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Dr. Guillermo Garcia, MD

Accepting New Patients

(Guillermo Garcia, MD)

(535 Ratings)

Specializes in: General Surgery, Bariatrics (Obesity Treatment), General Practice and Bariatric Surgery

University of Texas Medical School at Houston (1999)

Professional interests include: gastrointestinal bleeding, excision, appendicitis, and more.

2649 Schoenersville Road Suite 202
Bethlehem, PA 18017

(484) 884-1007

Dr. Guillermo Garcia, MD is a general surgeon in Bethlehem, PA specializing in general surgery, bariatrics (obesity treatment), general practice and bariatric surgery. He graduated from University of Texas Medical School at Houston in 1999 and has 25 years of experience. Dr. Guillermo Garcia, MD is affiliated with Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG), Lehigh Valley Health Network and LVPG General and Bariatric Surgery-Muhlenberg.

Office Locations

Address:

2649 Schoenersville Road Suite 202
Bethlehem, PA 18017

Address:

3701 Corriere Road Suite 25
Easton, PA 18045

Some issues Dr. Guillermo Garcia, MD can help you with:

Colectomy (Colon Resection)

Colectomy is surgery to remove all or part of the colon, or the longest part of the large intestine. The colon may be affected by diseases such as cancer or inflammatory bowel disease. In a colectomy, all or part of the colon that is infected, blocked, or cancerous is removed.

A colectomy may be performed by laparoscopic or open surgery. A laparoscopic colectomy requires several small cuts on the abdomen, and uses a thin tube with a camera, called a laparoscope. Laparoscopic colectomies are less invasive than open procedures. For some individuals, a laparoscopic colectomy may not be possible, and instead an open colectomy is performed. In an open colectomy, a large incision is made on the abdomen. Open colectomies typically require longer recovery periods.

After the incisions are made, a portion of the colon is removed, and the remaining ends of the colon are attached to each other in a procedure called anastomosis. Waste can continue to travel through the body as normal. However, in some situations, it may be necessary for the end of the colon to be attached to an opening in the abdomen, called a stoma. This procedure is called an ostomy. Types of ostomies include:

Colostomy, in which the remaining portion of the colon is attached to the abdominal opening.
Ileostomy, in which the small intestine is attached to the abdominal opening.

An ostomy bag will be attached to the skin to collect waste. If the entire colon is removed, either an ileostomy is performed, or the small intestine is connected to the anus and waste may pass through as normal.

Stomas may be permanent or temporary. If the stoma is temporary, the ends of the colon will be rejoined in a later procedure. Temporary stomas are generally used to allow time for the colon to heal following surgery.

A colectomy may take between one and four hours. Following the procedure, patients will need to consume a liquid and low fiber diet before gradually returning to their normal diet. Patients will need to stay in the hospital for three to seven days for monitoring. Full recovery and return to normal activity may take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.

Gallbladder Removal Surgery (Cholecystectomy)

The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ on the right side of the upper abdomen, underneath the liver. Its purpose is to store bile, which is used to digest fat. Occasionally, the gallbladder can develop mineral stones, called gallstones. If they are large enough, gallstones can block the ducts in the gallbladder and cause swelling and infection. Gallstones can be treated with lifestyle changes and medication, but sometimes this is not enough. In these cases, it is best to remove the gallbladder before it can cause more serious problems. The surgical removal of the gallbladder is called a cholecystectomy.

Today, most gallbladder surgeries are done laparoscopically. Four tiny incisions are made in the abdomen, and small tools are inserted through these tiny incisions to perform the surgery. Because the incisions are much smaller, recovery time is much faster with this type of surgery. Patients are usually discharged from the hospital the same day. Sometimes, open surgery is used to remove a gallbladder. In this type of surgery, a cut about six inches long is made in the upper right abdomen. After the gallbladder is removed, it is sutured or stapled closed. With open surgery, patients usually stay in the hospital for two to three days to recover before they are discharged.

Gallbladder removal, like any surgery, carries some risks, such as bleeding, infection, or the development of blood clots. Doctors will tell patients how to minimize their risk for complications. After surgery, patients are advised to avoid strenuous activity for several days. They should not soak in a bath until their sutures or staples have been removed. Patients should wash hands before touching the area around the incision. It will take a couple of days until patients feel like themselves again and a few weeks until their scar has healed and faded.

Weight Loss Surgery (Bariatric Surgery)

Bariatric or weight-loss surgery is a surgical procedure performed to help significantly obese patients lose weight when more traditional methods, such as dieting and exercise, have not helped. Depending on the type, these surgeries change the gastrointestinal tract to limit how much food can be eaten and also change how food is absorbed by the body. Of the various bariatric surgeries available, the most common is gastric bypass.

By far the most common of the gastric bypass surgeries is called Roux-en-Y. During this surgery, part of the stomach and small intestine are detached from the gastrointestinal tract, in order to make the tract smaller. The surgeon divides the stomach into two parts. The working stomach, at the end of the esophagus, is now tiny - only the size of a walnut. This makes patients feel full after eating a small amount of food. Then the small intestine is also divided, and after bypassing a section of the small intestine to reduce food absorption, the intestine is attached to the small stomach pouch. The patient now has a working stomach and intestine like before, only much smaller.

Because gastric bypass is used to treat extreme obesity, it can reduce the risk of some of the problems associated with obesity. Gastric bypass can help treat or reduce the risk for such conditions as heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and type 2 diabetes. However, it is a major surgery and also carries risks itself. Any surgery can lead to infection, bleeding, or blood clots, and weight loss surgery in particular carries risks of leaks in the gastrointestinal system, malnutrition, bowel obstructions, and vomiting.

Typically patients are considered candidates for gastric bypass surgery if they have a BMI greater than 40, or sometimes if they have a BMI between 35 and 40 but are suffering from obesity-related illnesses such as diabetes. The outlook is generally good, with most patients losing between 50-75% of their excess weight in 1-2 years. However, patients must follow strict diet guidelines so that the stomach can heal, starting with no food at all, then followed by a liquid diet for some time. For many severely obese patients who have tried strict diets before without success, gastric bypass surgery is the tool that allows them to finally achieve their weight loss and health goals.

diagnostic procedures	25
doctor visit	206
gastrointestinal procedures	23
hospital care	147
inpatient care	147
minimally invasive procedures	23
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	25

**Gender**
Male	83
Female	118

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	145
Black	0
Hispanic	40
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	77
From 75 to 84	44
85 and over	20
Less than 65	60

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	66
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	42
Depression	39
Chronic Kidney Disease	31
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	13
Heart Failure	25
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	41
Dementia	10
Cancer	15

diagnostic procedures	34
doctor visit	221
gastrointestinal procedures	32
hospital care	188
inpatient care	188
minimally invasive procedures	32
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	34

**Gender**
Male	134
Female	115

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	190
Black	0
Hispanic	44
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	102
From 75 to 84	45
85 and over	27
Less than 65	75

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	63
Stroke	9
Ischemic Heart Disease	40
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	30
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	6
Atrial Fibrilation	18
Heart Failure	22
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	17
Diabetes	42
Dementia	9
Cancer	12

diagnostic procedures	49
doctor visit	329
gastrointestinal procedures	61
hospital care	213
inpatient care	213
minimally invasive procedures	61
preventive care	12
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	49

**Gender**
Male	320
Female	320

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	492
Black	0
Hispanic	104
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	274
From 75 to 84	134
85 and over	64
Less than 65	168

Hypertension	73
High Cholesterol	63
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	39
Depression	29
Chronic Kidney Disease	29
Asthma	17
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	13
Heart Failure	19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	16
Diabetes	38
Dementia	8
Cancer	12

diagnostic procedures	68
doctor visit	368
gastrointestinal procedures	99
hospital care	190
inpatient care	190
minimally invasive procedures	99
preventive care	31
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	68

**Gender**
Male	184
Female	152

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	236
Black	0
Hispanic	87
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	169
From 75 to 84	62
85 and over	30
Less than 65	75

Hypertension	73
High Cholesterol	67
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	37
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	34
Asthma	19
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	15
Diabetes	36
Dementia	8
Cancer	12

diagnostic procedures	58
doctor visit	360
gastrointestinal procedures	72
hospital care	199
inpatient care	199
minimally invasive procedures	72
preventive care	14
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	58

**Gender**
Male	165
Female	175

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	257
Black	0
Hispanic	68
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	157
From 75 to 84	74
85 and over	31
Less than 65	78

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	71
Stroke	7
Ischemic Heart Disease	42
Depression	36
Chronic Kidney Disease	39
Asthma	16
Osteoperosis	14
Atrial Fibrilation	18
Heart Failure	23
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	23
Diabetes	31
Dementia	12
Cancer	14

diagnostic procedures	58
doctor visit	269
gastrointestinal procedures	56
hospital care	148
inpatient care	148
minimally invasive procedures	56
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	58

**Gender**
Male	144
Female	145

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	227
Black	0
Hispanic	48
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	131
From 75 to 84	71
85 and over	27
Less than 65	60

Hypertension	74
High Cholesterol	70
Stroke	9
Ischemic Heart Disease	43
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	40
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	16
Heart Failure	21
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	32
Dementia	12
Cancer	23

diagnostic procedures	72
doctor visit	236
gastrointestinal procedures	70
hospital care	146
inpatient care	146
minimally invasive procedures	70
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	72

**Gender**
Male	140
Female	138

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	219
Black	0
Hispanic	47
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	135
From 75 to 84	63
85 and over	19
Less than 65	61

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	73
Stroke	7
Ischemic Heart Disease	37
Depression	35
Chronic Kidney Disease	47
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	18
Heart Failure	27
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	38
Dementia	15
Cancer	16

diagnostic procedures	52
doctor visit	205
gastrointestinal procedures	50
hospital care	178
inpatient care	178
minimally invasive procedures	50
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	52

**Gender**
Male	134
Female	141

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	234
Black	0
Hispanic	30
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	132
From 75 to 84	56
85 and over	31
Less than 65	56

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	7
Ischemic Heart Disease	37
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	48
Asthma	14
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	22
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	32
Dementia	13
Cancer	17

diagnostic procedures	122
doctor visit	340
gastrointestinal procedures	120
hospital care	393
inpatient care	393
minimally invasive procedures	120
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	122

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Guillermo Garcia, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Guillermo Garcia, MD treated as a general surgeon in Bethlehem, PA were hospital care, inpatient care, minimally invasive procedures and gastrointestinal procedures.

diagnostic procedures	60
doctor visit	284
gastrointestinal procedures	67
hospital care	200
inpatient care	200
minimally invasive procedures	67
preventive care	19
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	60

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Guillermo Garcia, MD.

**Gender**
Male	130
Female	130

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	200
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	46
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	54
85 and over	24
Less than 65	63
65 to 74	117

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Guillermo Garcia, MD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Guillermo Garcia, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension	59
High Cholesterol	54
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	31
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	29
Asthma	11
Osteoporosis	7
Heart Failure	17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	29
Atrial Fibrillation	12
Cancer	12
Dementia	8

Education & Training

Dr. Guillermo Garcia, MD graduated from University of Texas Medical School at Houston in 1999. He completed residency at Maimonides Medical Center. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery - Surgery Publications & Clinical Trials View Scholarly Works and has a state license in Pennsylvania.

Medical School: University of Texas Medical School at Houston (1999)

Residency: Maimonides Medical Center (2000)

Board Certification: American Board of Surgery - Surgery Publications & Clinical Trials View Scholarly Works

Licensed In: Pennsylvania

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Guillermo Garcia, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG)

Lehigh Valley Health Network

LVPG General and Bariatric Surgery-Muhlenberg

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Guillermo Garcia, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.59 out of 5 stars based on 535 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Guillermo Garcia, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Bethlehem, PA.

4.59

Overall Rating

(535 Ratings)

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Guillermo Garcia, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.	$2,830 Da Vinci Surgical System $2,830
Ethicon Inc.	$1,350 ENSEAL Product Family $1,350
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.	$1,237 BIO-A Tissue Reinforcement $1,237
Covidien LP	$665 Sonicision $601	LigaSure $63
Boston Scientific Corporation	$182 GENERAL BILIARY DEVICES $128	SpyScope DS $54
Other	$1,066 Phasix Mesh $125	PriMatrix $115	LINX Reflux Management System $111	ThunderBeat $104	PREPOPIK $90	Other $521

**Types of Payments**
Travel and Lodging	$4,426
Food and Beverage	$2,885
Gift	$18

Research Payments

Dr. Guillermo Garcia, MD has received 3 research payments totaling $1,875.

Biography

Dr. Guillermo Garcia sees patients in Bethlehem, PA and Easton, PA. His medical specialties are general practice, general surgery, and bariatric surgery. Dr. Garcia graduated from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston and then he performed his residency at Maimonides Medical Center. He is affiliated with Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG). Lehigh Valley Health Network reports that he is accepting new patients at his office in Bethlehem, PA.