Do I need a referral to see Dr. Jorge?

No. Most patients can call us directly at (803) 220-1716 to schedule a consultation. Some insurance plans require a referral from your primary care physician — our team will tell you when you call and help you sort it out.

How quickly can I be seen?

Quickly. We strive for same-week visits whenever a patient needs one, and same-day or next-business-day appointments are often available. We deliberately hold consultation slots open so that patients with painful, worsening, or urgent problems are not waiting weeks to be evaluated. If your situation is urgent, tell us when you call and we will work you in.

What insurance do you accept?

We work with all insurance plans. Call (803) 220-1716 and our team will verify your specific plan and benefits before your visit, including whether bariatric surgery is a covered benefit under your policy, so there are no surprises.

Is bariatric surgery covered by insurance?

Many plans cover it, but requirements vary widely — typically a documented BMI threshold, supervised weight-management visits, and a psychological evaluation. We handle the authorization process for you and tell you upfront what your plan requires.

I had bariatric surgery years ago and regained weight. Can you help?

Yes. Revisional bariatric surgery is a core focus of this practice — sleeve-to-bypass conversion, band removal, and repair of complications after prior operations. Weight recurrence is common and it is not a personal failure.

What is robotic surgery, and is it better?

Robotic surgery is a form of minimally invasive surgery that gives the surgeon better visualization and finer instrument control, which matters most in complex hernia and foregut cases. It is not automatically better for every operation. Dr. Jorge selects the approach — robotic, laparoscopic, or open — that fits your anatomy and prior surgical history.

Do you offer non-surgical weight loss?

Yes. Dr. Jorge is board-certified in obesity medicine, and our practice runs LeanDreams , a medical weight-management program built around a multidisciplinary team — physicians, a registered dietitian, behavioral and nutrition coaches, and certified personal trainers — working together on one plan. It covers medical weight management including GLP-1 medications for patients who are not surgical candidates, who prefer to start without an operation, or who need long-term support after surgery.

Where will my surgery be performed?

Dr. Jorge holds surgical privileges at Piedmont Augusta, Augusta Surgical Center, and Aiken Regional Medical Center. Your operative location depends on your procedure and your insurance, and we confirm it with you well before your surgery date.

Do you see patients from South Carolina?

Yes. We regularly care for patients from Aiken, North Augusta, and the surrounding South Carolina communities.

Hiatal Hernia Surgery in Augusta, GA

If you have heartburn that never fully goes away, food that sticks, or pressure in your chest after meals, a hiatal hernia may be part of the reason. You are not imagining it, and you do not have to keep working around it.

Dr. Jorge is a double board-certified surgeon with fellowship training in foregut and bariatric surgery. He sees patients from Augusta, Evans, Aiken and the surrounding region.

Request a consultation Call (803) 220-1716

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Dr. Jorge performs a robotic sleeve gastrectomy with hiatal hernia repair.

What a hiatal hernia is

Your esophagus passes through a small opening in the diaphragm to reach the stomach. In a hiatal hernia, part of the stomach slides up through that opening into the chest. Some are small and cause few problems. Others, especially paraesophageal hernias, can grow over time and need a surgeon's attention.

Simplified illustration for education. Not to scale.

Instagram reelTold you have a gastric volvulus or a large paraesophageal hernia? Dr. Jorge explains what it means.

Symptoms that are worth a visit

Frequent heartburn or reflux, even on medication
Regurgitation or a sour taste, especially lying down
Trouble swallowing or food sticking
Chest pressure or fullness after small meals
Shortness of breath after eating
Anemia without a clear cause

Sudden severe chest or abdominal pain, repeated vomiting you cannot keep down, or being unable to swallow is an emergency. Call 911.

How we evaluate it

A visit to hear your story and review prior tests.
Testing as needed, which may include an upper endoscopy, a swallow study, or reflux testing.
A clear recommendation. Surgery is not the answer for everyone. Sometimes the right answer is medication, diet changes or watchful waiting, and we will tell you that.

Surgical options

Hiatal and paraesophageal hernia repair brings the stomach back into the abdomen and tightens the opening. It is often combined with an anti-reflux wrap such as a fundoplication, and mesh is used in selected cases. Dr. Jorge performs minimally invasive repair, including robotic approaches, and also treats recurrent hernias and repairs that need revision.

If you also live with obesity, the best reflux operation may be different. Dr. Jorge will walk you through how weight and reflux are connected, including bariatric options when appropriate.

Instagram reelWhy would a surgeon recommend gastric bypass for a hernia?

Instagram reelConstant heartburn and extra weight: how the two are connected.

What to expect

Most patients go home within a day or two, though this depends on the operation and your health. We explain the diet progression, activity limits and follow-up before surgery, so there are no surprises. Results and recovery vary from person to person.

Coming from out of state

Dr. Jorge is licensed in Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, Wisconsin, and Illinois, and holds a license through the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which streamlines licensure in 44 participating states. We regularly care for patients from out of state. Your evaluation and follow-up can happen by telehealth where licensure allows, with surgery in person here in Georgia when you need it.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need surgery for a hiatal hernia?

Many people do not. Surgery is usually considered when symptoms are not controlled with medication, when the hernia is large, or when it causes complications. Dr. Jorge will tell you honestly whether surgery makes sense.

Instagram reelDo I need surgery right away if I have a sliding hernia?

What is the difference between a hiatal and a paraesophageal hernia?

In a sliding hiatal hernia the stomach moves up and down through the opening. In a paraesophageal hernia part of the stomach sits next to the esophagus in the chest and can become trapped, so these are more often repaired even when symptoms are mild.

Can a hiatal hernia come back?

It can. Recurrence is a known risk of any hernia repair. Careful technique, and managing weight, coughing and straining afterward, help lower the risk. Dr. Jorge also treats recurrent hernias.

Instagram reelOnce you get surgery, can the hernia come back?

Will insurance cover it?

Most insurance plans cover medically necessary hiatal hernia repair. Our team verifies your benefits before your visit.

Do you see patients from outside Augusta?

Yes. Many patients travel from Aiken, Columbia, Savannah, Statesboro and beyond. We can often coordinate testing close to home.

Is Dr. Jorge employed by a hospital?

No. He runs an independent practice, Savannah River Advanced Surgery, and operates at facilities where he holds privileges, including Piedmont Augusta, Aiken Regional Medical Centers and Augusta Surgical Center.