Begin your path to a vibrant, new you

HOW DO I SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT?

Call our nurse coordinator at 973-429-6500.

WHY MOUNTAINSIDE MEDICAL CENTER

At Mountainside Medical Center, we understand that weight loss surgery is a big decision that can change your life. That’s why our bariatric doctors are prepared to answer your questions and offer you support every step of the way on your weight loss journey. We offer weight loss seminars and a variety of surgical treatments, including gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy, for patients who are eligible for bariatric surgery. Whenever possible, we also offer minimally invasive techniques and laparoscopic surgery to help reduce scarring and speed up recovery times.

WILL INSURANCE PAY FOR MY SURGERY?

If you are considering bariatric surgery, you will need to call your insurance company to verify your plan includes bariatric benefits for the treatment of morbid obesity.

You will need the following information from your insurance company:

 Does your plan cover bariatric services and surgery, or is it an exclusion or only covered if life-threatening (meaning they do not cover bariatric surgery)?

 If your plan covers bariatric services and surgery, you will need to know what pre-surgical requirements are necessary to qualify for surgery. For example, Medicaid requires six consecutive months of medical weight management and psychological evaluation.

 What is your portion of the cost? Confirm how much your insurance will cover for the procedure.

 In case you need to contact your insurance company again, write down the name of the representative you spoke to, as well as a reference number for the call.

 Here are the specific codes your insurance company may request: 

• ICD code of obesity E66.01
• CPT code for sleeve 43775
• CPT code for bypass 43644

AM I A CANDIDATE FOR BARIATRIC SURGERY?

Bariatric surgery may be an option for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more. If you have other serious health conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, bariatric surgery may be beneficial if your BMI is between 35 and 40. If your BMI is below 35, you will not qualify for surgery.

WHAT TYPES OF WEIGHT LOSS PROCEDURES DO YOU OFFER?

Mountainside Medical Center offers several types of procedures, including: 

Roux-en-Y (roo-en-wy) gastric bypass - This is the most common procedure. A surgeon creates a small pouch from the stomach and connects it directly to the small intestine. This helps lower the amount of food you can eat in one sitting.

Sleeve gastrectomy - This procedure removes about 80% of the stomach, leaving a long, tube-like pouch. This smaller stomach can't hold as much food. It also produces less of the appetite-regulating hormone ghrelin, which can curb your desire to eat.

Adjustable gastric band (lap-band) - Also known as lap-band surgery, adjustable gastric banding is an adjustable band that’s placed around the top part of the stomach to create a smaller stomach pouch to make you feel full after eating less food.

HOW CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

We offer free virtual seminars that answer many patients’ most frequently asked questions. You can also reach out to our bariatric coordinator anytime at  973-429-6500.

NOT SURE IF YOU ARE READY FOR SURGERY?

If you’re considering weight loss options but aren’t sure if surgery is right for you, there are other medical weight loss treatments that may help. Our team provides a range of solutions tailored to your needs, including non-surgical options designed to support safe and effective weight loss. Whatever your weight loss goals are, we’re here to help you find the best path toward better health.

 Ready to explore your options? Call us at 973-429-6500 to learn more about both surgical and non-surgical weight loss solutions.