TOP DOCTORS
Dr. Karl Strom, M.D., F.A.C.S.
THE CENTER FOR ADVANCED BARIATRIC SURGERY | 123 HIGHLAND AVE. | GLEN RIDGE | (973) 429-7600
WWW.MONTCLAIRSURGICAL.COM | WWW.ADVANCEDBARIATRICS.COM | WWW.STATEWIDEBARIATRICS.COM
DR. KARL STROM HAS BEEN ONE OF MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE’S TOP DOCS SINCE
2007, thanks to his work as medical director of The Center for
Advanced Bariatric Surgery, which was named a Center of
Excellence by the American Society of Baritatrics. He founded the
Center in 2004 at Hackensack UMC Mountainside Hospital in
Montclair, and has branched out to Hackensack UMC at Pascack
Valley in Westwood, Hackensack Meridian, Southern Ocean
Medical Center in Manahawkin, and Bayshore Community
Hospital in Holmdel.
Dr. Strom specializes in bariatric surgery, otherwise known as
“weight-loss surgery” for patients who are morbidly obese and
have been unable to achieve lasting weight loss by non-surgical
methods. According to Dr. Strom, the most common bariatric
procedure is Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy, which removes a
large portion of the stomach, thereby restricting the amount of
food a patient can eat. Other procedures include Laparoscopic
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, in which a small stomach pouch is
created by dividing the stomach with a stapling device and
Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band (“Lap-Band”) surgery,
which is a less complicated procedure which involves placement
of an adjustable collar around the upper stomach.
However, Dr. Strom points out that such surgeries are not
performed just for vanity’s sake. “We don’t do this for the weight
in pounds,” he says. “These people are struggling their whole
lives with the diseases of obesity as they get older, like coronary
disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure, which leads to
heart attack.”
Dr. Strom has become a leader in the field of bariatric surgery. He
is a member of the American Society for Bariatric & Metabolic
Surgery (ASMBS), a Fellow at the American College of Surgeons
and the New York Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery at
Westchester Medical Center. Also, he is a member of the American
Medical Association and the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons,
and National Proctor of INAMED/ALLERGAN Lap-Band Courses.
At The Center for Advanced Bariatric Surgery, the actual bariatric
procedure is only a piece of a comprehensive health program.
“Because this is elective surgery,” Dr. Strom explains, “we send
patients through a rigorous medical and physical examination to
make sure t hey’re safe for surgery as well as nutritional counseling
and psychological evaluation. After surgery, we have a full-time
dietary staff that helps them with their diet questions afterwards.”
In short, education is key. “We provide free seminars throughout
the month at multiple locations throughout the state,” he explains.
“Patients have the opportunity to meet patients that previously had
surgery at support groups, and we offer exercise programs at the
facility at greatly reduced rates. It’s a very comprehensive program
to make sure they succeed.”
When asked what he provides for his patients, he says simply,
“A healthier lifestyle. Basically, we change their lives.”
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