BMI of Texas Provides Free Weight Loss Surgery to a San Antonio Woman in Recognition of Practice's 10-Year Anniversary

SAN ANTONIO, March 13, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- According to the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, 71% of adults in Bexar County were overweight or obese in 2014. Recognizing that obesity is an epidemic, and much more work needs to be done so that people have access to preventative and treatment options, the Bariatric Medical Institute of Texas (BMI of Texas) recently partnered with Foundation Surgical Hospital of San Antonio to provide a San Antonio resident with weight loss surgery and follow-up care at no cost in recognition of BMI of Texas' 10-year anniversary.

"At BMI of Texas, we are inspired daily by the healthier lives our patients are living," said Dr. Terive Duperier, a bariatric surgeon and co-founder of BMI of Texas. "In honor of these patients, the support we have received in San Antonio since launching BMI of Texas in 2008, and in hopes of raising awareness of the effectiveness of weight loss surgery, we donated a sleeve gastrectomy procedure to a deserving local young lady. I'm very proud of her and the commitment she has made to leading a healthier life."

Dr. Duperier and Dr. Punam Patel conducted weight loss surgery on San Antonio resident Stacy L. at Foundation Surgical Hospital of San Antonio in November 2018. Dr. Mark Bowland, a board-certified anesthesiologist with Tejas Anesthesia donated anesthesiology services, and Ethicon* provided some of the minimally invasive surgical instruments used in the procedure.

Stacy is very appreciative of the opportunity she was given. She said, "I have struggled with my weight for my whole life. Dr. Duperier performed weight loss surgery on my mother and I saw firsthand how the surgery was a successful tool in helping her get healthier. I'm a breast cancer survivor and had diabetes. I had just lost my job of 29 years and I didn't know how I was going to be able to afford the surgery but I knew BMI of Texas was the right practice for me because of the successful track record of their surgeons, and the professionalism of their office staff. When I got the phone call that I was selected to receive the free gastric sleeve, it was the best thing that has ever happened to me."

"I can't say enough wonderful things about BMI of Texas and my experience. I have already dropped from a size 22 to a size 14. I'm off my diabetes medication completely and I have so much energy. I have a new job that I love and I am so very grateful I was given the chance to live a healthier life. My short term goal is to be able to walk or run in the Race for the Cure, and then after that? I want to spend a long life with my children and grandchildren. I want to be there for them and I am so grateful to BMI of Texas for giving me this amazing gift."

Obesity is a multi-factorial and complex disease, which is why BMI of Texas created a unique, comprehensive program to help patients maintain their health and weight long-term. The physicians and staff are dedicated to creating an enduring partnership with patients in order to ensure their long-term success by providing care in a supportive, compassionate, and guilt-free environment. BMI of Texas helps patients achieve their weight loss goals and improved health through various surgical procedures including gastric bypass, Obalon Balloon System, LAP-BAND, duodenal switch and gastric sleeve, as well as a comprehensive medical weight management program.

BMI of Texas weight loss surgeons Terive Duperier, MD, FACS,Richard Englehardt, MD, FACS, and Michael Seger, MD, FACS, have been recognized by San Antonio Scene in the magazine's annual listing of the city's top physicians. Dr. Jennifer Seger, who heads up the practice's medical weight loss program, is also recognized in the Bariatric Medicine category. The BMI of Texas doctors have repeatedly been recognized by their peers dating back the awards' inception in 2005. Dr. Punam Patel joined the practice in 2018 and brings a unique quality to BMI of Texas and San Antonio as one of the city's only female fellowship-trained advanced laparoscopic and bariatric surgeons. She is also experienced in the surgical treatment of reflux disease, including new procedures such as Linx placement.

About BMI of Texas:
Founded in 2008, the Bariatric Medical Institute of Texas is focused on helping patients achieve their long-term weight loss goals. More information on the practice can be found online at http://www.bmioftexas.com.

*Ethicon represents the products and services of Ethicon, Inc., Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC and certain of their affiliates.

About Foundation Surgical Hospital of San Antonio
Foundation Surgical Hospital of San Antonio is an award-winning hospital specializing in the care of the surgical patient. Ranked #1 in the state of Texas for Medical Excellence/Patient Safety/Patient Satisfaction in Bariatric Surgery by CareChex, the hospital is a Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) Center of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery and received the 2018 Women's Choice Award® as one of America's Best Hospitals for Bariatric Surgery. For more information visit http://www.fdnh.com.

SOURCE BMI of Texas