Gastric bypass surgery is becoming increasingly popular for losing weight.

Video: Attempts To Slim Down By Surgery Have Tragic Results

Al Roker had it and so did Carney Wilson.

It works by making your stomach smaller and, in turn, you eat less.

Some experts consider the surgery is high risk as The Investigators' Vince DeMentri reports.

Last year, the Investigators reported on Shirley Baals. She had complications from gastric bypass surgery performed by a South Jersey doctor.

After her story aired, the NBC 10 Investigators learned of two more women who had the same doctor and who also had problems with their surgery.

These three women battled with extra weight and put their hope in a doctor to better their lives. All of them had tragic results.

Dr. Marc Tucker has performed dozens of gastric bypass operations at Kennedy Health System in Strattford, N.J., but isn't operating at Kennedy anymore.

Tucker told The Investigators that he left Kennedy because he got a better job at Indiana Regional Medical Center in western Pennsylvania.

"I tried every diet there was and he could get me down to one pill a day," said Elisa Zicardi.

Zicardi was overweight. She went to Tucker for gastric bypass surgery at Kennedy.

"The last thing I remember is being wheeled into the room and telling my family, 'Don't worry, I'm not going into the light,' which was supposed to be a joke," Zicardi said.

That joke, Zicardi said, turned into a nightmare. She needed a second emergency surgery because of complications.

"I remember the first time my daughter said, 'Mom, the lights are on. It's very bright in here.' I realized then I lost my vision," Zicardi said.

Zicardi wanted to lose weight and she came home legally blind. She is suing Tucker and the hospital. Tucker and Kennedy Health Systems deny any wrongdoing.

The Bariatric Surgery Program started at Kennedy Health Systems in August of 2003 and lasted about a year. Records show that in that year Tucker performed 32 surgeries.

The NBC 10 Investigators have learned that in three of the surgeries, injury and one death are alleged to have happened.

Linda DiOrio was diabetic and overweight. She died the day after her bariatric surgery. Her husband said she died from complications from the surgery. He is exploring a lawsuit against Tucker.

"She told me she wanted to go home. I told her to wait until morning to see what the doctor said. That was the last time I spoke to her," Leonard DiOrio.

Baals also had complications and needed a second surgery. She said she was in constant pain for six months.

"I said, 'Did you leave something in me?'" Baals told The Investigators.

Doctors found a five-inch feeding tube in her. Baals is suing Tucker. Tucker denies any wrongdoing.

Kennedy Health Systems released this statement:

"After a pattern of apparent complications was noted in cases conducted by Dr. Mark Tucker, the only physician on the Kennedy staff doing these types of proceudres, the progam was suspended."

The Investigators went undercover to Tucker's seminar on gastric bypass at Indiana Regional Medical Center. When a participant asked if he performed the surgeries, he said that he doesn't perform the surgery, but assists another surgeon.

"Why don't you do the surgeries at the other locations?" an Investigators producer asked later.

Tucker had no comment.

"I have a beautiful family, I can't see their faces any more," Zicardi said.

These outcomes are not unheard of with gastric bypass surgery. Recent studies said that about 10 percent of patients have complications. In less than 1 percent of all cases, death can occur.

It has not been proven if Tucker is responsible for the complications with his former patients.

The NBC 10 Investigators checked with the New Jersey and Pennsylvania licensing boards and Tucker has no disciplinary actions against him.