Former Lacey Township Mayor Down 100 Pounds After Bariatric Surgery

Peter Curatolo’s story reads like a fairy tale with its own “happily ever after,” but it’s a very real account of an incredible transformation.

After successful robotic bariatric surgery in 2020, Peter has lost 100 pounds. “I feel like I’m 25 again, and I’m running 5Ks, always looking forward to physical activity,” says Peter. “My waist went from 42 to 34 inches, my neck from 21 to 17.5, and I’m comfortable in my clothing.”

Life-Changing Surgery  

Seth Kipnis, M.D., a minimally invasive gastrointestinal and bariatric surgeon, performed Peter’s surgery at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. With robotic surgery, he uses both hands and feet to guide the robot’s delicate and precise instruments through a small incision in the patient’s abdomen. 

Compared to conventional procedures, robotic bariatric surgery can offer patients a quicker recovery, reduced pain and scarring and often shorter hospital stays. 

Dr. Kipnis explains that Peter’s procedure—gastric sleeve surgery—involved making his stomach drastically smaller by removing a large portion of that muscular organ. “This reduces appetite more than the older methods of stapling and banding done in gastrointestinal surgery,” Dr. Kipnis says. “If patients aren’t motivated to change bad habits, surgery won’t work well, but it’s far more successful than anything else for weight loss.”

Benefits Beyond Cosmetic

“Some people think weight-loss surgery is just cosmetic, but our goal is to add decades to someone’s life—and we do,” says Dr. Kipnis.

For Peter, he was able to stop taking five medications to treat a cluster of dangerous health conditions called metabolic syndrome. These include high cholesterol, high blood sugar levels, high blood pressure, and high blood triglycerides that raise “bad” LDL cholesterol and lower helpful HDL or “good” cholesterol.

He also is no longer diabetic and was able to stop using cumbersome devices to control his sleep apnea, including positive airway pressure machines such as CPAP and BiPAP.

Peter, who served as Lacey Township’s mayor twice during the last eight years, is now its Township Committeeman as well as liaison to the township’s Health and Recreation Departments.

“About once every week, I walk into a meeting room in my official capacity and someone says, ‘Oh, my gosh! I didn’t even recognize you,’” Peter says. “And yes, that’s a compliment!”

Next Steps & Resources:

• Meet our source: Seth Kipnis, M.D.
• Find out if you’re a candidate for weight-loss surgery by taking this health risk assessment.
• Attend a bariatric surgery seminar near you to learn more.
• To make an appointment with a bariatric surgeon near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.