At BMC, our team understands the challenges that can come when you're living with obesity. We work with you to find the best treatment for your weight and weight-related health needs, including surgical options available in our Weight Loss (Bariatric) Surgery Program. ### Weight Loss (Bariatric) Surgery - [Contact Us](#contact-us) - [Treatments & Services](#treatments-services) - [Our Team](#our-team) - [Patient Resources](#patient-resources) ## Contact Us [ 725 Albany St., Boston, MA 02118 3rd Floor, Suite 3B BMC, Shapiro Center ](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/725+Albany+Street,+Boston,+MA) [617.414.8052](tel:617.414.8052) Monday-Friday - 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM [ ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/bfc9329a-5a2c-47fb-a7a2-c64d0d17dfba/img_1611?io=transform:fill,width:300,height:200&format=jpg) ](/content/shapiro-center) ## Treatments & Services At Boston Medical Center, we offer two types of weight loss surgery: gastric bypass and gastric sleeve (vertical sleeve gastrectomy). These procedures, which are commonly performed laparoscopically, limit the amount of food you can eat and can achieve excellent weight loss. There are some important differences to consider when deciding which procedure is best for you and your surgeon. ### Gastric Bypass Surgery Gastric bypass surgery is a surgical procedure in which the stomach is made smaller by stapling it and dividing it into two compartments. The smallest compartment is called a bag. Most of the stomach is bypassed, which means that food surrounds it, rather than through it. [Read more](/content/gastric-bypass-surgery) ### Gastric sleeve (vertical sleeve gastrectomy) With sleeve or gastric sleeve gastrectomy, your stomach will be made smaller by stapling and dividing most of your stomach and pulling it out of your body. The remaining stomach is in the shape of a long, narrow tube with a small food container at the end of the tube. [Read more](/services/gastric-sleeve-vertical-sleeve-gastrectomy) ### Revision Surgery for Weight Loss Boston Medical Center weight loss surgeons have extensive experience in the field of revision weight loss surgery. This includes the elimination of adjustable gastric band devices (Lap Band®) or conversion to another type of weight loss surgery. [Read more](/content/revision-surgery-weight-loss) ## Our Team Boston Medical Center's Bariatric Surgery Program is recognized as a Center of Excellence by the American College of Surgeons. The team is made up of national leaders, who are experts in their fields and have performed more than a thousand surgeries. ### Bariatric Surgeons ### [Donald T. Hess, MD, FACS](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/donald-t-hess-md-facs) System Chief of Bariatric, Minimally Invasive, and General Surgery, BMC Health System ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/a4014bb9-5fe4-424c-ad5a-a94002a197a1/Hess_Donald-jpg?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Brian J. Carmine, MD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/brian-j-carmine-md) General Surgeon ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/576a37d4-c06b-4405-94f5-e634793840d4/Brian-Carmine_259_2x3?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Joshua D Davies, MD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/joshua-d-davies-md) General and Minimally Invasive Surgeon ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/ad491dc6-4f59-4e38-b1f1-22963a67714f/Davies_Joshua_2-jpg?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Jacob Nudel, MD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/jacob-nudel-md) Weight Loss Surgeon ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/51fa2de1-d948-4fe4-8f8e-9d4d30678c05/Jake-Nudel_82_2x3?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Luise I. Pernar, MD, MHPE](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/luise-i-pernar-md) Weight Loss Surgeon ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/69fc7daa-e6af-4162-81e4-974eaf0dd553/Pernar_Luise-jpg?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### Advanced Practice Provider ### [Bridget Babich-Wydysh](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/bridget-babich-wydysh) ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/328b6361-c372-41bd-bceb-c31d09f27bbe/Bridget-Wydysh?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Toni Magee, PA-C](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/toni-magee-pa-c) ![Placeholder image for doctor](/themes/custom/bmc_base_theme/assets/images/placeholders/headshoticon-v2.svg) ### Social Worker ### [Kelly L Fournier, LICSW](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/kelly-l-fournier-licsw) ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/6c03babe-d658-4d5f-b68d-e8159c8ffa2b/Fournier_Kelly_LISCW_Psych?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### Registered Dietitians **Wendy Anderson, MS, RDN, LDN** *Senior Bariatric Surgery Dietitian* Wendy has been practicing as a bariatric dietitian since 1999. She has and continues to be the lead dietitian in several obesity-related research projects including the implementation of Boston Medical Center's surgical weight-management clinical database. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition Sciences at the University of Vermont and completed her Dietetic Internship and Master Degree at the University of Rhode Island. She has authored multiple publications in the field of obesity medicine which have been published in peer-reviewed journals. She has presented topics on bariatric surgery at obesity conferences including Obesity Week and the Boston Nutrition Obesity Research Center (BONRC). Prior to her current position as Senior Bariatric Surgery Dietitian, she was the dietitian for the obesity program at Jewish Memorial Hospital located in Boston, MA. She is a member of the Weight Management Practice Group affiliated with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Wendy's special interests include obesity research, bariatric surgery, weight management, integrative medicine, and mindful eating practices. **Lesley Levitt, MS, RDN, LDN** *Bariatric Surgery Dietitian* Lesley completed her dietetic education at Simmons College along with a Master of Science in Applied Nutrition from Northeastern University. Following her academic work, she completed a clinical internship at Mount Auburn Hospital, where she trained in their Surgical Weight Loss Program. Lesley comes from a background in nutrition research focused on obesity and weight management. Prior to coming to Boston Medical Center, she was involved in weight loss research studies at both Tufts University in the Energy Metabolism lab, and Boston Children's Hospital in the New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center. ## Patient Resources [### Weight Loss Surgery Patient Information In preparation for your weight-loss surgery, we ask that you attend a cooking class to learn how to prepare simple, healthy, and affordable recipes that will help your stomach heal properly, help you lose the right amount of weight, and prevent nutritional deficiencies after your surgery. ](/weight-loss-surgery/patient-information) [### Frequently Asked Questions Our Frequently Asked Questions section refers to United States-based generally standard and accepted practices. As always, please check with your physician to determine their practices, guidelines, and what they recommend for you. ](/weight-loss-surgery/frequently-asked-questions) [### Minimally Invasive Weight Loss Surgery For the last decade, laparoscopic procedures have been used in a variety of general surgeries. Many people mistakenly believe that these techniques are still "experimental." In fact, laparoscopy has become the predominant technique in some areas of surgery and has been used for weight loss surgery for the past 6 years at Boston Medical Center. ](/weight-loss-surgery/minimally-invasive) [### Obesity and Your Health Obesity results from the excessive accumulation of fat that exceeds the body's skeletal and physical standards. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an increase in 20 percent or more above your ideal body weight is the point at which excess weight becomes a health risk. ](/weight-loss-surgery/obesity-and-your-health)