We welcome you and supportive friends and family members to attend our Information Seminar on:
Wednesday, February 1, at 7 p.m.
This informative event will be hosted by board certified, fellowship-trained laparoscopic surgeon Dr. Seun Sowemimo, FACS, medical director, Prime Surgicare. During this informal session, you will learn more about weight loss surgery and have an opportunity to ask questions and make an appointment for a consultation. One of Dr. Sowemimo’s patients will also share her story of weight loss struggle and how she won the battle after gastric bypass surgery last year.
James Langan, a 60-year-old retired maintenance supervisor, was looking forward to having his weight loss surgery performed by Dr. Seun Sowemimo. He initially attended the doctor’s weight loss surgery Informational Seminarto learn more about the different surgical procedures available and ask questions about the process. James attended the seminar with his sister-in-law, Joanne, head nurse in the Surgery department of an orthopedic group, whom he refers to as the ‘family doctor’. “Even she was impressed with Dr. Seun and agreed with his assessment that the gastric sleeve procedure was the way to go in my situation,” James recalls.
An unexpected roadblock
Prior to surgery, the Sayreville resident underwent routine testing to ensure he was a suitable candidate for the sleeve procedure. But during a colonoscopy, a mass on right side of James’ colon was discovered. James says Dr. Seun took immediate control of the serious diagnosis and simply told him “we would resolve this issue first and then get back to the weight loss surgery.” Dr. Seun recommended James get a second opinion from another surgeon before even discussing what action to take. “That really earned my confidence,” James says.
James did so and the second surgeon confirmed Dr. Seun’s diagnosis─stage one colon cancer. Fortunately, the cancer was in the early stages and had not penetrated any muscle. One week later, Dr. Seun laparoscopically removed all of the cancerous tumor in the colon at CentraState Medical Center.
Moving forward
“The incisions from my minimally invasive surgery were tiny—maybe two inches long. I previously had a knee replacement and surgery to remove an aneurism. But this time, I didn’t have to deal with weeks and weeks of recovery from general surgery.” James was only on pain medication for a day and a half after his colon surgery and says his scars are almost completely gone today. One month later, cancer free, James was finally ready to move forward with his bariatric sleeve surgery, which was performed without any complications.
Today, James has lost 76 pounds in less than three months and has alleviated the need for several medications for previous health conditions related to his obesity; He no longer needs any medication for high blood pressure. He found Dr. Seun’s calm and patient demeanor along with the non-stop support of Julie Parrott, RD, the Prime Surgicare nutritionist, pivotal to his rapid weight loss. To prepare him for surgery, James underwent a liquid protein diet to eliminate meals and caloric intake prior to surgery and prepare him for the liquid diet he would consume for a few weeks after surgery. “This helped tremendously during my first week of recovery,” said James.
James laughs and says that, unfortunately, he deems himself an expert in the world of surgery, after undergoing three major procedures in additional to his bariatric surgery. “Dr. Seun is not a hit-and-run doctor. He is always there to answer your questions, very down to earth, and speaks to you on your level. I recommend him 100% to anyone who may be facing surgery.”
Dr. Seun Sowemimo, Tony and Julie Parrott, MS, RD, LD.
A huge “thank you” goes out to our patient, Tony Paulino, who spoke last night at our weight loss surgery New Patient Information Session at CentraState Medical Center. In nine months, Tony has lost 160 pounds after undergoing the gastric sleeve procedure. She also shared her before / after driver’s license photos which brought gasps to the audience!
Appendicitis can be a challenging condition to diagnose because abdominal pain can arise from a number of health problems. Symptoms can include consistent and worsening pain in the lower right abdomen and gastrointestinal problems (vomiting, constipation, diarrhea). See your family doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. The doctor will diagnose the condition by applying gentle pressure on the painful area. When the pressure is suddenly released, appendicitis pain will often feel worse, signaling that the adjacent peritoneum is inflamed. Other signs your doctor may watch for include abdominal rigidity and a tendency to stiffen your abdominal muscles in response to pressure over the inflamed appendix (guarding).
Minimally Invasive Surgical Benefits
If appendicitis is confirmed after blood, urine and ultrasound testing, the appendix can be surgically removed laparoscopically, using tiny incisions allowing for less pain, less blood loss, lower risk of infection and barely visible scars. But is this procedure really as safe and effective as a traditional “open” appendectomy? The answer is yes.
Laparoscopic appendectomy is performed by inserting small cameras and surgical instruments via small incisions in the abdomen. While the hospital stay is usually two to five days for an “open” or traditional procedure, laparoscopic patients can expect to be discharged within just 24 to 36 hours. Additionally, traditional appendectomy patients end up with a scar at least two to four inches long requiring up to six weeks of recovery time before resuming work and other normal activities.
But laparoscopic surgery isn’t appropriate for everyone. If your appendix has ruptured (burst inside the abdomen) and infection has spread beyond the appendix or if an abscess is present, you may require an open appendectomy. An open appendectomy allows your surgeon to safely clean the abdominal cavity and prevent the infection from causing additional health problems.
Worsening Stomach Pain? Call Your Doctor
Most importantly, if you experience consistent or worsening abdominal pain don’t wait to see your doctor. A ruptured appendix is a more serious and complex condition to address and your recovery time will be significantly increased as a result.
Seun Sowemimo, MD, FACS, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained advanced laparoscopic, bariatric and general surgeon. He is the medical director at Prime Surgicare and Central Jersey Bariatrics. If you are facing a routine or complex surgical procedure, call (732) 637 – 6370 to set up a consultation with Dr. Sowemimo (Dr. Seun).
Karen Fabiny, RN, has a great deal of exposure to the ins and outs of weight loss surgery. As a staff nurse at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold, she helps patients before and after various surgical procedures, including gastric bypass and the gastric sleeve procedure. At 51-years-old and with a family history of obesity, Karen knew the time had come for her to make a change. Weighing more than 300 pounds, she was taking three medications for high blood pressure and experiencing chronic joint pain in her knees and ankles.
“I watched Dr. Sowemimo (Dr. Seun) interact with patients before and after surgery and was impressed by his care and concern for each of them,” Karen says. “Once I made the decision to have bariatric surgery, there was no question he was the surgeon for me.” Karen and Dr. Seun agreed that the minimally invasive gastric sleeve procedure (sleeve gastrectomy) would be the best surgical solution for her. Gastric sleeve is one of the safest bariatric operations offering shorter hospitalization, quicker recovery time and less pain.
Starting on the road back to health
Karen began working with the nutritionists even before her surgery. She learned how to change her eating patterns throughout the weight loss surgical journey and even lost 10 pounds before surgery. She also attended CentraState’s support group meetings with other patients who were undergoing bariatric surgery.
“After just 10 weeks, I lost 50 pounds. At that point, I was more motivated and comfortable to start walking outside and get my body moving again,” Karen recalls. At six months, she had lost 85 pounds and was exercising regularly, following her meal plan and enjoying non-stop compliments from family, friends and colleagues at the hospital. She attended an annual summer picnic with her husband and when they arrived, the group thought her husband had brought another woman to the event. “Our friends whom we don’t see very often did not recognize me until I started talking to them,” Karen recalls. “That was a very memorable day for me.”
From size 28 down to size 12 in one year
A year later, Karen has given away her clothing in sizes 26/28 and replaced them with size 12 clothing. She can no longer shop in plus-size clothing stores. She has lost 130 pounds and is not finished yet. “One of the nutritionists, Karen Scott, RN, BSN, helped me understand the importance of eating protein and how this helps keep you feeling full and energized throughout the day, “Karen says. Today, her meals are centered around protein drinks and bars, Greek yogurt, fruits and vegetables and appropriate portions of white protein.
“My life has changed, that’s for sure. My only regret is that I didn’t do this sooner. At the same time, this experience has been worth the wait.”
Karen Fabiny shown before her weight loss surgery.
Karen Fabiny smiles a year later and 130 pounds lighter.
Less than a year after her procedure, our always happy, always positive patient, Nancy Santoriello, reports she’s dropped a whopping 125 pounds.
“Went to the Dr. today. I’m down 125 lbs. almost a year since my surgery. He was very happy with my 60% weight loss. Shooting for another 10% by Sept 10, a year since my surgery :)”
Nancy, you are an inspiration to many and we know you will be successful. We’re behind you 100%! Keep up the great work.
Cholecystectomy (koh-luh-sis-TEK-tuh-me) is the medical term for surgical gallbladder removal. This pear- shaped organ is located just below your liver on the upper right side of your abdomen. The gallbladder’s job is to collect and store bile — a digestive fluid produced in your liver.
Cholecystectomy may be necessary if you experience pain from gallstones that block the flow of bile. It is a common surgery and carries only a small risk of complications. In most cases, after an ample time for post-operative recovery, you can go home the same day. The procedure is most commonly performed by inserting a tiny video camera and special surgical tools through four small incisions to see inside your abdomen and remove the gallbladder (left image). Doctors call this laparoscopic cholecystectomy. You can see how much less invasive it is for the patient. The patient shown on the right, who experienced open surgery, can expect a far more lengthy recovery time, more blood loss and the use of pain medication for a longer period of time. Open surgery also carries additional risk to the patient.
To help our Prime Surgicare patients understand the benefits of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, I published the video below which explains the procedure in more detail. I hope it is helpful to you and, no, I have no plans to leave my job as a surgeon and go to Hollywood!
Stephen Naples, our 2010 patient, was featured in CentraState Medical Center’s Healthy Directions magazine this month. Since undergoing sleeve gastrectomy weight loss surgery, Stephen has shed more than 100 pounds. You can read about his personal weight loss journey here.Congratulations Stephen!
Central Jersey Bariatrics adds two fellowship-trained surgeons
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ―Oluseun Sowemimo, MD, and Ayotunde Adeyeri, MD, have joined Central Jersey Bariatrics to expand the practice and accommodate growing patient demand. Morris Washington, MD, who founded the practice, will continue on as a consultant.
Dr. Sowemimo (Dr. Seun), who leads the general surgical practice, Prime Surgicare, Freehold Township, completed his residency training at Columbia University’s Harlem Hospital Center, New York, where he was appointed Chief Resident from 2004-2005. He obtained fellowship training in advanced laparoscopic, robotic and open bariatric surgery at the Hospital of St. Raphael, New Haven, CT. Dr. Seun also earned a medical degree at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, and completed surgical training at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, after completing a Clinical Clerkship at Kings College Hospital, London.
Dr. Adeyeri, who leads the surgical practice Sterling Surgicare, Holmdel, also completed his general surgery residency at Columbia University’s Harlem Hospital Center where he appointed Chief Resident from 2006-2007. He completed an advanced fellowship in minimally invasive, bariatric, and GI surgery at the University of Rochester, NY.
Drs. Sowemimo and Adeyeri are board certified by the American Board of Surgery. They specialize in Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding, sleeve gastrectomy, and other advanced laparoscopic surgical procedures. Both surgeons are affiliated with CentraState Medical Center, Freehold; Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel; and Raritan Bay Medical Center, Old Bridge. Call (732) 761-8320 or visit www.centraljerseybariatrics.com for more information.
If you would like to learn more about surgical weight loss solutions and meet people who have or will undergo a procedure, we invite you (and your family or friends) to join us!
Date: Dec 9, 2010
Time: 7 - 9pm
Place: Radisson Hotel
50 Gibson Place
Freehold, NJ 07728
To RSVP, please call Jessica at (732) 637 - 6370.
This is a friendly and informal event. Your questions are welcomed and encouraged. We look forward to meeting you on Thursday!
