Christian Birkedal, MD
Bariatric Surgery
Offers Video Visits Accepts New Patients
Locations for Christian Birkedal, MD
-
Map pinA
Daytona Beach
-
AdventHealth Medical Group General Surgery at Daytona Beach
-
Map pinB
Orange City
-
Map pinC
Tavares
-
AdventHealth Waterman
Expertise of Christian Birkedal, MD
- Biography
-
For more information, click here to visit our Bariatric Surgery website.
Prior to joining AdventHealth Daytona Beach, Dr. Birkedal served as the medical director of the Wound Treatment Center and Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Capital Regional Medical Center in Tallahassee.
Dr. Christian Birkedal now serves as the medical director of bariatric services at AdventHealth Daytona Beach, a 239-bed hospital in Daytona Beach.
What You Should Know About Bariatric Surgery
Have you been battling obesity and are ready to live a healthier, more fulfilling life? Dr. Christian Birkedal and his staff are here to help you attain your weight loss and improved health-related goals. We offer both surgical and non-surgical weight loss options. Whether you simply need some help getting back on track with the knowledgeable direction from our medical weight loss team, or if you are interested in a surgical approach, we develop a plan specific to each patient’s needs and goals to help them on their path to a healthier life. Our team is committed to long-term weight loss management and is here to support you as you conquer your weight loss goals.
Medically Supervised Weight Loss
Diets do not work. We sit down with each patient and analyze their current nutritional intake and physical activity level; then we formulate a nutritional plan that serves as a blueprint for their success whether they do or do not have weight loss surgery. Through our nutrition and wellness appointments our patients are educated about dietary intake, physical activity, behavior modification, and strategies to implement their changes as a new lifestyle and not a diet.
Surgical Weight Loss
If medically supervised weight loss has not provided you with the results you desire, you may be a candidate for weight loss surgery. While each insurance company has different requirements for patients to qualify for surgery, most require a patient to have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 and have a co-morbidity like diabetes, sleep apnea, or hypertension, or a BMI greater than 40 without a co-morbidity. Our experienced team will explore your insurance benefits to determine if your insurance company covers weight loss surgery and what requirements you must meet. For further information on what your current BMI is click here.
Dr. Birkedal offers the following surgical weight loss options:
Sleeve Gastrectomy / Gastric Sleeve - This laparoscopic procedure is performed through several small incisions through the patient’s abdomen. Surgically, 75-85% of the stomach is removed, leaving behind a smaller gastric pouch that restricts the amount of food consumed. The gastric sleeve procedure works in two ways; first it limits how much food can be eaten at one sitting. Second, by removing the portion of the stomach that produces a hormone called ghrelin, which regulates a person’s hunger, people will feel less hungry and will feel fuller faster.
Roux-en Y Gastric Bypass - The gastric bypass, or Roux-en Y gastric bypass, is a procedure that creates a smaller pouch from a patient’s stomach and then reroutes the intestines. When the intestines are rerouted the body digests and absorbs food differently. This change in addition to a smaller pouch requiring the patient to eat less and feel fuller, results in weight loss.
Surgical Outcomes
Metabolic and bariatric surgery can lead to the improvement or resolution of various obesity-related co-morbid conditions, including but not limited to:
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Hyperlipidemia
- Hypertension
- Type 2 diabetes
Additional outcomes are possible and will be discussed during your initial consultation with Dr. Birkedal.Services
- Single incision surgery
- Minimally invasive breast surgery
- Colon surgery
- Minimally invasive hernia surgery
- Thyroid and endocrine surgery
- Bariatric surgery
- Skin grafts, flaps, and advanced wound care
- Personal Interests
-
Triathlons, mountain biking, adventure racing
- Care Philosophy
-
As a bariatric and general surgeon, Dr. Birkedal believes it is important to treat patients the way he would treat his own wife and family. With compassion and understanding, he joins you in your journey to embrace a healthy lifestyle. He considers it a blessing, and his true calling, to care for you and help improve your health.
- Awards & Recognitions
-
Physician of the Quarter 2012
- Areas Served
- Daytona Beach, FL | Orange City, FL | Tavares, FL
- Languages Spoken
- Danish, English
- Education
-
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Residencies
-
General Surgery at Montclair Baptist Medical Center
- Medical Organization Memberships and Committees
-
American Medical Association, American College of Surgeons, American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
- Board Certification
-
Surgery: The American Board of Surgery
- Ages Accepted
-
NewbornsInfantsChildrenAdolescentsAdultsGeriatrics
Insurances accepted by Christian Birkedal, MD
Disclaimer:
The list below is for reference purposes only and is subject to change. Please check with your health plan to confirm that this doctor is included before scheduling an appointment.
- AdventHealth Advantage Plan
- Aetna
- Allegiance
- Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- Cigna
- GHI
- Health First Health Plans
- Humana
- Medicaid
- Medicare
- Optum VA
- Oscar Health
Reviews and Comments for Christian Birkedal, MD
Note:
Ratings are collected through our partner Press Ganey and are screened to ensure patient privacy. AdventHealth does not manipulate scores, pay for ratings or compensate patients in any way. For any questions about ratings please contact us.