It is my pleasure to warmly welcome you to the Division of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Our multi-disciplinary approach exemplifies the latest advancements in the modern management of patients who suffer from the consequences of obesity and metabolic syndrome; a disease that has a prevalence of nearly 10 million people in the United States.
Bariatric surgery, also known as metabolic surgery, is the collective term for a number of operations that are offered to patients who are seeking improved health and quality of life through weight loss and correction of metabolic dysfunction. Our treatments not only result in dramatic weight loss, but also improve, if not resolve, life-threatening disease states, such as diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, sleep apnea, fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, among many others. Moreover, metabolic surgery has been shown to protect against several cancers and improve survivorship in cancer patients. As a result, life-expectancy is prolonged in our patients, and they enjoy higher levels of energy and quality of life.
The field of metabolic surgery has undergone spectacular advancements in patient optimization and surgical techniques, and it has a safety and efficacy track record that has become a benchmark for other specialties. These therapies are best delivered through a patient-centric team of diverse specialists that will include surgeons, non-surgeon physicians, endoscopists, dietitians, psychologists and others, in addition to dedicated and compassionate support staff who are sensitive to the needs of our patients and their families.
Metabolic surgery, through its dramatic effect on diabetes, sleep apnea, heart disease and other diseases, has unleashed vigorous interest in basic science and bedside research projects in almost every institution in the country. We at Baylor College of Medicine are fortunate to collaborate with world-renowned investigators in the fields of hyperlipidemia, heart failure, asthma and other fields of interest, as we open exciting avenues of discovery that will benefit future patients of metabolic syndrome.
Samer G. Mattar, MBBCh, FACS, FASMBS, FRCS Edin, DABOM
Professor and Chief,
Division of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
Baylor College of Medicine
