Weight Loss Surgeon in Dallas Discusses Revisional Bariatric Procedures

DALLAS, TX--(Marketwire - Apr 4, 2012) - Recent media attention from singer Carnie Wilson's second bariatric surgery has sparked significant buzz regarding revision weight loss procedures. Dr. David Kim, a bariatric surgeon in Dallas, says while the need for a secondary weight loss surgery is rare, patients should be aware of the benefits a revisional procedure can offer. At his practice, Dr. Kim says there are a number of reasons he recommends a revision weight loss surgery including the possibility for better results, correcting any complications that may have occurred, or helping patients with more serious obesity attain their weight loss goals.

According to the most recent report from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), 15 million people in America suffer from obesity, while only 220,000 (less than 1% of the clinically eligible population) undergo weight loss procedures each year. While the ASMBS study shows that patients who undergo bariatric surgery may improve their life expectancy by as much as 89%, Dr. Kim says the procedures are not an immediate fix. He says strict maintenance of a healthy diet and nutritional supplements is essential to staying healthy and losing weight.

At his Dallas bariatric surgery practice, Dr. Kim focuses on a wide variety of weight loss procedures that help give patients options in finding a solution for their weight-related issues, such as the gastric sleeve and gastric bypass treatments. He says patients often associate the need for a second bariatric procedure with some mistake that has been made, while the reality is that there are several reasons a secondary surgery may be beneficial for patients. Dr. Kim says bariatric surgery can be a helpful tool in fighting obesity, but patients need to understand that weight loss procedures are a serious commitment and require drastic lifestyle changes and an open mind: "Statistics have shown that revision weight loss surgery has a higher complication risk than primary weight loss surgery. For the safety of the patient, a doctor who performs revision weight loss surgery should have extensive primary weight loss surgery experience as well as revision weight loss surgery experience. The surgeon should also be able to perform all of the different types of weight loss surgery to avoid the failures that may have occurred with the initial weight loss surgery."

Because weight loss is a long journey, Dr. Kim says more than one procedure may be required to achieve the proper results. At his practice, he says revisional bariatric surgery in Dallas comprises 10% of his procedures, a majority of which are patients who have had their first procedure elsewhere. The cause of complications in a bariatric surgery is often a result of the first procedure not being the right fit for a patient. Dr. Kim says each patient has individual needs and finding the right procedure takes extensive experience and a highly individualized approach to one's patients. He says some of the problems he most often sees patients come to his practice with are failed weight loss, difficulty swallowing, heartburn, limited dietary choices, weight loss plateau, or mechanical failure. While these complications can occur, Dr. Kim says they are rare and revision weight loss surgery is typically the most successful procedure he performs at his practice.

Regardless of whether patients have run into complications with their initial bariatric procedure or are simply unhappy with the results they have been able to achieve, Dr. Kim says revision weight loss surgery requires the hands of an experienced and board-certified surgeon. He stresses the importance of consulting with a passionate and qualified practice before undergoing any weight loss procedure, so as to ensure the proper results are achieved through a safe and effective operation.

About David D. Kim, MD, FACS

A graduate of Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine, Dr. David Kim completed his general surgery residency at Case Western Reserve University and a peripheral vascular surgery fellowship at Ohio State University. He also has completed fellowships in advanced laparoscopic bariatric surgery at both the Medical College of Virginia and Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Kim has been designated a "Surgeon of Excellence" by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, and is a member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. He is also board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Located at 35 Veranda Lane Suite 100 in Colleyville, TX, Dr. Kim's practice, the Live Life Again Center for Bariatric Surgery, can be reached by Fort Worth patients at (817) 717 7447 and Dallas patients at (214) 581-6127. He can also be contacted online via the website drdkim.net or the Live Life Again Center for Bariatric Surgery Facebook page.