Surgery Opens the Door.
We Walk Through It With You.
Meet the Holistic Care Team at Surgical Success Specialists.
At Surgical Success Specialists, we believe that bariatric surgery is one of the most powerful tools available for lasting weight loss and improved health. But a tool is only as effective as the support system surrounding it.
That's why every patient who walks through our doors-whether preparing for surgery or just beginning to explore their options-is supported by a dedicated, multidisciplinary Holistic Care Team. Not as an add-on. Not as optional. As a core, non-negotiable part of your care.
"This is the only program in the Pennsylvania area that offers long-term, completely individualized support designed around you-your body, your life, and your goals."
Dr. Candice Chipman
Because lasting transformation isn't created in the operating room. It's built in the monthsbefore and the years after and through habits, support, accountability, and a team thatstays with you every step of the way.
This Was Never Just About Surgery.
For patients facing bariatric surgery, especially those managing significant weight, complex metabolic conditions, or years of frustration with traditional approaches—the journey is about far more than a procedure.
Obesity is a chronic medical condition. It's driven by hormones, metabolism, genetics, and environment. It affects every system in your body: your heart, your joints, your sleep, your energy, your sense of self. And it cannot be resolved by surgery alone.
Research is clear: the patients who achieve the best, most durable outcomes after bariatric surgery are those who are supported holistically, before the procedure, during recovery, and long after.
Before Surgery
Before surgery, preparation matters. Nutrition, mindset, and metabolic readiness all influence how your body responds to the procedure and how quickly you heal.
After Surgery
After surgery, the work begins. New habits need to form. Your body is changing. Your relationship with food is shifting. You need a team who understands all of it.
Emotionally
Emotionally, this journey brings up things that go beyond the physical. Body image, self-worth, emotional eating, identity and these deserve real, professional support.
Long-Term
Long-term, consistency is everything. Labs need monitoring. Vitamins need managing. Habits need reinforcing. You deserve a team that stays with you, not one that disappears after discharge.
This isn't just about losing weight. It's about learning how to maintain it and thrive for life.
Before You Ever Step Into the Operating Room
,
Your Team Is Already at Work.
Pre-operative preparation is one of the most important and most overlooked phases of the bariatric journey.
At Surgical Success Specialists, your Holistic Care Team begins supporting you from your very first consultation.
This means arriving at surgery stronger, more informed, and more ready both physically and mentally
than you would be on your own.
Pre-Op Nutrition Guidance
Building the nutritional foundation your body needs: protein targets, hydration, and pre-surgical dietary preparation to reduce surgical risk and support faster healing.
Nutrition
Behavioral & Mindset Preparation
Understanding your relationship with food before surgery gives you a head start on the habits you'll need to sustain success long after it.
Mindset
Patient Education & Planning
Clear guidance on what to expect before, during, and after so nothing catches you off guard and every step feels supported and intentional.
Education
You're not expected to show up ready on your own. That's what we're here for.
Recovery Is Where the Real Work Happens and
Where We Show Up Most.
The weeks and months following bariatric surgery are the most critical window of your journey. Your body is adapting. Your hormones are shifting. New habits are forming. And the decisions you make during this time-and the support you have around you-shape your long-term outcomes more than almost anything else.
At Surgical Success Specialists, post-operative care is not an afterthought. It is the program.
Early Recovery
Healing, hydration, protein intake, and close monitoring. Your concierge and care team are with you through every question, every concern, and every milestone.
Weeks 1 – 4
Building Momentum
Nutrition evolves, movement begins, habits take root. Behavioral coaching supports the emotional side of rapid change because feeling better can be as overwhelming as it is exciting.
Months 2 – 6
Long-Term Success
Lab monitoring, vitamin management, fitness progression, and ongoing accountability. This is where many programs stop and where ours keeps going.
Months 6 – 18+
Many patients begin to feel better before the scale fully reflects the change. More energy Better sleep. Less pain. Greater confidence. These improvements begin quietly and they grow with time, guidance, and continued support.
Long-term success isn't created in a single decision. It's built through the habits, support,
and follow-through that come after and we're here for all of it.
A Full Circle of Support:
Before Surgery, Through Recovery, and Beyond.
Your Holistic Care Team at Surgical Success Specialists isn't built around a single specialty. It's built around you. Every dimension of your health, your recovery, and your long-term success. Here's what that support looks like in practice.
Nutrition Guidance & Metabolic Support
Eating after bariatric surgery isn't just about eating less. It's about eating right for a body that has fundamentally changed. Your nutrition support is individualized to your specific procedure or weight loss medications, your labs, and where you are in your recovery. From pre-op dietary preparation through long-term maintenance, your plan evolves as your needs do: covering protein targets, anti-inflammatory eating, supplement management, and body composition support.
Mindset & Emotional Health Coaching
The emotional side of this journey is just as real as the physical one and it deserves just as much attention. Your mindset support helps you unpack the patterns behind your relationship with food, navigate the identity shifts that come with significant change, and build mental resilience that makes long-term success possible. From emotional eating to body image to stress and self-worth-this is a safe, judgment-free space to do the deeper work.
Fitness, Strength & Movement Coaching
Movement after surgery isn't about pushing harder. It's about rebuilding smarter. Your fitness support starts exactly where you are, with gentle, stage-appropriate movement in early recovery and progressive strength training as your body heals. Protecting lean muscle mass is apriority because muscle supports your metabolism, your joints, your energy, and your quality of life long after the weight comes off.
Wound Care & Post-Surgical Recovery Support
The early weeks after surgery require careful monitoring and attentive support. Your recovery care includes structured check-ins, healing guidance, and early intervention if anything feels off so you're never left wondering whether what you're experiencing is normal. Having a team who knows your case and can respond quickly makes all the difference in how smoothly and confidently you move through recovery.
Preventative Care Planning
Long-term health after bariatric surgery or maintenance with or without medications requires more than weight management. It requires proactive planning. Your preventative care support includes ongoing lab monitoring, vitamin and supplement oversight, metabolic health tracking, and coordination with Dr. Chipman to make sure your body is thriving, not just maintaining. This is care that looks ahead, not just at where you are today.
Concierge Wellness Coordination
Having a great care team only works if everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. Your concierge wellness team makes sure it does, coordinating between team members, keeping your appointments on track, and making sure every follow-up happens when it should. They are your first call, your consistent touchpoint, and the people who make sure nothing falls through the cracks throughout your entire journey.
Every one of these disciplines works together, coordinated around your specific plan,
your surgery, and your goals. This is what whole-patient care actually looks like.
Meet the People Behind Your Care.
Behind every discipline is a real person committed, credentialed, and genuinely invested in your success.
Click below to meet the Holistic Care Team at Surgical Success Specialists.
Meet the Holistic Care Team
Nikolett Demeter, M.D.
Resilience Coach
Nikolett is the multidisciplinary heart of the Holistic Care Team-a Medical Doctor, Nutritionist, and NCCPT-ISSA Certified Personal Trainer whose approach to health is as comprehensive as it is compassionate. She works with patients across the full spectrum of their journey, bringing expertise and genuine care to every interaction.
As your Resilience Coach, Nikolett supports the areas where physical health, nutrition, fitness, and mindset intersect. Helping you build the strength, habits, and confidence to sustain your results long after surgery. Her experience working with patients managing complex health conditions and weight gives her a deep understanding of what this journey actually requires and what it actually feels like.
"I'm a strong believer in teamwork and continuous learning-always striving to stay at the forefront of my field so I can provide the best service possible. I aim to inspire positive lifestyle changes and improve lives through personalized care and guidance."
Sharvelle Daniels
Bariatrics Specialist
Sharvelle brings something to this team that credentials alone can't teach—lived experience. Having navigated insurance denials, surgical fears, and her own recovery journey, she knows firsthand what it takes to fight for care, rebuild confidence, and come out the other side stronger. That experience is the foundation of everything she brings to her patients.
As a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach, Sharvelle blends professional training with real-world understanding to deliver support that is personalized, empathetic, and results-driven. She uses her story to empower others—making sure every patient feels seen, supported, and fully capable of lasting success.
Lucia Murillo
Concierge Wellness Coordinator
Lucia believes that feeling heard is the foundation of feeling supported—and she bringsthat belief to everypatient interaction. Warm, patient, and genuinely curious about thepeople she works with, Lucia creates an environment where every conversation feels safe,unhurried, and real.
As your Concierge Wellness Coordinator, Lucia is focused on the human side of your care—making sure you feel seen and valued at every touchpoint, not just scheduled and moved along. She strives to be the person who listens, cares, and shows up consistently throughout your journey—because that kind of connection matters as much as anything clinical.
Caroline Araujo
Concierge Wellness Scheduler
Behind every smooth, well-coordinated care experience is someone making sure all the moving pieces come together—and that's Caroline. As your Concierge Wellness Scheduler, she manages the logistics of your journey with care and precision, from coordinating wellness coaching sessions to ensuring timely follow-ups and keeping your care on track.
Caroline's calm demeanor and exceptional organizational skills make her a reliable, trusted presence throughout your recovery—someone you can count on to make sure nothing is missed and every step of your care feels effortless. She plays a central role in helping patients navigate their experience with ease, so you can focus on healing.
Most Programs Get You Through Surgery.
This One Gets You Through Life.
The difference between short-term weight loss and lasting transformation comes down to one thing:
what happens after the procedure is done.
At Surgical Success Specialists, the Holistic Care Team isn't a bonus feature. It isn't outsourced. It isn't optional.
It is the program—built into every patient's journey from day one, and continuing long after most programs have signed off.
Not a referral list. A real, coordinated team working together around your specific plan.
Not short-term. Support that follows you for up to 18 months and beyond—because your health doesn't have an expiration date. Options available for those who already had surgery and want help with getting back on track.
Not generic. Every plan is built around your body, your surgery, your history, and your goals. No templates. No one-size-fits-all.
Not just physical. Nutrition, movement, mindset, and medical care—addressed together, because they are connected.
This was never about willpower. It was always about
biology—and having the right team in your corner to support every step of the journey.
Ready to Meet Your Team?
Whether you're just beginning to explore bariatric surgery or you're ready to take the next step, Dr. Chipman and her Holistic Care Team are here to walk you through your options—with no pressure, no rush, and no judgment.
Schedule your consultation today and find out what a truly supported weight loss journey looks like.