Weighing more than is considered healthy for your height can mean you are overweight, obese or morbidly obese. Morbid obesity (“morbid” means “causing illness or disease”) is the term applied to individuals who weigh approximately 75 to 100 pounds over their ideal weight. Morbid obesity is a condition often associated with many serious and life-threatening disorders.

Being seriously overweight is not caused by one single factor but rather by a number of them. The number of calories one consumes plays a big part, to be sure, but so do a variety of other factors — including metabolism, genetics, behavioral and medical issues, and your social environment.

Knowing what your weight means in terms of your health is an important step in treating obesity. The more you know, the better equipped you’ll be to discuss treatment options with your doctor and to make decisions about what will work best for you.  Bariatric surgery, combined with regular and proper nutrition as well as exercise, helps you lose significant weight by altering how your body takes in and metabolizes food.

The K and B Surgical team use a variety of surgical procedures to help individuals achieve a healthier weight and lifestyle.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RGB)– The small intestine is divided about 18 inches below the stomach, and is re-arranged so as to provide an outlet to the small stomach and maintain the flow of digestive juices. The lower part of the stomach is “bypassed”, and food enters the second part of the small bowel within about 10 minutes of the start of your meal. Food intake is restricted and the amount of calories and nutrients the body absorbs is reduced. The result is a very early sense of fullness, followed by a profound sense of satisfaction. Even though the food portion size may be small, you won’t feel hungry or feel like you’ve been deprived. You’ll continue to enjoy food; you’ll just consume a lot less.

Gastric Banding (Lap-Band) – During the gastric band procedure, the lap band is placed around the uppermost part of the stomach, dividing it into two parts: a small upper pouch and a lower stomach. The upper pouch can hold only about 4 ounces (1/2 cup) of food. As a result, you eat less food at one time, feel full sooner, and feel satisfied longer. The goal is to lose weight gradually, at a healthy rate of 1 to 2 pounds per week. No part of your stomach is stapled or removed during surgery, and your intestines are not re-routed, so you can continue to absorb nutrients from food. 

The lap band is made of biocompatible materials, allowing it to be placed inside your body without causing harm. The side of the band that fits against your stomach is lined with a soft balloon. After the gastric banding surgery, saline (a safe liquid) is delivered into the balloon to control the band tightness.

The degree of band tightness affects how much food you can eat during a meal and the length of time it takes for food to empty from the upper pouch. When the band is adjusted to the proper tightness, you’ll feel full sooner and stay fuller longer. As the band helps you eat less food, your body will stop storing excess calories and start using its fat supply for energy.

Sleeve Gastrectomy – The surgeon essentially creates a smaller stomach, shaped like a narrow sleeve by separating it from the larger portion of the stomach. The larger part of the stomach contains a hormone responsible for appetite, so after the sleeve procedure, hunger is greatly reduced. All the functions of the stomach remain intact, only its volume is reduced. The
“sleeved” portion of the stomach remains connected to the intestines.

This is a safe and effective way to achieve and maintain a healthier weight. This operation is also a viable alternative for those patients who have specific conditions that prohibit gastric bypass surgery.

Any surgery contains a certain level of risk. Be sure to speak with your physician to determine which weight-loss treatment option best fits your needs. The highly experienced bariatric surgeons at K and B Surgical Center have collectively performed over 5,000 weight loss surgery procedures. Call 310-858-1242 to register for and attend one of our information seminars on Bariatric Surgery.

Meet our Bariatric Surgery Team

Theodore M. Khalili, M.D., F.A.C.S.

A well-known and highly regarded surgeon, Dr. Khalili is the Founder and Director of the Khalili Center for Bariatric Care. Over the last ten years, he has performed more than 4,000 bariatric and advanced laparoscopic surgeries—including the nation’s first robotic-assisted gastric bypass in 2002.

A pioneer in the field of minimally invasive bariatric surgery in Los Angeles, Dr. Khalili helped start the Weight Loss Surgery Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and until June 2010 served as its Director. He has trained many surgeons in minimally invasive weight loss surgery, who have gone on to head up bariatric care programs all over the country. An accomplished teacher, Dr. Khalili won the Golden Apple Award as an outstanding educator in 2005 from Cedars-Sinai. He is also an Assistant Clinical Professor in Surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California,
and Los Angeles.

Board certified in both General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, Dr. Khalili is a member of the American College of Surgeons, American Society of Bariatric Surgery, American Medical Association and the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES). He is the author of numerous papers and presentations on a variety of subjects, including laparoscopic surgery, bariatric surgery, organ transplantation and bio-artificial liver treatment. He has published and spoken nationally and internationally and his work underscores his commitment to the ongoing advancement of new surgical procedures and technologies.

Dr. Khalili holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Cell Biology from California State University, Northridge and earned his medical degree from The Chicago Medical School. While in medical school, he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. He completed his internship and residency in General Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he also served a fellowship in Surgical Critical Care. Dr. Khalili’s work was recognized with a Research Prize in 1997 from the Pacific Coast Surgical Association. Married to the love of his life, Dr. Khalili has two teenage daughters and enjoys tennis and basketball.

Gregg Kai Nishi, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Dr. Nishi brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the Khalili Center. He’s an expert in innovative, minimally invasive surgical techniques and has spoken extensively on the subject, having appeared in a variety of news media, including Good Morning America and the Los Angeles Times. He has trained a number of other bariatric surgeons who have gone on to head up bariatric programs all over the country in their own right.

Formerly the Assistant Director of the Cedars-Sinai Center for Minimally Invasive and Weight Loss Surgery, Dr. Nishi was also an attending surgeon in Trauma Services and Surgical Intensive Care at Cedars-Sinai. He is one of the principal investigators of the FDA trials on a new procedure called TOGA (incision-less weight loss surgery), and is one of only a handful of surgeons in the U.S. who have performed this procedure.

Currently Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Dr. Nishi has published widely in such journals as American Surgeon and Bariatric Times, and lectures on weight loss surgery at national and international bariatric surgery conferences.  He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Paul Rubenstein, MD Prize for Excellence in Resident Research Abstract and Awards Presentation; the Society of Laproendoscopic Surgeons Resident Achievement Award; and the Leo G. Rigler, MD Award for Academic Achievement from Cedars-Sinai.  An Associate Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Nishi is also a member of SAGES, the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons; American Medical Association; and Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons.

After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of California, Irvine and a medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine, Dr. Nishi went on to intern in the Department of Surgery at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York, where he was named resident of the year. He received his surgical training at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center including a Fellowship in Surgical Critical Care.  A Southern California native, Dr. Nishi lives in Los Angeles with his lovely wife and young daughter. Dr. Nishi enjoys skiing, biking, and car racing.

Eraj Basseri, M.D.

Dr. Eraj Basseri, a general and bariatric surgeon, is one of the partners at the Khalili Center. Dr. Basseri was intimately involved in developing the Khalili Center, working with his colleagues Doctors Theodore M. Khalili and Gregg Kai Nishi to bring to life a unique, comprehensive and holistic approach to bariatric and general surgery care. Dr. Basseri is fiercely committed to providing patients the best and most individualized medical care possible. His friendly, easygoing approach and personal warmth put patients at ease the moment they meet him. His educational approach allows patients to better understand and become actively involved in their own medical care.

Dr. Basseri is knowledgeable of the latest and most innovative surgical techniques and equipment available. Instrumental in training and bringing da Vinci robotic surgery availability to the Center, he is dedicated to having the best and latest technology for Khalili Center patients.

Dr. Basseri received a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from University of California, Los Angeles; and received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of California, San Diego. He completed a coveted fellowship in the Minimally Invasive and Weight Loss Surgery Department at Cedars Sinai. His innate surgical skills were continually singled out during his tenure there and he received the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons Resident Achievement award as well as an appointment as Administrative Chief Resident. Dr. Basseri is a member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal & Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) and the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons (SLS). He has published numerous research papers and presented on a number of topics both nationally and internationally.

A native of Los Angeles, Dr. Basseri enjoys playing basketball, weightlifting, and spending time with his family and friends.