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Home / Services & Specialities / Weight Management Program / Medical Weight Loss & Surgery

Medical Weight Loss & Surgery

Medical Weight Loss

Anyone with a BMI greater than 30 kg/m2 (click here for a BMI calculator) can participate in our non-surgical weight loss programs. Some patients are self-referred because they want to improve the quality of their lives and some are referred to us by their primary care providers or specialists so that they can improve medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, heart conditions, joint problems, incontinence and reflux.

We offer a variety of unique non-surgical weight loss options that combine our recommended high protein, low calorie products with or without healthy meal choices with exercise and behavioral health consultations. The food products are available on site for easy purchase. These flexible programs can be tailored to each patient’s needs and are designed to maximize compliance and satisfaction which are key elements of long-term success. Over 90% of our patients lose weight through our program. The average weight loss has been over 10 pounds with some patients losing 100 pounds over few months.

Bariatric Surgery

The Weight Management Program offers all widely accepted surgical procedures such as the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Dr. Raftopoulos has performed over 2,000 bariatric procedures including extensive experience with laparoscopic revisions (corrections) of previous weight loss procedures. The operations are performed in our state-of-the-art Operating Room facility with the most up-to-date equipment available. All patients receive excellent care from our nursing staff in private rooms at Holyoke Medical Center. Most patients will stay just one night in the hospital after surgery. This is one of the lowest in the country! 

To qualify for bariatric surgery you need to meet one of the criteria below (click here for a BMI calculator):

BMI 30-34.9 kg/m2 with at least one very serious medical condition:

  • Insulin dependent diabetes 
  • Sleep apnea with apnea index greater than 30
  • Hypertension (over 5 year duration and 2 or more medications)
  • Heart attack before the age of 50

BMI 35-39.9 kg/m2 with at least one of the following medical conditions:

  • Heart (cardiac) conditions
  • Insulin and non-insulin dependent diabetes 
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Obstructive sleep apnea/snoring
  • High cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) 

BMI > 40 kg/m2 with, or without medical conditions

Conditions which will resolve or improve with weight loss:

  • Heart (cardiac) conditions
  • Insulin and non-insulin dependent diabetes 
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Obstructive sleep apnea/snoring
  • High cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) 
  • Infertility
  • Asthma
  • Arthritis/ back, hip, or knee pain
  • Gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD)
  • Chronic headaches
  • Lower extremity swelling (edema)
  • Depression

Plastic Surgery

We also offer plastic surgery reconstruction after weight loss such as panniculectomy (Tummy tuck) and arm/thigh lifts. Our office will assist you in obtaining authorization from your insurance company. Photographs of our results are available upon request.

Please click here to return to the Weight Management Program.

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