ultrasonography, cholescintigraphy (HIDA) scan, CT scan.
• MRI
  Imaging tests such as X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computer tomography (CT) scan may be ordered to determine if the intestine or other internal organs has protruded into the bulge.
• X-Rays
• Computed Tomography
  Small intestine disorders and other common diseases share some common symptoms making the diagnosis difficult. However, along with a detailed history and physical examination, a few tests may be performed that include CT scan, barium enema X-ray and capsule endoscopy.

Surgeons

• General Surgery
  Dr. Gonzalez performs many General Surgery procedures including surgery for: chronic acid reflux (Nissen fundoplication and EsophyX TIF), gallbladder surgery (cholecystectomy), hernia surgery (hiatal hernia, inguinal hernia, ventral hernia, incisional hernia, and umbilical hernia), intestinal surgery (small intestine, colon), stomach surgery, etc.
• Wound Care
  After the procedure, medications will be prescribed to relieve pain. You will be advised to rest with your hips and legs bent to minimize pressure on the stomach. You will wear a firm elastic bandage for extra support around the abdomen. Most patients are discharged 1 to 3 days after the surgery, and instructed about proper wound care at home. After the stitches are removed, do not expose the area to the sun. Scars will become lighter and flatter in 3 to 6 months. Strenuous activity is prohibited for the next four to six weeks or until the wounds heal. You will be able to resume work in 2 to 4 weeks.
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
  Incision less Surgery is the next wave in minimally invasive surgery and is rapidly becoming an option demanded by patients, insurers and healthcare providers. New surgical tools enable access to the GI tract and abdominal organs through a patient’s mouth or other natural orifices, eliminating the need for external incisions into the body. Incision less procedures include those performed within the natural pathways (lumens) of the GI tract, called Endolumenal Surgery or NOS (Natural Orifice Surgery) or by creating an opening in the lumen to access abdominal organs, called NOTES (Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery).
• Laparoscopy
  This surgery can be performed laparoscopically through tiny incisions in the abdomen as opposed to an “open” approach with a large abdominal incision. A laparoscope is a long, narrow telescope with a light source and video camera at the end. The scope is passed through a tiny incision into the abdomen where images from the camera are projected onto a large monitor for the surgeon to view. Laparoscopes have channels inside the scope enabling the surgeon to pass gas in and out to expand the viewing area or to insert tiny surgical instruments for treatment purposes. The surgical instruments used in operative laparoscopy are very small but appear much larger when viewed through a laparoscope.

Plastic Surgeons

• Plastic Surgery
• Abdominoplasty
  Many people who desire a flat and toned stomach are not able achieve it with diet or exercise alone. Tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a procedure which removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen and tightens the abdominal wall muscles to restore a firm and toned abdomen.
• Laparoscopic Surgery
  Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure which involves the use of a lighted viewing tube called a laparoscope which is introduced through a small incision (keyhole size) on your abdomen and can provide a well-illuminated and magnified view of the structures within. A miniature camera present inside the tube displays images on a monitor which guide your doctor to perform surgery with the help of special instruments introduced through the laparoscope or other similar incisions.
• Bariatric Surgery
  Bariatric surgery is a safe, effective and well-established procedure to treat obesity. However, sometimes, you may require a revisional bariatric surgery in the following cases...