Physician’s Profile

Marc Bessler, MD

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Top Doctor: 
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Chief, Division of Minimal Access/Bariatric Surgery
Director, Minimal Access Surgery Center
Director, Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery
Affiliations: 
NewYork-Presbyterian/Lawrence Hospital
NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia
NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell
Contact Phone: 
(212) 305-4000
Expertise: 
Stomach Cancer
General Surgery
Esophageal Cancer
Cancer Care
Bariatric Surgery
Laparoscopic Anti-reflux Surgery
Laparoscopic Revisional Bariatric Surgery
Endoscopic Gastric Balloon Placement
GERD Surgery
Splenectomy
Laparoscopic Surgery
Bariatric/Weight Loss Surgery
GERD-Laparoscopic Technique
Minimal Access Surgery-GERD
Barrett's Esophagus
Laparoscopy
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Gastric Bypass
Gallbladder Surgery
Heartburn
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Metabolic Surgery
Esophageal Surgery
Obesity Surgery
Stomach Surgery
Laparoscopic Fundoplication
Hiatal Hernia
Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy
Honors: 

New York Magazine's Top Doctors, 2005-2016.

Blakemore Award for Surgical Research, 1992 and 1993.

Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, Resident Achievement Award, Best Resident Presentation, SAGES, 1995.

Blakernore Prize for Excellence in Surgical Research, June 1996.

Interests: 
Hormonal, oncologic, and immune responses in laparoscopy

1. Randomized evaluation of safety, efficacy and outcomes of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding versus laparoscopic gastric bypass in patients with morbid obesity, 2002-present, WIRB.

2. Effects of bariatric surgery on the level of hormones involved in skeletal metabolism and appetite,  2002-present, WIRB.

3. Clinical study to evaluate the efficacy of banded versus standard gastric bypass for weight loss in patients with malignant obesity, 2001-present, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.

4. Clinical study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the transcend implantable gastric stimulation system for weight loss - Multicenter trial sponsored by Transneuronix, 2001-present, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.

About: 

Dr. Marc Bessler is the United States Surgical Professor of Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center. A fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Bessler's clinical specialties include laparoscopic and single incision bariatric surgery. He earned his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine, and completed his residency in general surgery and his fellowship in surgical endoscopy at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.

Publications: 
Bessler M. Tumor Implantation at Laparoscopy: Is it a real problem? Surgical Endoscopy 1998; 12:1288-9.
Whelan R.L., Allendorf J.D.F., Bessler M. Minimal Access Surgery. and the Biology of Cancer. Minimal Access Surgery in Oncology. Geraghty JG, Sackier JM, Young HL Eds.: Greenwich Medical Media, London 1998; 1, 16.
Allendorf J.D.F., Bessler M., Horvath K.D., et. al. Increased Tumor Establishment and Growth After Open Versus Laparoscopic Surgery in Mice May be Related to Differences in Postoperative T cell Function.. Surgical Endoscopy, 1998; 12.
Wickens J.C., Whelan R.L., Allendorf J.D.F, Bessler M., et. al. Wound Tensile Strength and Contraction Rate are not Affected by Laparotomy or Pneumoperitoneum. Surgical Endoscopy, 1998; 12:1166-70.
Allendorf J.D.F., Bessler M., Horvath K.D., et. al. Increased Tumor Establishment and Growth After Open Versus Laparoscopic Bowel Resection in Mice. Surgical Endoscopy, 1998;12:1035-8.
Lee S., Gleason N., Woodring J., Seplowitz R., Bessler M., Whelan R.L. Peritoneal Irrigation with Betadine Solution Following Laparoscopic Splenectomy Significantly Decreases Port Tumor Recurrence in a Murine Model. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, 1998;41(4)A24.
Whelan R.L., Bessler M., Treat M.R. The Role of Laparoscopic Assisted Colectomy in the Treatment of Colonic Malignancies. In: Minimally Invasive Surgery: Principles and Outcomes. Andrus C, Cosgrove J, Longo W eds.: Harwood Academic Publishers, Reading 1998;137-48.
Lee S.W., Southall J.C., Bessler M., Whelan R.L. Traumatic Handling of The Tumor Independent of Pneumoperitoneum Increases Port Site Implantation Rate of Colon Cancer in a Murine Model. Surgical Endoscopy, 1998; 12:828-34.
Sellers G.J., Whelan R.L., Allendorf J.D.F., Gleason N.R., Bessler M., et. al. An In Vitro Model fails to Demonstrate Aerosolization of Tumor Cells. Surgical Endoscopy, 1998; 12:436-9.
Lee S.W., Southall J.C., Bessler M., Whelan R.L. Abdominal Wound Tumor Recurrence After Open and Laparoscopic assisted Splenectomy in a Murine Model. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, 1998;41:824-31.
Southall J.C., Lee S.W., Allendorf J.D.F., Bessler M., Whelan R.L. Colon Adenocarcinoma and B-16 Melanoma Grow Larger Following Laparotomy Versus Pneumoperitoneum in a Murine Model. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, 1998;41:564-9.
Southall J.C., Lee S.W., Bessler M., Whelan R.L. The Effect of Peritoneal Air Exposure on Postoperative Tumor Growth. Surgical Endoscopy, 1998; 12:348-50.
Horvath K., Whelan R.L., Bessler M., et al. The effects of intraabdominal pressure hypercarbia and positioning on the hemodynamic responses to laparoscopic colectomy in pigs. Surgical Endoscopy 1998; 12(2):107-14.
Donahue JP, Whelan RL, Wickens J, Buxton E, Allendorf JDF, Southall JC, Lee SW, Bessler M. Susceptibility to Dermal Bacterial Infection is Greater After Laparotomy vs Laparoscopy in a murine model. Surgical Endoscopy 1997; 1 1(2)A 195.
Southall JC, Lee SW, Donahue JP, Bessler M., Whelan RL. Susceptibility to Dermal Bacterial Infection is Greater After Open than Laparoscopic Cecal Resection in a Murine Model. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, 1997;40(6)A40-A41.
Lee S.W., Southall J.C., Allendorf J.D.F., Bessler M., Whelan R.L. Tumor Proliferative Index is Higher in Mice Undergoing Laparotomy vs. Insufflation. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum 1997;40(6)A40.
Allendorf J.D.F., Bessler M., Whelan R.L. A Murine Model of Laparoscopic Assisted Intervention. Surgical Endoscopy 1997; 11:622-4.
Horvath K.D., Whelan R.L., Lier B., Viscomi S., Bessler M., Buck K.A., Treat MR. A prospective comparison of laparoscopic exposure techniques for rectal mobilization and sigmoid resection. J Am Coll Surg 1997; 184:506-12.
Allendorf J.D., Bessler M., Whelan R.L., Trokel W., et al. Postoperative immune function varies inversely with degree surgical trauma.Surg Endoscopy 1997; 11(5):427-30.
Allendorf J.D.F., Bessler M., Kayton M.L., Treat M.R., and Nowygrod R. Helium Neon Irradiation at Fluences of 1, 2 and 4 J/cm2 Failled to Accelerate Wound Healing as Assessed by Both Wound Contracture Rate and Tensile Strength. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 1997, 20:340-5.