Dr. Arif Ahmad is a fellowship-trained advanced laparoscopic surgeon specializing in minimally invasive surgery, which is a cutting edge type of surgery performed through small incisions and causing minimal pain, less scarring and shorter recovery times. Many types of abdominal surgical procedures can be performed using minimally invasive techniques, including surgery of the stomach, esophagus (reflux), gallbladder surgery, hernias, and colon surgery.

Dr. Ahmad specializes in both laparoscopic gastric bypass and the Lapband procedure with over 20 years of surgical experience. He was the first surgeon in the area to perform the laparoscopic gastric bypass procedure. Prior to his arrival at Stony Brook University, the operation was only performed in the open fashion with large incisions. He was also the first surgeon at Stony Brook to perform the Lapband procedure.

Dr. Ahmad has more than 20 years of surgical experience. After completing his medical degree and residency training, Dr. Ahmad trained in the UK to obtain the FRCS (England and Edinburgh). He then completed an 18 month advanced training fellowship at Harvard Medical School, followed by an additional five year residency at the University of Connecticut. He spent a year mastering advanced training in Laparoscopic Surgery through a fellowship at the University of Virginia.

Upon completing his extensive medical training, Dr. Ahmad was appointed Director of Laparoscopic Surgery at Stony Brook University in 2001, where he taught other doctors to perform laparoscopic procedures, including laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Dr. Ahmad also founded and currently serves as the Director of Bariatric Surgery at J.T. Mather and St. Charles Hospital, where he performs most of his surgeries.

As a leading specialist in the field of bariatric surgery, Dr. Ahmad has authored several innovative surgical techniques concerning laparoscopic bariatric surgery. This includes a new technique to prevent intestinal obstruction and a technique to detect leaks. These have been published in international journals and have been adopted by surgeons worldwide.

Dr. Ahmad is a member of the American Society of Bariatric Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a member of the Society of American Gastroendoscopic Surgeons. He was recognized as one of America’s Top Surgeons by Consumer Research Council of America in 2004-2005.

Dr. Ahmad conducts patient education sessions every two weeks at Mather and St. Charles Hospitals in Port Jefferson. Please call (631) 689-0220 if you wish to register or have other questions.