As the leader in healthcare for the region with over 700 physicians in 125 specialties, UT Health San Antonio, in partnership with University Health System, has formed UT Health Surgical Weight Loss to treat this growing epidemic.
UT Health Surgical Weight Loss provides comprehensive medical, surgical and endoscopic treatment options for patients with obesity and obesity-related illnesses. Our team consists of three bariatric surgeons with a combined 35 years of experience, an advanced gastroenterologist, nurse practitioners, psychologists and nutritional counselors. This multi-specialty approach to bariatric medicine brings the most experienced providers and expert care for surgical and non-surgical weight loss to our patients in Central and South Texas.
Over the years weight loss procedures have increased as well as the procedure options for patients. Today, most surgical weight loss procedures are done through minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery which means less scarring and faster recovery for patients. The most popular procedures we perform today are roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy surgery, revision surgery and more recently endoscopic sleeve and intragastric balloon therapy.
If you are considering weight loss surgery, our board-certified surgeons will meet with you to discuss your options and whether you would be a candidate for weight loss surgery.
Some requirements for weight loss surgery are:
• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You have a long, unsuccessful history of trying to lose weight through diet and exercise.
• Your body mass index (BMI) is 40 or higher.
• Your BMI is 35 to 39.9, and you have a serious weight-related health problem, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension or sleep apnea.
Deciding to have weight loss surgery is possibly one of the biggest decisions you may make in your life, and we want to be here for you every step of the way.
Join us at one of our FREE Weight Loss Support Group meetings and meet people who, just like you want to live a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Our members can offer firsthand experiences and support to help you overcome the hurdles you face every day on your weight loss journey.
Our Weight Loss Support Group meets the first Wednesday of each month at the Courtyard Marriott on Wiseman & 151 at 6:30 p.m.
If you would like to attend a FREE informational seminar on Surgical Weight Loss, we offer three seminars each month. For more information about UT Health Surgical Weight Loss, call 210-438-8446 or visit our website.
Meet the Surgical Weight Loss Team:
Kent Van Sickle, M.D.
Associate Professor of Surgery Chief, General, and Minimally Invasive Surgery; Medical Director UT Health Weight Loss
Richard M. Peterson, M.D., M.P.H.
Associate Professor of Surgery; Chief, UT Health Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, Medical Director, Christus Weight Loss Institute
Jason Kempenich, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Surgery,UT Health Division of General and Minimally Invasive Surgery
