Bariatric Surgeons and Specialist in North Carolina Share Expertise with Media

(Charlotte, NC – April 10, 2010) Three doctors at the Carolinas Weight Management and Wellness Center in Charlotte, North Carolina appeared on television earlier this year to inform viewers about various weight loss options. Keith S. Gersin, MD, FACS, and Timothy Kuwada, MD, FACS, are board certified and fellowship trained bariatric surgeons who perform procedures including sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass and lap band surgery. John B. Cleek, MD, is a board certified bariatrician who counsels patients in weight management. Their recent TV appearances gave them the opportunity to discuss advancements in bariatric surgery and share weight loss advice.

Dr. Gersin is leading a trial for a revolutionary device that may be used to combat obesity in the years ahead. The first US tests for the device, called the EndoBarrier, are being held in Charlotte, reported WCNC's Rachel Clapp. Dr. Gersin informed Clapp that the EndoBarrier insertion "is not an operation and is a less invasive option for patients." The apparatus is a plastic sleeve which is collapsed into a capsule and placed in the intestines with an endoscope. It then prevents the body from absorbing some of the food being digested. While Dr. Gersin does not expect the EndoBarrier to be available to the public for a few more years, the trial has shown that it may be a valuable tool for bariatric surgeons to use in helping their patients.

Tonia Bendickson of Charlotte's WBTV spoke with Dr. Kuwada concerning a new approach to laparoscopic procedures called Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS). The typical laparoscopic surgery requires five to six small incisions, Dr. Kuwada explained, yet SILS allows surgeons to perform the procedure with a single one- to two-inch incision. This technique can be used in laparoscopic gastric banding surgeries such as those featuring the Lap-Band or Realize band. It can also be used in select vertical sleeve gastrectomy cases.

When WBTV tracked the progress of two staff members and a local teacher beginning their weight loss endeavors, the news team consulted Dr. Cleek for advice. He mentioned the value of communication between patients and their doctors prior to approaching diet and exercise. "The conversation should center on what medical problems they [the patients] already have," explained Dr. Cleek. He also gave details on the importance of meal and exercise plans developed for each individual undergoing a weight loss program.

This is not the first time members of the Carolinas Weight Management and Wellness Center staff have shared their knowledge of weight loss issues with the local media. It demonstrates, however, the center's ongoing commitment to nurturing innovation in bariatric surgery and promoting healthy lifestyles for the people of the Charlotte area and North Carolina. For more information, please visit www.carolinasweightmanagement.org.

Press Contact:
Constance Simms, RN, CBN, Director
Carolinas Weight Management & Wellness Center
2608 East Seventh St.
Charlotte, NC 28204
Phone: 704-355-9484
Fax: 704-446-4983