Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Department
The Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Department at Sheba Medical Center is a comprehensive center designed to treat the different aspects of obesity – medical, dietary, and psychological. The risks of morbid obesity are immense, leading to many serious health conditions and reducing life expectancy by an average of 10 years. We perform all types of bariatric surgery as part of an effective treatment for obesity, and our multidisciplinary team provides personalized, supportive care before, during, and after the surgery.
The Division of Surgery
The Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Department is part of Sheba Medical Center’s Division of Surgery. In recent years, surgical technology and techniques have progressed rapidly, and our department is consistently on the frontline of these advances.
We are affiliated with the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, and in addition to performing operations, our surgeons are actively engaged in publishing scholarly studies and training the next generation of physicians. We host over 100 resident surgeons yearly at our Division of Surgery, always promoting a holistic, individualized, and precise approach to medicine.
At Sheba’s Division of Surgery:
- Our team consists of more than 250 surgeons and 500 nurses
- We have a total of 33 advanced operating rooms
- We perform approximately 23,500 procedures per year
- We provide treatment for 23,000 inpatients per year
- We care for 350,000 outpatients per year
The following departments are all housed within the Division of Surgery:
- Department of Neurosurgery
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Department of Surgical Oncology
- Department of Thoracic Surgery
- Department of Ambulatory Surgery
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care
- Department of General Surgery
- Department of Pediatric Surgery
- Department of Cardiac Surgery
- Hand Surgery Unit
- Department of Urology
- Gynecological Surgery Department
- Department of Obstetrics
- Department of Vascular Surgery
- Department of Orthopedics
- Department of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery
- The Goldschleger Eye Institute
Conditions We Treat at the Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Department
Bariatric surgery is a treatment for morbid obesity, a condition that can lead to the development of many serious diseases and health problems, such as diabetes (type 2), hypertension, respiratory problems, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, and skeletal joint problems. By facilitating significant weight loss, bariatric surgery can thereby help to treat many of the associated illnesses.
To improve your success with weight loss after bariatric surgery, we also provide nutritional counseling to teach proper eating habits, a psychological service to encourage behavioral pattern changes in regards to food, and an endocrine service to treat diabetes and other endocrinological issues.
Types of Bariatric Surgery that We Offer
There are several types of bariatric surgery, and we offer all of them at Sheba. Our experienced physicians will meet with you to determine the most appropriate option.
- Gastric Bypass: this laparoscopic surgery creates a small gastric pouch that connects directly to the small intestine
- Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB): a silicone ring with an internal balloon is placed around the upper stomach, thereby restricting food intake
- Sleeve Gastrectomy (gastric sleeve): this laparoscopic surgery reshapes the stomach into a narrow tube, reducing the volume and triggering hormonal effects that can suppress appetite
- Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG; accordion): this is a minimally invasive procedure that uses endoscopic suturing to reduce stomach size; at Sheba, ESG is performed at the Institute of Gastroenterology
Meet Our Department Manager
Prof. David Goitein
Sheba Medical CenterProf. David Goitein, MD
Head of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Unit
Prof. Goitein is a leading specialist and senior physician in the Surgical Oncology C Department at Sheba Medical Center, and he has performed hundreds of advanced laparoscopic surgeries. He completed his medical education at the Hadassah Medical School of The Hebrew University, Jerusalem. Dr. Goitein has published extensively and been awarded for his work.
Meet Our Doctors
David Hazzan, MD
Director of the Invasive Microbial and Robotic Surgery Unit
Dr. Hazzan specializes in general surgery, laparoscopic and robotic surgery, and obesity treatment. He founded the Invasive Microbial Surgery Unit at Carmel Hospital in Haifa, and then managed it for four years. Dr. Hazzan is a leading surgeon in Israel performing abdominal wall hernia surgery with the help of the da Vinci robot. He has performed hundreds of gastrointestinal surgeries using a minimally invasive approach. Dr. Hazzan received his medical degree from the Jose Maria Vargas School of Medicine, Central University of Venezuela.
Hila Hermon, MD
Dr. Hermon is a senior specialist in the Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Unit. She has a particular clinical interest in the psychological consequences of morbid obesity. She studied at the Hadassah Medical School of The Hebrew University, Jerusalem.
Comprehensive Care for Your Whole Being
At Sheba’s Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Department, our team cares deeply about treating the whole person. We recognize that bariatric surgery does not stand alone as a way to promote successful, long-lasting weight loss. That’s why we provide holistic healthcare that pays attention to your overall needs and quality of life. Our multidisciplinary staff consists of nutritionists, psychologists, and endocrinologists who collaborate to design your custom-tailored treatment program – all provided conveniently under one roof.
