Weight Loss Surgery Program
Featuring Adjustable Gastric Banding
The Weight Loss Surgery Program at Mount Sinai Hospital located in Chicago, Illinois provides patients with the resources necessary to not only reduce weight, but also alleviate related health conditions, such as diabetes or cardiovascular risk factors, in a non-judgmental way.
Our program offers both types of laparoscopic gastric bands available: the LAP BAND and the REALIZE Band to meet patient preferences for their lap banding procedure. The program guides patients along their entire weight loss journey before, during and after their gastric banding surgery.
This includes:
- Free regularly scheduled information sessions with the surgeon
- Education about obesity, proper nutrition and necessary changes for patients, spouses and their families
- Cooking and exercise classes to help ensure a healthy lifestyle
- Classes on living with gastric banding, stress management and healthy shopping
To view a schedule of our classes, click here
Our weight loss support staff is dedicated to ensuring healthful success, including:
- Adjustments to Lap Band or Realize Band
- Referrals for smoking cessation assistance
- Referrals for financing for self-pay patients
Caregiver team*:
- Sachin Kukreja, MD, Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgeon
- Alejandro Santos-Leal, MD, Internal Medicine Bariatrician Physician
- Betsy Gertz, PhD, Psychologist
- Florence Molinaro, Certified Bariatric Nurse Coordinator
- Kelly Kleckner, Registered Dietician
- Megha Chadha, MD, Psychiatry
- Krista Schwuchow, NP,Psychiatry
- Yogi Ahluwalia, MD, Psychiatry
To be considered for surgery, patients must:
- Be between ages of 18-60
- Have BMI of 30 or higher with obesity related medical problems; or BMI of 35 or higher without medical problems
- Be motivated!
For gastric banding procedures, Mount Sinai Hospital accepts Medicaid, private insurance or self-pay patients. Patients with private insurance should contact their insurance provider to ensure Bariatric Surgery coverage at Mount Sinai Hospital is available to them.
Patients can attend a FREE orientation without a referral.
For more information call the Weight Loss Surgery Program at Mount Sinai Hospital at (773) 257-2020 or e-mail weight.loss@sinai.org.
*Physicians are not employed by Mount Sinai Hospital
