Dr. Ralf Weise

An efficient, state-of-the-art clinic – and a Director with outstanding expertise who offers a wide range of medical services: Dr. Ralf Weise is Senior Consultant in the Department for General and Visceral Surgery at St. Marien Hospital in Friesoythe. In addition to heading up the Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, he is also responsible for the Obesity Center North-West as well as several other centers.

As a specialist consultant, Dr. Ralf Weise has several additional qualifications. Besides general and visceral surgery, his portfolio also includes surgical proctology. He has also been certified in minimally invasive surgery by the German Surgical Working Group for Minimally Invasive Surgery (CAMIC).

It should therefore come as no surprise that the Clinic for General and Abdominal Surgery headed up by Dr. Ralf Weise works in close collaboration with several other centers. Well over a thousand operations are performed here each year – this alone speaks for the center staff's great deal of experience, and patients can place themselves in the hands of this competent team with complete confidence. It is also testament to the vast professional experience of the Department of General and Visceral Surgery at St. Marien Hospital in Friesoythe: the clinic is geared toward the provision of round-the-clock emergency treatment every single day of the year!

First-class Interdisciplinary Abdominal Center

Dr. Weise offers a wide range of services in the affiliated Interdisciplinary Abdominal Center. The center's interdisciplinary approach is quickly apparent, as it cooperates closely with other departments including gastroenterology, radiology, the Center for Radiotherapy and the Practice for Oncology in nearby Westerstede.

The focus here is on the expert treatment of functional disorders and cancers of the gastrointestinal tract and lymphatic system. However, the clinic also treats functional disorders and other diseases such as acid reflux, adhesions and chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.

Wide range of services: Pelvic Floor and Colorectal Center

The Pelvic Floor and Colorectal Center is another important area within the range of services provided by Senior Consultant Dr. Ralf Weise. This center treats irregularities in bowel movements and continence problems in cooperation with the Department of Gastroenterology and specialists in gynecology and urology.

A range of other procedures which are part of the regular provision of services in Friesoythe fall within the remit of the Clinic for General and Abdominal Surgery – for the treatment of patients with functional disorders, disorders of the endocrine system, thyroid disorders, parathyroid diseases or adrenal diseases, for example. The clinic also treats inguinal hernias, abdominal wall hernias, diaphragmatic hernias and tumors.

More and more frequently, such procedures are now carried out in a minimally invasive manner – often using the gentle keyhole technique which Dr. Weise has perfected. This innovative technique means patients can be up and about the same day as their surgery and generally experience a significant reduction in post-operative pain. What is more, the surgery often leaves no visible scar.

A number of other operations are performed on an outpatient basis by the Department of General and Visceral Surgery at St. Marien Hospital in Friesoythe. These include endoscopic interventions to treat inguinal hernias and operations for varicose veins or the removal of skin tumors.

Outstandingly well staffed: the Outpatient Wound Clinic

The Outpatient Wound Clinic provides outstanding services in outpatient care. Services are available for chronic wounds in particular, including ulcerated legs in patients with circulatory disorders, chronic wounds following accidents and diabetic foot syndrome. A major advantage of this department is the three specially trained wound nurses working hard to ensure an extremely high quality of care in this demanding area. The wealth of experience at the Outpatient Wound Clinic is further demonstrated by the fact that it is a founding member of the Wundzentrum Nord-West e.V. (Wound Center North-West).

The final center described has a very special purpose: patients at the Obesity Center North-West, which is connected to St. Marien Hospital, are given the best possible care under the supervision of Dr. Ralf Weise. Dr. Weise is also a renowned specialist in bariatric surgery, which is used to treat patients with morbid obesity.

Renowned obesity specialist

Obesity has long been recognized by the WHO as a disease – it is a disease with many causes, but one that is on the rise. In 2019, the number of people in German-speaking countries affected by obesity is already estimated at around three million. The consequences of morbid obesity range from high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus to wear and tear of the spine and joints. Not only does obesity reduce quality of life, it also reduces life expectancy.

At this point it is not simply a matter of carrying a few extra pounds – it is imperative that action is taken. For Dr. Weise it is important that all non-operative treatment options have been exhausted first – this includes a thorough nutritional consultation alongside the provision of an individual diet plan and specialized exercise therapy tailored to each patient. Incidentally, Dr. Weise has a further area of expertise to fall back on here: he is also a qualified nutritionist.

Only once these steps have been taken will the Obesity Center North-West consider metabolic intervention. Although obesity increases the risk of developing secondary issues known as sequelae, operations on the stomach and intestines can reduce obesity by up to seventy percent. On average, Dr. Weise and his team carry out bariatric surgery (that is, the aforementioned metabolic intervention) on around one third of patients.

A sought-after specialist with tremendous versatility

The Obesity Center, Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Outpatient Wound Clinic, Surgical Proctology, the Interdisciplinary Abdominal Center, Nutritional Medicine – Dr. Ralf Weise is a sought-after specialist in Friesoythe. Despite his busy schedule, he always makes time for his patients. Because he knows that patient treatment is not just about making the correct diagnosis – it is always about the patients themselves, about ensuring that individual therapies and treatment methods are not only geared toward the patient and their illness, but also take into account their needs and wishes.