Your Partner in Weight Loss
The Beebe Center for Weight Loss Surgery is a place where our patients find a partner in their weight loss journey. If you have struggled with obesity and have been unable to lose weight on your own, you may be a candidate for bariatric surgery. You can self-refer or receive a referral from your primary care doctor.
Interested in bariatric surgery but want more information? Our free seminars are a great place to start.
Beebe's Center for Weight Loss Surgery
Beebe’s Center for Weight Loss Surgery is located at the Georgetown Health Campus on Biden Avenue. If you decide to have weight loss surgery at Beebe, you will have your pre- and post-surgery appointments in our Georgetown office before and after surgery. Virtual office visits are available for those who are not within driving distance of Sussex County.
Our surgeries are performed at the Specialty Surgical Hospital on the Abessinio Health Campus in Rehoboth and at the Margaret H. Rollins Campus in Lewes.
Get to Know Dr. Tarek Waked
Dr. Waked, MD, FACS, FASMBS, is a board certified general surgeon, specializing in advanced bariatric surgery. He completed his residency in general surgery at INOVA Fairfax Hospital in Virginia. During his years of training, Dr. Waked received multiple awards for his skills and knowledge in surgery.
Following his training in general surgery, Dr. Waked joined the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota where he completed a fellowship in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery. Mayo Clinic in Rochester has been at or near the top of U.S. hospitals throughout the history of U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals" rankings. In addition to its No. 1 overall ranking, Mayo Clinic in Rochester has more No. 1 rankings in medical specialty areas than any other U.S. medical center.
Dr. Waked has performed more than 2,000 successful bariatric surgeries during his career and he is an expert in sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass and biliary-pancreatic diversion with duodenal switch procedures. He also performs revisional surgeries for sleeves and bypass as well as general surgery such minimally invasive colon surgery, hernia surgery, gallbladder surgery and anti-reflux surgery.
To make an appointment, call 302-260-7360.
Get to Know Dr. Manieri
Dr. Manieri is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. His post-graduate clinical training began at ChristianaCare Health System in Newark, Delaware, where he pursued a clinical rotation internship, before later completing a general surgical residency. Dr. Manieri’s clinical training concluded with a bariatric and minimally invasive surgical fellowship at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia.
He is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons.
Dr. Manieri practices at the Beebe Center for Weight Loss Surgery, located in Georgetown, as well as at the Beebe General Surgery Center, located in Lewes. Patients who opt to pursue bariatric surgery undergo an extensive planning and preparation process, often taking place over a period of several months. Following surgery, bariatric patients continue seeing their surgeon on a regular basis for approximately one year, and sometimes even longer. Dr. Manieri values the opportunity to build meaningful relationships and bond with his patients, as these processes take place.
To make an appointment, call 302-260-7360.
Get to Know Kimberly Hyatt, RD
Kimberly Hyatt, MPH, RD, LDN is a registered dietitian specializing in obesity medicine. She is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she concurrently completed a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She graduated with her Master of Public Health from University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 2021. She has been in practice since 2010, and has worked extensively in acute care, critical care, and community nutrition.
She transitioned from an acute care hospital to bariatric medicine in 2016 when she began working with Dr. Waked. She is currently the program manager and registered dietitian for Beebe Center for Weight Loss Surgery. Kim is responsible for maintaining the facility accreditation through the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). The MBSAQIP "works to advance safe, high-quality care for bariatric surgical patients through the accreditation of bariatric surgical centers. A bariatric surgical center achieves accreditation following a rigorous review process during which it proves that it can maintain certain physical resources, human resources, and standards of practice."
Kim guides bariatric patients through their pre and post-operative period, which includes classes, support groups, and addressing any questions or concerns that patients may have along their journey. She has a passion for teaching and behavioral modification leading to sustainable healthful habits. She believes a collaborative approach to care produces the most successful patient, which includes a strong surgical team, a well-defined program, and a committed patient. Kim values the connection that she makes with each patient and uses every appointment as an opportunity for learning and growth. Obesity is a complex disease with multiple social, genetic, and environmental factors that can affect one's weight. Kim understands these challenges and is dedicated to the success of each individual patient.
To make an appointment, call 302-260-7360.
Types of Bariatric Surgery Performed at Beebe
Dr. Waked and his team specialize in minimally invasive weight loss procedures, which typically include less recovery time and fewer complications. They perform the following surgical procedures:
- Gastric sleeve: In this procedure, part of the stomach is removed to make it smaller and reduce your meal size. The part that is removed contains hormones that make you hungry. Consequently, after surgery, most patients have appetite suppression. This surgery takes approximately 30-45 minutes.
- Gastric bypass surgery: In gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass), the surgeon creates a small pouch at the top of your stomach. The small intestine is then rerouted to decrease the amount of calories you can absorb.
- Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch: This procedure begins with the surgeon performing a sleeve gastrectomy and then rerouting the small bowel to decrease the amount of calories absorbed. This procedure is typically offered to patients with BMI of 50 or more. It is also offered to patients with BMI of 35 or more and history of sleeve gastrectomy,
- Revision surgery: We offer revision surgery for sleeve and gastric bypass patients to help with more weight loss or to treat heartburn/reflux after surgery.
You will discuss these procedures in further detail during your consultation and determine with your surgeon which procedure is best for you. Considerations that you’ll discuss include medical history, current medications, weight loss goals, and personal comfort level.
Frequently Asked Questions About Weight Loss Surgery
Here are some frequently asked questions about bariatric surgery at Beebe Healthcare. We also discuss many of these topics in our weight loss seminars.
There are several health conditions that are associated with obesity, such as cancer, diabetes, gallbladder disease, heart disease, depression, stroke, and more. These conditions often lead to a decreased quality of health and life for those affected. Learn more about the risks of obesity.
Weight-loss surgery for obesity may be an option for you if you have tried other methods to lose weight that haven't worked and:
- You have a BMI of 40 or higher
- Your BMI is 35 to 39.9, and you also have a weight-related health problem, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, or high blood pressure
- You're committed to making the lifestyle changes that are necessary for surgery to work
- You are between the ages of 18-69
If you think you are qualified and are interested in a consultation, contact Beebe Center for Weight Loss Surgery.
When a patient has a BMI> 35, their chances of reaching a normal body weight for a lasting period of time is less than 1%. That’s why surgery is an option for patients with severe obesity. Unfortunately, many patients who could benefit from surgery don’t know if surgery is right for them.
Weight loss surgery does not just treat the disease of obesity, but it treats other conditions like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and acid reflux. In addition, surgery greatly reduces the risk of death from cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other diseases.
Weight loss surgery, causes changes in appetite, satiety (feeling full), and metabolism (how the body burns calories). Many of the hormonal signals that cause weight gain or inability to lose weight are affected by these procedures, and it becomes easier to lose weight.
Around 90% of patients after bariatric surgery lose 50% of excess body weight and keep this extra weight off long-term.
When patients start to lose weight after surgery, they also feel more energetic, less pain, and more enthusiasm for doing things they have not done in years. The significant and rapid weight loss after surgery can lead to changes in hormones and lead to even more weight loss. Visit Beebe’s Health Hub to learn more about the benefits of bariatric surgery.
Most surgeries are performed with half inch incisions (Laparoscopically or robotically) which results in less pain and faster recovery.
Patients spend 1-2 nights in the hospital and may return to work within 1-2 weeks. Some patients may be able to go home the same day of the surgery. Patients will be able to resume most daily activities by the time they are discharged from the hospital.
There are many ways to pay for bariatric surgery. Many insurance plans cover surgery if you meet certain criteria, but carefully review your policy.
Beebe Patient Financial Services and the Center for Weight Loss Surgery can discuss payment options with you.
Choosing between medications or surgery is a personal decision made by the patient with support from the physician, and you don't have to choose one approach over the other. Medications can also be used with surgical treatment.
If you are interested in learning more about weight loss medications, call Beebe Center for Weight Loss Surgery.
INTERESTED IN BARIATRIC SURGERY AT BEEBE?
Our free seminars are the best way to learn about surgical options for weight loss. If you know you are ready for weight loss surgery or would like to learn more about weight loss medications, you can call our office.