Blog Archive
Body mass index (BMI) has been a measuring stick for obesity for years. Your BMI, which is calculated using your height and weight, determines if you’re underweight, in a healthy weight range, overweight, obese, or severely obese. The latest guidelines for measuring obesity — created by 58 medical experts, endorsed...
Weight loss medications, including glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), have gained popularity for helping people shed pounds. However, they aren’t always the safest or most effective long-term solution. While these drugs can aid in weight loss, they often come with side effects, the risk of regaining weight after...
Losing excess weight isn’t just about looking and feeling better (although that’s part of it!); losing weight is also one of the best things you can do for your heart health. Carrying extra weight puts strain on your cardiovascular system and increases your risk of heart disease. The good news...
Hernias occur when an organ or tissue pushes through a weak spot in surrounding muscles. While some hernias may start as minor inconveniences, they can become serious health issues if left untreated. As a board-certified general surgeon, Dr. Mikhail A. Botvinov and the Bergen Bariatric and Surgical Solutions team want...
If you’re getting ready to have your gallbladder removed because of gallstones, you’re far from alone. About 20 million people have gallstones, and out of those, about 300,000 have their gallbladder removed. Gallbladder removal, officially referred to as a cholecystectomy, can help you get the relief you need from gallstones....
November brings awareness of a common illness that affects nearly 40 million Americans. This illness is diabetes, and every year, it causes problems for more people and their families. But is there a way to reverse type 2 diabetes so that you can live without the problem? At Bergen Bariatric...
General surgery sounds like a universal treatment type; however, it’s a specialty that involves surgery specifically for the endocrine system, the gastrointestinal tract, the organs in the abdomen, and the soft tissues. Bergen Bariatric and Surgical Solutions offers general and bariatric surgeries for myriad ailments. Our provider — Dr. Mikhail...
BMI is often discussed as a definitive way to determine if your weight is healthy or not. But, in truth, there is considerable misunderstanding around this relatively simple calculation as well as what it can truly tell you. Here at Bergen Bariatric and Surgical Solutions, we take BMI into consideration...
Some people are able to lose weight with a regular routine of changing their diet and exercising. However, others aren’t able to do so as quickly or effectively as they need to for their health, which is why many people seek bariatric surgery. But it’s important to be aware of...
Learning you have to have hernia surgery can be discouraging. Many people wonder if the issue might go away on its own, but unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Still, there are a number of encouraging facts about hernia surgery that are bound to make you less concerned about the process. ...
Are you someone who’s dealing with severe weight gain and wants bariatric surgery? Have you considered the option but been nervous about whether or not you’ll experience a long recovery time? Is there another surgery you believe you need, but the possible effects are holding you back? Now is the...
May is High Blood Pressure Awareness Month, and May 17th is World Hypertension Day. It’s extremely important to be aware of this condition because it can be prevented, although it’s often associated with genetics. Once it takes hold, though, it becomes a lifelong condition that requires treatment. You might be...
Gallbladder removal can be a bit of a daunting procedure, but over 1.2 million are performed every year. If you are dealing with gallstones, the pain you experience is often so severe that surgery is the preferred option. But how do you know what surgery will be like and what...
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects close to one in 10 Americans. This condition is often associated with weight gain. Though it isn’t true for every person, the treatment for Type 2 diabetes can sometimes involve dieting and exercise to maintain a healthier weight. However, many people wonder if...
Bariatric surgery may seem at first like a simple solution for weight loss. In fact, the number of people who received this type of surgery increased significantly from 196,700 in 2015 to 262,893 in 2021. Sometimes, it seems like everyone can benefit from it. But it’s important to recognize and...
Comorbidities are diseases or illnesses that often appear together, cause one another to occur, or otherwise become intrinsically linked. Obesity is a known comorbidity for many illnesses, specifically including heart and circulatory diseases. But how does obesity increase your risk of developing these conditions, and how much of a factor...
A hernia can be a difficult issue to manage. Some people wonder when the best time to seek surgery is, if surgery is even necessary, or if they can expect the problem to simply disappear. But dealing with a hernia — for some — is only half the battle. Have...
When you go to the doctor, you probably hear about something called your BMI, or body mass index. You might know that it has to do with your weight. But what does it mean, how is it calculated, and why is it important? At Bergen Bariatric and Surgical Solutions P.C.,...
A gastric band is a bariatric surgical option involving placing a band around the upper part of your stomach. It reduces the size of your stomach, so you feel fuller faster. The gastric band is a low-risk solution for weight loss, so many people choose it over other bariatric surgical...
Hernia surgery does not always need to be the first step when it comes to your healthy recovery from a hernia. There are several ways you can treat the symptoms of this condition at home if they are mild, and for some people, early-stage hernias produce no symptoms at all. But...
Finding out you should have your gallbladder removed is a bit stressful and scary. It’s surgery, which can always be nerve-wracking to go through. Also, you might be wondering why — when your gallbladder is one of your organs — it’s safe to remove it all. At Bergen Bariatric and Surgical Solutions...
Many factors can keep someone from getting pregnant. Sometimes, it’s an issue with the female partner, male partner, or both; in 30% of cases, it goes completely unexplained. Still, there may be things you can do to decrease fertility problems and get pregnant safely. The cause for some fertility issues...
Joint replacement surgery is sometimes a requirement for those who are overweight and have significantly strained their joints. This might include problems with the knees or the hips, and once the damage has gotten to a certain point, surgery is often the only solution. However, those who are overweight usually...
So, you decided to get the gastric band, but you’re noticing less than stellar results. Don’t panic; many people choose to get this procedure and opt for gastric band removal after not seeing the outcome they’d hoped for. We at Bergen Bariatric and Surgical Solutions P.C., understand patients sometimes choose...
Bariatric surgery is a collective term for several types of weight loss surgeries for people who need to lose a significant amount of weight quickly for their health. Recently, it has become a common option for health-related weight loss treatment. In 2018, over 25,000 bariatric surgeries were performed in the...
You may have heard the term BMI before and may already know it has something to do with your weight. But have you ever wondered if your BMI can tell you whether your weight is unhealthy — and what to do if it is? Determining your BMI is a quick, simple way...
Do you know when it’s time to get gallbladder surgery? Many people think the development of gallstones should lead to immediate surgery, but this isn’t always the case. Some people don’t experience any problems and can wait, but developing certain symptoms will require you to get surgery as soon as possible....
Have you been trying to lose weight for a long time and have had no results? Maybe you’re dealing with illnesses associated with weight gain, and your doctor has told you weight loss is essential to your health. What should you do if you’re still unable to lose weight despite...
Think you might’ve experienced a hernia? You’re not alone. Over 80,000 people get them every year, and men are 10 times more likely to experience them than women. Still, anyone can get a hernia, and while surgery isn’t always necessary, this is often the best solution. If you are dealing...
Diet and lifestyle changes are paramount to managing type 2 diabetes, but it’s not always enough to stop diabetes from progressing or to ward off complications. Fortunately, bariatric surgery is shown to reverse type 2 diabetes and may be an option. At Bergen Bariatric and Surgical Solutions in Westwood, New...
Dr. Botvinov offersTelemedicine during COVID-19, Please call the office 201-778-5344 and leave a message to schedule a consultation via telemedicine