Alfred Trang, MD, and Ann M. Whitehouse, PsyD

When Einstein bariatric surgeon Alfred Trang, MD, tells his patients that they’re going to have to see a psychologist before they have weight loss surgery, he quickly short-circuits their protests. “I tell them ‘it’s not because we think you’re crazy,’” he says. “’It’s to help you deal with issues afterwards that no one expects.’”

Your body isn’t the only thing that changes after weight loss surgery. While the after-effects are largely positive—you’ll be buying smaller clothes, fitting into an airplane seat with room to spare, saying goodbye to chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension—you also may be facing some emotional challenges post-op, says Dr. Trang, who has been doing bariatric surgery for eight and a half years, performing thousands of surgeries.

At Einstein, the psychologist you’re likely to see is Ann M. Whitehouse, PsyD., Einstein Behavioral Health. “Having weight loss surgery is a little like having a baby,” explains Whitehouse. “You can’t always anticipate every little thing. It’s like reinventing yourself. It can affect all your relationships. Some people are very surprised at some of the feelings they have.”

Dr. Dr. Dallal is vice chair of the department of surgery and a bariatric surgery specialist. He has performed thousands of laparoscopic gastric bypass procedures and maintains some of the lowest complication rates and some of the highest patient satisfaction rates in the country.

Perspectives: Why did you initially become interested in bariatric surgery?

Dr. Dallal: Bariatric surgery has been around since the 1950s and ‘60s, but laparoscopy dramatically increased patients’ interest in the procedure. The surgery’s popularity grew immensely with the first laparoscopic procedure in the early ‘90s, which happened to be when I was studying. But beyond that, I’ve always found it to be a fantastic field of medicine, really unlike any other. It’s a field in which you cure diseases, eliminate medications, improve quality of life, and use cutting-edge medical expertise. Plus, it’s a discipline in which you have an incredibly satisfied patient population. And all those things create a wonderful camaraderie among my team members and with our patients.

Honestly, I’m high-fiving and hugging patients all day long. The life-changing potential of this work is incredible—and incredibly gratifying. I can’t understand why anyone would choose to specialize in anything else.

Heart Healthy Recipe Diabetes Recipe Gluten Free Recipe

Grilled fish kebabs are an easy and delicious way to eat healthy. These tasty fish kebabs are livened up with a refreshing rosemary lime marinade.

Ingredients

• 1 lb salmon fillet, skinned and cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
• 1 small zucchini, cut into 3/4-inch chunks
• 4 oz fresh baby bella mushrooms, large ones cut in half
• 1/4 red onion, wedged and pulled apart
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 Tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
• 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 3 Tbsp lime juice
• 1/8 tsp salt
• Black pepper to taste

Bariatric surgery at Einstein can change life in many ways. Certainly, significant weight loss is the primary benefit. Bariatric surgical procedures also often improve or reverse medical conditions such as high cholesterol, sleep apnea, diabetes, high blood pressure, joint pain and infertility.

All of these life improvements can come about through minimally invasive procedures, with short recovery times, minimal inconvenience, and a lifeline of support before, during and after surgery. Einstein bariatric surgeons have performed thousands of these procedures.

One patient, who was nearly 400 pounds when she chose bariatric surgery at Einstein, lost 175 pounds as a result—and for that medical outcome, she’s thankful.

Weight-loss surgery can be life-changing and potentially life-saving. At a healthy weight, you feel better, look better and can better enjoy everyday activities. But along with the positive aspects of substantial weight loss comes a problem that affects many individuals: excess skin.

Have you found yourself giving in to eating certain foods simply because you’re uncomfortable saying “no thanks”?

You may be a victim of food peer pressure. If you have had bariatric surgery, it’s especially important that you do not fall prey to this syndrome.

Here are some clues that you let others—and not your best judgment—affect your food choices:

• You realize you are full, but the people around you are still eating, so you keep eating.
• Everyone orders an appetizer and/or dessert, so you order one, too, to avoid being the odd one out.
• As a dinner guest, you finish all the food on your plate to avoid appearing rude.
• You are self-conscious that others will think you are wasting food (or you believe this yourself), so you clean your plate.

A take-out Chinese food favorite, beef and broccoli is loaded with sodium and dripping in unhealthy sauce. With this beef stir-fry recipe, though, you’ll get all the good taste without unhealthy additives.

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp dry sherry or red wine
• 2 Tbsp lower-sodium soy sauce (gluten free if needed)
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 lb boneless flank steak, cut diagonally across grain into thin slices
• 1/2 cup beef broth (gluten free if needed)
• 1 Tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot
• 1 Tbsp hoisin sauce (gluten free if needed)
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp chopped fresh ginger
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 cups broccoli florets
• 1/3 cup sliced scallions
• 1/2 cup water chestnuts
• 1/2 tsp sesame seeds
• Optional: 2 cups cooked brown rice