South Texas Health System Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Center
Obesity, which refers to excessive body fat, can cause many health problems and put you at a higher risk for diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea and other respiratory problems. More than 12.5 million Americans are severely overweight, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If you're overweight and you've tried many different diets, medications and weight-loss programs without long-term success, bariatric surgery can help. Weight-loss surgeons at the South Texas Health System Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Center can help people struggling with obesity achieve the long-term weight loss they need to lead a longer and healthier life.
Watch this video to learn more about the South Texas Health System Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Center, including the procedures we perform and the negative effects obesity can have on your entire body if left untreated.
Learn More
For more information on weight-loss surgery, call 956-664-1616 or register for a Weight-Loss Surgery Seminar.
Accredited Weight Loss Surgery Center
The South Texas Health System Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Center has been designated as a fully accredited Bariatric Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program. To earn the designation, our weight-loss surgery center has demonstrated that our surgeons meet the needs of patients by providing multidisciplinary, high-quality, patient-centered care.
Are You a Candidate for Weight-Loss Surgery?
Weight-loss surgery may be right for you if:
- You are between 18 and 65 years of age
- Your are at least 40 pounds overweight, depending on other health conditions
- Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is greater than 30
- You have tried other weight-loss methods without success
About Bariatric Surgery
Weight-loss surgery helps people lose weight by reducing the size of the stomach, or a combination of making the stomach size smaller and re-routing the small intestine so the patient does not absorb all of the calories being consumed. Some of the procedures reduce patient appetites.
There is more to weight-loss surgery than the procedure itself. To be successful, patients must make major changes in their lifestyle and eating habits, including:
- Restricting the amount and types of food they eat
- Avoiding drinking liquids with meals
- Exercising regularly
- Taking vitamin and mineral supplements
- Regularly attending a weight loss support group
During the initial consultation, your physician will evaluate you on the following:
- You are medically stable and physically able to withstand surgery
- You pass a psychological screening test that helps ensure you are able to comply with post-surgical behavior modifications
- You complete all required pre-operative testing
Patients who attend support group meetings are more successful in maintaining long-term weight loss.
The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery has a wealth of information for bariatric patients.
Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any surgical procedure. Talk with your doctor about these risks to find out if weight-loss surgery is right for you.