When Lisa Hahn began her journey with bariatric weight loss surgery in 2008, she first sought out a highly regarded doctor in New York City. She had a gastric sleeve procedure to reduce the size of her stomach and remove a portion of it containing hormones that affect hunger. 

But Lisa wasn’t seeing the results she hoped, and her frustration with her care came to a head when her doctor suggested diet pills to help her. Deep down, Lisa knew that wasn't what she needed. 

She decided to contact Richard Greco, D.O., bariatric surgeon at Bayshore Medical Center, and for the first time in a long time, Lisa felt truly heard and cared for. Dr. Greco took his time in their initial meeting to get the whole picture. 

“Dr. Greco was honest and talked to me in layman's terms, not all medical terms,” the Middletown, New Jersey, resident says. “He wanted to know what I wanted, why I felt like I failed in the past and where they could help me. That went a long way. He really cares about his patients.” 

A Team Approach to Bariatric Surgery

Lisa found that another difference in her care at Bayshore was the level of support she received from all areas of the hospital. Shortly after her initial meeting with Dr. Greco, Lisa met with Kaitlyn, one of the nutritionists, about the difficulties she was having with gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). Kaitlyn implored Lisa to meet with Dr. Greco again to rule out any underlying issues, and it was found that her original gastric sleeve was twisted, an issue that needed surgical attention.

Dr. Greco performed surgery to correct the gastric sleeve, after which, Lisa was kept on the recovery floor for monitoring. Expecting the worst, she was incredibly scared and distraught, but Mark, the patient experience ambassador at Bayshore completely alleviated her worries. In fact, he was able to empathize with and comfort Lisa because he too had gone through bariatric surgery. 

Lisa praised the entire Bayshore team, saying, “I have never met a group of people like the team at Bayshore. They care about us as individuals. They care about you from the day you walk in and still care about you after you leave,” Lisa says.

Keeping the Weight Off and Feeling Satisfied

After her recovery, she partnered with a team of nutritionists, who not only provided her with meal plans and information, but a network of support to get to the root of her emotional eating—something Lisa did not have prior. Dr. Greco and his team understand that unlike other vices, a person cannot give up food. So they try to not limit patients’ diet, an approach not often taken after bariatric surgery. 

“If you don't succeed at Bayshore, you're never going to succeed. They have not taken anything from me, and I was still able to lose the weight and keep it off,” Lisa says. 

She now feels in tune with her eating habits and can enjoy eating out with friends and family without feeling excluded.

These days, Lisa does not let slip-ups define her or her progress. “I could be the poster girl for making mistakes and falling off the wagon and getting back up. If I make a bad choice, I make better choices the rest of the day—tomorrow's a new day!” she says. 

As part of her treatment, Lisa was encouraged to join a local support group. She is now a member of a group of other bariatric patients who orchestrate hikes, support one another and even have video chats before food-heavy holidays, like Thanksgiving. Lisa appreciates the group, saying, “You realize you're not the only one and you have people to lean on.”

Lisa’s self-esteem has increased significantly, and she is emotionally preparing herself to throw out her larger-sized clothes. “It’s fun to now go clothes shopping with my daughter,” says Lisa. “I have a ton of energy now! I can keep up with my three big dogs when we go for walks and go on amusement park rides with my kids.”

One day, Lisa hopes to give back in support of the Bariatrics program, so she can help change the lives of others who were in her position. Until then, she is forever grateful to the bariatrics team at Bayshore for helping her start her life anew.

Next Steps & Resources:

• To make an appointment with Dr. Greco or a bariatric surgeon near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
• Are you a candidate for weight-loss surgery? Take our health risk assessment.
• Register for a weight-loss seminar virtual or near you.

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.