If you have been struggling with your weight without success, Dr. H. Joseph Naim may be able to offer a long-term solution. Committed to helping patients in Orange County achieve their weight loss goals and adopt a healthy lifestyle, Dr. Naim is a well-respected leader in Lap-Band surgery.
Board-certified in general surgery and licensed in California, Dr. Naim is a member of several noted Bariatric Center of Excellence Hospitals throughout the state, including many within the Orange County area. Dr. Naim has earned a reputation as a reliable source of information on gastric band surgery, the second most performed weight loss operation in the United States. Since 2004, he has specialized in the following surgical weight loss procedures:
Dr. Naim has earned numerous awards throughout his career as a respected physician specializing in weight loss surgery for his contributions to the study of weight loss surgery. Some of these honors have included productivity and achievement awards from New York Methodist Hospital.
Addressing the needs of patients throughout the Orange County area, Dr. Naim has several important affiliations worth noting. In addition to the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, Dr. Naim is associated with the following groups and organizations:
Considered the gold standard of bariatric surgery by the National Institutes of Health, laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery restricts food consumption by creating a small pouch. Dr. Naim will further reduce the intake of food by routing what’s consumed from the pouch directly to the small intestine. The bypass also reduces the amount of calories absorbed since parts of the stomach will be skipped altogether.
If a patient isn’t an ideal candidate for a minimally invasive procedure, an open gastric bypass, where the stomach is accessed directly, may be recommended by Dr. Naim. This is a two-stage procedure that involves dividing your stomach into a smaller upper section called a pouch that will be able to hold about a cup of food and a larger lower portion. Involving the connection of part of the small intestine to a small hole in the pouch, the second part of the procedure is the bypass itself.
A relatively new surgical weight loss solution, a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy can be done as a stand-alone procedure or as part of a more extensive weight loss operation. Average weight loss with this procedure is 55 to 75 percent of a patient’s excess weight, although results do vary from one patient to the next. During the procedure, Dr. Naim removes most of the stomach and creates a slender pouch, or “sleeve,” which will hold a smaller amount of food. This option may be suggested for patients who are relatively young and otherwise healthy beyond their weight issue.
Performed as a minimally invasive procedure with long, thin instruments and a camera to ensure accuracy, Lap-Band (laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding) procedures involve the placement of an adjustable band around the stomach. The band itself is made of saline that can be added or removed to achieve the appropriate fit for the patient. About a week after the surgery, Dr. Naim usually makes the initial adjustments to the band for weight loss purposes through a comfortable access port that will be placed beneath the skin.
Before discharge, patients will be given instructions on wound care and initial diet, normally involving clear liquids. Dr. Naim stresses the importance of consuming well-balanced meals in appropriate portions and getting regular exercise to increase the odds of seeing meaningful results. Follow-up care provided for patients typically includes:
While bariatric surgery is usually an effective procedure for many patients with a history of weight loss struggles, there are times results don’t live up to expectations for a patient. If this is the case, Dr. Naim may recommend a revisional procedure. Whether or not to proceed with the same procedure, wait a little longer to see if the desired results are seen, or try another surgery will depend on:
Throughout his career, Dr. Naim has been an integral part of important surgical weight loss studies and continues to enhance his knowledge of bariatric procedures for the benefit of his patients. He remains dedicated to helping patients in Orange County see positive, life-changing results with surgical weight loss options that often have a high success rate for those committed to making necessary dietary and lifestyle adjustments.
To get a better idea of the results that you could see with your weight loss procedure, you will need to talk with the doctor about your realistic expectations. Each patient is different and the results that you could see depend on many factors, including your lifestyle, your body mass index, and more.
Contact us today to schedule your free consultation with Dr. Naim. During your consultation, you can go over your needs for weight loss and discuss the possible procedures that might be able to help you achieve a healthy weight. Feel free to ask our medical staff any questions that you might have, including how to prepare or what to expect during the recovery process. We look forward to helping you get started with your new lifestyle.
