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Weight Loss Patient Videos

Ed Ross weight loss surgery patient

Ed Ross
Vertical Sleeve Surgery 


Janet Zwirbla weight loss surgery patient

Janet Zwirbla
Before Surgery
After Surgery

FreshStart logo for our surgical weight loss program

Weight Loss Surgical Options

Milford Regional offers state-of-the-art bariatric surgical procedures for weight loss. The vertical sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass procedures are performed using minimally invasive techniques. This approach involves several small incisions rather than a large one. This means patients have less postoperative pain, fewer wound complications, and a much quicker recovery.  The gastric bypass operation is considered the "gold standard" in the United States, but the sleeve gastrectomy is the most common weight loss surgery in the Northeast.

Gastric Bypass

A smaller stomach is created and food bypasses most of the old stomach and part of the small intestine. This makes you feel full more quickly and reduces the amount of food you can eat at one time. In addition, bypassing part of the intestine changes the body’s metabolism to increase weight loss and improve some weight-related medical problems. 

Hospital Stay One night
Return to Work Three to six weeks
*Excess Weight Loss (two years) Approx. 70%


Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

A large portion of the stomach is removed and a new, smaller stomach is created in the shape of a tube. It limits the amount of food you can eat by making you feel full after eating small amounts of food.  This surgery may have metabolic advantages similar to the gastric bypass.

Hospital Stay One night
Return to Work Three to six weeks
*Excess Weight Loss (two years) Approx. 55-70%

Robotic Surgery

In addition to choosing either the sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass surgery, patients can choose to have their surgery done robotically.  This means that the surgeon could use the new da Vinci® Xi™ robotic surgical system rather than a laparoscopic (straight stick) approach.  The advantages of using the robotic system are:

  • 3-dimensional visualization for the surgeon
  • Smaller incisions
  • Precise movements of the instruments - which is especially helpful for complex surgery and reoperative/revisional surgery. 
  • Robotic instruments provide additional degrees of movement (like a wrist) that straight stick instruments cannot do. 
  • Arms of the robot apply less torque and pressure to the abdominal wall which usually will cause less pain than the traditional laparoscopic approach.
Hospital Stay One night
Return to Work Three to six weeks
*Excess Weight Loss (two years) Approx. 55-70%

*Excess weight loss refers to the amount of weight you lose from the overweight portion of your total weight.

Pre-Registration

Patients should call to pre-register up to two weeks in advance for any scheduled surgery and out-patient appointment including most diagnostic tests, lab work and pre-operative testing. This eliminates the need to wait for an admissions representative upon arrival. Patients can go directly to their point of service. Admissions representatives are available to take calls from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

Please call 508-422-2222.

Patient Stories

Kelli Beschi is a weight loss surgery patientVertical Sleeve Surgery
When Kelli weighed 284 pounds, she couldn't climb a flight of stairs without huffing and puffing. Her excess weight put pressure on her joints causing swelling and pain. After undergoing vertical sleeve gastrectomy, Kelli runs 5K races! Her borderline blood pressure and cholesterol are now perfect. Read Kelli's story.

michelle weight loss surgery patientVertical Sleeve Surgery
At 325 pounds, Michelle could not walk from the parking lot to the employee entrance at work without stopping at least four times to catch her breath. Now, Michelle walks regularly and lives an active lifestyle. Her sleep apnea, high cholesterol and diabetes have disappeared. Read Michelle's story.

Janice LeVallee gastric bypass surgery patient

Gastric Bypass Surgery
Before having weight loss surgery Janice felt tired all the time and was on numerous medications. Today, Janice is 125 pounds thinner, off her medications and has “more energy than she knows what to do with.” Read Janice’s story.

David Eckbold vertical sleeve surgery patient

Vertical Sleeve Surgery
At 288 pounds, David’s long-term health and how it could affect his family was his incentive to have weight loss surgery. Just five weeks after surgery, David lost 40 pounds and was off his medications. Read David’s story.

James Boucher robotic verticle sleeve surgery

Robotic Vertical Sleeve
Tipping the scales at 413 pounds, James had health concerns and lifestyle limitations. Since the surgery he has shed over 190 pounds, gone off his medications and loves taking 25-mile bike rides! Read James's story.

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