Jackson man sheds more than 130 lbs. after gastric sleeve procedure at Bayshore Morris Washington, M.D., bariatric surgeon, talks with a recent gastric sleeve procedure patient, Roy Gulino of Jackson. Aminimally invasive weight loss surgery, commonly called the gastric sleeve procedure, has given Roy Gulino, Jackson,peace of mind as well as a significantly trimmed down, healthier body."Before the surgery, I weighed 439 pounds. It's the heaviest I've ever been," recalls Roy,who has always struggled with his weight."I was trying to lose weight, and instead I kept putting it on.At age 45, I was worrying about being around to enjoy my kids and grandkids.Before my mom passed away last year, she made me promise to do something about my weight because she was afraid for me." The concerns of his family as well as his own discomfort and frustration finally made Roy seek help. "The gastric sleeve procedure involves removing a segment of the stomach to make it much smaller, so it doesn't take much food to make you feel full,"says Morris Washington, M.D., FACS, a boardcertified surgeon specializing in minimally invasive surgery, gastrointestinal endoscopy and obesity surgery."It also eliminates the portion of the stomach that produces the hormones that stimulate hunger, and unlike some procedures, it does not alter the intestine so patients do not experience particular side effects. The operation is done through five small incisions,and takes about an hour to do. Patients can return to work and resume heavy lifting and strenuous activity, in most cases, in about two weeks.Those who are able to do light duty at work may go back even sooner." Dr.Washington and his team have extensive training in weight loss surgery. In addition to being on staff at Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel, Dr. Washington is director of Surgical Endoscopy at St.Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center in New York, assistant clinical professor of surgery at New York Medical College, and clinical instructor of surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York. "I have an aversion toward going to see the doctor,"says Gulino,"but working with Dr.Washington and his team was fantastic.Anytime that I ever had to contact the staff, they always got back to me promptly and always gave me the information I needed. I also couldn't have had better treatment or care given to me on the face of the planet than what I experienced at Bayshore Community Hospital. The nursing staff was absolutely fantastic." Today Gulino enjoys knowing that he consumes less than a quarter of the amount of food he ate previously, yet he feels full and satisfied."My friends tell me every day that I look great, and my family feels better knowing that I'm prolonging my life," says Gulino."It's very inspiring and I am very grateful for the care I have received."