Selective weight-loss patients are flying one-hour from Jacksonville for their new body.

Savvy Jacksonville patients are going to the Videoscopic Institute, located in northwest Atlanta, for their bariatric surgery. Jacksonville is a quick flight to a life-changing procedure. The Videoscopic Institute is a Center of Excellence dedicated exclusively to weight loss surgery. Jacksonville patients receive:

  • Expertise of board certified bariatric surgeon Dr. J.K. Champion, who has performed over 2600 laparoscopic weight loss procedures since 1995.
  • Multiple bariatric options, including LapBand® and gastric bypass surgery.
  • Personalized healthcare from the Videoscopic Institute, named a Center of Excellence by the American Society of Bariatric Surgery (ASBS).
  • Excellent inpatient care at Northside Hospital, named for the 10th straight year as Atlanta’s Most Preferred Hospital for Overall Healthcare Services.

A professional team devoted to your weight–loss surgery needs
The Videoscopic Institute is a leading-edge bariatric center with an unparalleled patient-care team. Dr. Champion , motivated by the lack of standards in the bariatric industry, was instrumental in establishing Centers of Excellence in the U.S. This ASBS designation is assurance that a practice conducting weight loss operations has qualified staff, is appropriately equipped and has an education support program for severely obese patients.

Dr. Champion’s rigorous standards reflect the Videoscopic Institute’s commitment to patient care. We provide support groups, educational materials and programs, routine in-office bone scans to minimize the risk of osteoporosis, lab monitoring for vitamin and nutritional deficiencies, dietary counseling and free lifetime aftercare.

Dr. Champion is nationally recognized in videoscopic general and thoracic surgery, board certified by The American Board of Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and an active member of several professional associations. He currently serves as Clinical Professor of Surgery at Mercer University and previously served as Director of Endosurgical Education at Emory University School of Medicine.

Dr. Champion is experienced in multiple laparoscopic procedures, including:

Insurance and financing
We accept insurance and cash and can arrange financing or assistance in obtaining out-of-network insurance benefits, if available. You are responsible for deductibles, co-payments and all travel and lodging costs. All fees must be paid before surgery.

Acquiring insurance authorization may seem challenging. However, we can help you obtain authorization or provide more information about insurance, financing or the cost of weight-loss surgery.

Planning for your surgery
Multiple carriers, including, Delta , US Airways and AirTran, have frequent daily flights from Jacksonville International Airport to Hartsville-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Once in Atlanta, you can reach our office (140 Vann Street, Suite 350, Marietta, Georgia 30060, Phone: 770-574-4868) by rental car or taxi. If you prefer to drive, Jacksonville is about 370 miles north by major interstates to our office.

Our office is close to several vibrant communities (e.g., Marietta Square, Vinings, Buckhead, etc.) with many lodging and restaurant choices. We will be glad handle your travel and lodging needs and recommend restaurant options.

When planning for your bariatric surgery, Jacksonville patients should estimate spending one week in Atlanta. On the Monday prior to your surgery, you will meet with our bariatric nurse to review the pre-operative process, then receive an evaluation from Dr. Champion and, finally, go to Northside Hospital for pre-op testing (i.e., anesthesiology, lab work, radiology and EKG).

Most surgeries will generally occur on Tuesday or Wednesday. Gastric bypass patients typically stay in the hospital for 48 hours while LapBand® patients generally require 23 hours for post-operative observation, but exact hospitalization time may vary.

After undergoing gastric bypass or LapBand® surgery, Jacksonville patients should restrict travel for 72 hours immediately following the procedure.

Contact us at (770) 425-5525 or online.