Patient Support
Fashion, Fears and Fellowship; How Patient Meetings Help
Fashions often are not a high priority for morbidly obese people. But after successful bariatric surgery that can change.
"We've had a patient fashion show and it was quite an affair with everyone dressed up and basically wearing their success," said David Greenbaum, medical director for the bariatric surgery program at Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County.
Dr. Greenbaum and Drs. Samuel Wasser and Richard Ing, the other surgeons at South Jersey Bariatrics, provide a support program for both new and post-op patients. That includes a clothing exchange.
"The exchange happens once or twice a year and then more informally after that," said Dr. Greenbaum. "Patients start losing weight rapidly and they go from 3x to 2x to 1x and then down to a 12 and it can become quite expensive if you are buying new clothes at each level because you go through the levels so quickly."
The exchange program basically involves patients donating clothing to other patients at different levels. The program is handled through the practice's office at 1-609-877-1737.
The first Monday of each month the practice also offers a separate meeting for both new patient and past bariatric patients. The new patient meeting is at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria of Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County and it consists of a program often presented by a surgeon, followed by questions and answers.
More recent topics at the meeting have included revisional surgery results; OB/GYN results; gastric bypass results; cosmetic surgery; vitamin and nutrition concern; gastric band results; and orthopedic concerns. The meeting for patients who already have had surgery follows at 7 p.m.
"Information sharing and discussions to support each other is always helpful and our office is sensitive to the patient questions as it arranges these sessions," said Dr. Greenbaum. "We surgeons are there to explain options and details and to answer as many questions as arise. It paves the way for medical decisions and procedures."
To locate a Lourdes Health System bariatric surgeon by phone, call 1-888-LOURDES.
