Top-Rated Hepatologist Serving New York Community

At Digestive Disease Care, we value the role of hepatologists—medical professionals specializing in diagnosing, managing, and treating diseases that affect the liver, gallbladder, biliary tree, and pancreas. The liver plays a crucial role in metabolic processes, including detoxification and protein synthesis, and dysfunction can impact overall health. We provide comprehensive care for liver diseases like hepatitis, liver cancer, alcoholic liver disease, fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and genetic and metabolic liver diseases.

Hepatologists also manage conditions such as gallstones, pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, cholecystitis, cholangitis, and biliary atresia. They are trained to evaluate patients who are candidates for liver transplantation, conducting physical examinations, obtaining medical histories, and ordering blood tests, liver biopsies, and imaging studies to assess liver function and identify abnormalities.

Hepatologists prescribe medications to manage liver inflammation, prevent complications, and treat infections. They recommend lifestyle changes like weight loss, dietary adjustments, and smoking cessation while closely monitoring patient progress over time and adjusting treatment plans to optimize liver health. Through continuous research, we strive to better understand liver diseases and develop more effective treatments, aiming to improve long-term health outcomes for our patients.

Gastroenterologists and hepatologists are medical specialists who diagnose and treat diseases of the digestive system. However, they focus on different areas of this vast system. Gastroenterologists are highly trained physicians specializing in diseases of the digestive system or gastrointestinal (GI) tract. They are skilled in performing procedures like endoscopies and colonoscopies and expertly manage conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), acid reflux, celiac disease, and hemorrhoids.

In contrast, hepatologists are specialists within the field of gastroenterology who focus particularly on disorders of the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and biliary tree. They demonstrate advanced training and expertise in diagnosing and managing liver diseases such as hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and pancreatic or gallbladder diseases. Hepatologists undergo additional fellowship training in hepatology, which further hone their expertise in liver-related conditions.

Although gastroenterologists and hepatologists have distinct roles, there is some overlap in their care. For example, both specialists may diagnose and treat patients with liver disease, depending on the complexity of the condition. When choosing a specialist for digestive or liver disorders, patients should consider factors such as the complexity of their condition, the availability of hepatologists, and their medical history.

A hepatology appointment involves a detailed examination of your liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas. Our team of experienced hepatologists is here to guide you through this process with the utmost care and expertise.

When you visit for a hepatology consultation, specialists will begin by discussing your symptoms, medical history, and any current medications you’re on. In addition to a comprehensive physical examination to assess your overall health, our team will specifically look for signs of liver disease.

At Digestive Disease Care, we value the importance of follow-up appointments. These scheduled visits allow us to monitor your progress, adjust treatment, and provide the necessary support on your path to recovery. Depending on your condition, you may need to see our hepatologist regularly to manage any side effects from medications.

At Digestive Disease Care, we have a team of dedicated hepatologists who specialize in the diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases and disorders related to the liver, gallbladder, biliary tree, and pancreas. Our hepatologists are well-versed in a variety of procedures necessary for optimal liver health.

Among the procedures our hepatologists carry out is liver biopsy, which is crucial for diagnosing a range of liver diseases, assessing liver damage, and monitoring treatment responses. Depending on the patient’s condition, our hepatologists can perform this procedure percutaneously, transjugularly, or laparoscopically.

In addition, our hepatologists have the expertise to perform endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), a procedure that uses an endoscope and X-rays to diagnose and treat problems in the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas.

At Digestive Disease Care, our hepatologists can also carry out procedures such as paracentesis, liver abscess drainage, and placement of stents in bile ducts to help identify causes of fluid accumulation, such as cirrhosis or malignancy, and treat complications of liver disease, including infections and blockages.

In cases of liver diseases like hepatitis C, hepatologists oversee the administration of antiviral therapy, managing the dosage and monitoring the patient’s response.

Hepatologists also play a crucial role in liver transplantation, evaluating patient eligibility, managing their care pre and post-surgery, and monitoring them for complications after the transplant.

Early detection and treatment are key to managing liver diseases effectively, and if you are concerned about liver health, scheduling a hepatology appointment is a vital step toward improving your well-being. If you suspect you may have a liver-related problem, scheduling a hepatology appointment at Digestive Disease Care is the crucial first step. We have convenient locations to serve you in Babylon NY, East Setauket NY, Forest Hills NY, Jamaica NY, Jericho NY, Lake Success NY, Melville NY, Mineola NY, Massapequa NY, and New Hyde Park NY.