SPRINGFIELD, New Jersey ( 12/28/11) − New Jersey Bariatric Center^® staff and surgeons Dr. Ajay Goyal, Dr. Glenn Forrester, Dr. Angela Jack and Dr. Leigh Montes are pleased to announce the opening of their 7,000-square-foot office specially designed with the needs of the weight loss surgery patient in mind.

The new space located at 193 Morris Avenue in Springfield, New Jersey, includes a bright and roomy waiting area, more exam rooms with the most modern equipment available, ample parking close to the building, a large meeting space for support groups, seminars and other patient events and more.

“The new office is the culmination of many years of research and planning to find just the right location that meets the needs of our gastric bypass, LAP BAND and gastric sleeve patients,” said Dr. Goyal, the founder of the New Jersey Bariatric Center^® and Director of Bariatric Surgery at Overlook Medical Center in Summit. “Sensitivity to their weight is a big issue for many obese patients.  So it was important for our new office to take that into account.

“We’ve put in bariatric seating, which is wider than standard-size chairs so that patients don’t feel uncomfortable while seated. We have an elevator for people who may have trouble with stairs. Even our scale is in a private area because we understand that obese patients may not want passing staff to inadvertently see how much they weigh. Everything about the design of our new office was done with the needs of the obese patient in mind.”

New Jersey Bariatric Center^® surgeons have performed more than 2,000 laparoscopic weight loss surgical procedures. Weight loss surgery alters the digestive tract to aid severely obese patients in losing weight.  The three main procedures performed are the gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy (also known as gastric sleeve) or gastric band (known by the brand names LAP-BAND® or REALIZE® band).  Weight loss surgery is considered the most effective means of controlling weight and resolving co-morbid conditions in the obese patient, according to the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons.

Studies show that weight loss surgery patients who have a strong support system achieve the greatest long-term weight loss success, explains Dr. Glenn Forrester, a New Jersey Bariatric Center^® surgeon and Director of Bariatric Surgery at Trinitas Medical Center in Elizabeth. Family support is critical for success because the patient must commit to major lifestyle change, such as eating healthy and exercising. Access to other people who have gone through the surgery is also crucial, Dr. Forrester explains.

“Post-surgical patients have a lot of questions as they begin their journey toward healthier lives,” he says. “Doctors and dietitians can give a lot of answers but knowing you can talk to others who have been there is comforting and often is the best medicine to help patients get over hurdles.”

“Our new office space will allow us to further foster the warm supportive environment that our patients need to succeed,” Goyal adds. “We will continue to offer our dietitian-led support groups. But now we’ll be able to add new meetings and events to enhance the patient experience.”

About New Jersey Bariatric Center^®

The New Jersey Bariatric Center^®, a medical & surgical weight loss center with offices in Springfield and Hoboken, New Jersey, helps patients achieve long-term weight loss success through the most advanced bariatric surgery procedures, including gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, LAP-BAND  and REALIZE Band procedures. The New Jersey Bariatric Center^®’s approach to patient care has resulted in zero mortalities and a complication rate that is lower than the national average. For more information about bariatric surgery, visit www.NJBariatricCenter.com.

To learn more about Overlook Medical Center, visit http://www.atlantichealth.org/overlook/.

To learn more about Trinitas Regional Medical Center, visit www.trinitashospital.org.