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Bariatric Surgery

Patients Benefit from Experienced Team

Bariatric surgery patients at the University of Virginia Health System benefit from an accredited bariatric surgery program that has performed thousands of procedures over more than 20 years.
Led by bariatric surgeon Bruce Schirmer, M.D., FACS, UVA’s multidisciplinary team includes nurses who specialize in caring for bariatric surgery patients, a dietitian, a physician’s assistant, bariatric-trained administrators, a psychiatrist and a plastic surgeon. UVA has extensive experience with the most serious obesity cases, including patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 60 or higher as well as patients with significant co-morbidities. UVA offers the full range of bariatric surgical procedures, including Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, laparoscopic gastric bypass and laparoscopic adjustable band surgery.
“We have a fantastic team that’s worked together a long time and knows how to work together,” Schirmer says. “We’ve been down the road with lots of tough patients. There’s a lot to be said for experience.”
Schirmer typically performs 200 to 250 bariatric procedures annually. A 2004 study in the Annals of Surgery found that academic medical centers where more than 100 bariatric procedures are performed annually have lower morbidity and mortality rates and shorter hospitals stays for patients.
UVA is one of two centers in Virginia accredited through the American College of Surgeons’ (ACS) Bariatric Surgery Center Network. The network’s accreditation standards include minimum volumes of bariatric procedures, board-certified surgeons, multidisciplinary staff support for patients and a dedicated bariatric nursing team experienced in providing care to bariatric surgical patients. Schirmer is chair of the ACS Bariatric Surgery Center Network and has been chosen as one of America’s Top Doctors™ for surgery.
Before bariatric surgery, UVA offers extensive counseling and a patient support group that meets monthly. Following their procedure, UVA plastic surgeon David Drake, M.D., FACS, has significant experience with skin removal or revision for patients who experience significant weight loss after surgery.
To refer patients for bariatric surgery, call UVA Physician Direct at 800.552.3723.