Bariatric surgeon Harish Kakkilaya, MD, MS, FRCS, FACS, FASMBS, has returned to SMC!
“We are very excited to have Dr. Kakkilaya back at Salem Medical Center,” said Dr. Tammy Torres, Chief Executive Officer. “The SMC family and community are happy to welcome him home.”
Dr. Kakkilaya specializes in Bariatric Surgery including Sleeve Gastrectomy, Gastric Bypass, and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery.
These procedures each reduce the size of the patient’s stomach which limits the amount of food that can be consumed. In turn, patients lose excess weight, which benefits their overall health.
According to the NJ Department of Health, Salem County ranks highest in obesity in the state in adults over 20 years old. Obesity can lead to complications such as diabetes, heart problems, and high blood pressure.
With more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Kakkilaya has performed more than 1,000 weight loss surgeries during his career. He is fellowship trained in Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery and Board Certified in General Surgery.
“Bariatric surgery is as safe as gall bladder surgery, and more effective now than ever,” he said.
Dr. Kakkilaya has had better results and less complications with bariatric surgery than the national average. In one major benchmark — BMI Reduction Over Time — Dr. Kakkilaya’s reduction rate is 73 percent, while the national percentage is only 57.
In addition to reducing co-morbidities like diabetes and hypertension, his cases see fewer complications like bleeding, infections, and post-surgical pneumonia than the national average.
“I’m looking forward to coming back and helping the community,” he said. “My goal is to rebuild the program and make it bigger and better than before.”
The patients who he helped previously continue to keep in touch with him and credit him for “changing their lives.”
Dr. Kakkilaya is currently accepting new patients. His office is located at 66 East Ave., Woodstown. For more information or a consultation, call 856-823-4288.