Northeast Georgia Medical Center has a dedicated Bariatrics nursing unit at its main campus in Gainesville.  This specially-designed unit has rooms equipped with beds, toilets, shower chairs, blood pressure cuffs, scales and transfer devices uniquely made to accommodate bariatric patients.  In addition, staff members involved in bariatric surgery and post-operative patient care have undergone specialized training to ensure the highest quality of care for patients during their hospital stay.

Who is a Candidate for Weight Loss Surgery?
Weight loss surgery is only recommended for people with a BMI of 40 or greater, approximately 100 pounds over ideal body weight for men or 80 pounds for women.  People who have a BMI between 35 and 40 and at least one significant obesity-related health condition, such as sleep apnea, diabetes or heart disease, may also be candidates for surgery.

Surgery Benefits
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), surgery offers the only proven long-term weight loss solution in patients for whom all other therapies have failed, and after 10-14 years, many gastric bypass patients have maintained a loss of about 100 pounds.

Additional clinical research has shown that this weight loss leads to a significant improvement in the health status of many gastric bypass surgery patients.  Most people with Type 2 diabetes no longer need medication within a month of surgery; back and joint pain is relieved; sleep apnea symptoms disappear; leg swelling decreases; acid reflux is alleviated; blood pressure stabilizes; cholesterol levels drop; and often, hypertension goes into complete remission.  Many morbidly obese people are on permanent disability, and following weight loss surgery, most can return to work.

How Can I Learn More?
Patients interested in weight loss surgery should attend a public information session offered monthly in Gainesville.  At these educational sessions, surgeons provide information about the surgical procedures, our psychotherapist provides information about the required psychological examination, and staff from the surgeons' offices provide information about the application process.  Patients who have undergone weight loss surgery often attend these sessions to share their success stories and answer questions.

To learn more about weight loss surgery options or a list of public information sessions, call Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s Bariatric Services at 770-219-0061.

For more information about surgeons performing bariatric weight loss surgery at NGMC visit:

Obesity Solutions 

NGPG Surgical Associates - Alex Nguyen, MD