At Parkwest Medical Center and New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery in Knoxville, Tennessee, bariatric surgery is changing lives. With expertise and experience, complex procedures like duodenal switch can lead to dramatic, lasting weight loss.
“My starting weight was 369 pounds and now I’m down to 220 pounds,” says Chris Creech, a truck driver from Tellico Plains who had duodenal switch. “It’s just amazing.”
Chris feels healthier than ever after losing more than 150 pounds with bariatric surgery with Dr. K. Robert Williams, Jr., at Parkwest.
This specialized procedure reduces the size of the stomach and bypasses a section of the small intestine. Hunger is reduced and the body absorbs fewer calories as a result.
Deciding on Duodenal Switch
Creech’s struggle with obesity started early and followed him from childhood into adulthood. “I’ve been overweight my whole life,” Creech says. “I was bullied when I was young, called names like ‘Porky.’”
The unhealthy weight led to high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation (AFib) and sleep apnea. After a gastric sleeve procedure didn’t work out, Creech decided to look for new options and a new surgeon. His search led him to Bariatric Surgeon K. Robert Williams, Jr., MD, FACS, FASBS, of New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery and Medical Director at the Parkwest Center for Bariatric Surgery.
“I did my research and Dr. Williams came out at the top,” Creech says.
Dr. Williams explains that the duodenal switch is “a specialty within a specialty.” The complex bariatric surgery includes a sleeve gastrectomy followed by an intestinal bypass. Dr. Williams has performed the complicated two-phase procedure for over 15 years and offered it to Creech without hesitation.
Dr. K. Robert Williams, Bariatric Surgeon
“It’s a difficult operation, but it offers the best weight-loss results for those who need to lose a lot of weight or those who have regained weight after other surgeries,” Dr. Williams says.
It’s also much more effective than medications, which help patients lose only about 10 to 15 percent of their body weight. Most patients who undergo duodenal switch lose 50 percent. In addition, patients who rely solely on medications to lose weight usually regain what they’ve lost after they stop refilling prescriptions. The risk of regaining that weight after duodenal switch is only about 5 to 10 percent.
Life After Weight-Loss Surgery
With a weight loss of more than 100 pounds, Creech has experienced drastic changes in his life.
“My sleep apnea is pretty much gone and my heart health is way better now., I can climb stairs without getting out of breath. And getting in and out of the truck is so much easier,” Creech says. “My sexual health is way better, and I feel more confident in every aspect of life.”
With more than 1,000 duodenal switch surgeries under his belt, Dr. Williams has mastered this challenging procedure. “We do this operation because it offers better weight loss and lower risk of regain compared to other surgeries,” he says.
While the duodenal switch isn’t for everyone, it’s giving people like Creech new hope for better quality of life. He experienced a couple of complications but says those were readily resolved and can’t compare to his improved health post-surgery.
“I feel lucky,” Creech says, “and happy with the whole thing.”
Finding Hope Through Bariatric Surgery
If you’re considering bariatric surgery, it’s critically important to choose a bariatric surgeon who has the right training and extensive experience. The duodenal switch procedure isn’t offered by many surgeons, and those who do offer it must be highly skilled.
“It can be a dangerous operation if the surgeon isn’t experienced,” Dr. Williams warns. “Patients should make sure their surgeon is knowledgeable before deciding on this surgery.”
Dr. Williams has performed thousands of bariatric surgeries over the past 15+ years and is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
Parkwest Center for Bariatric Surgery is one of the top bariatric surgery providers in Tennessee. It is accredited as a Comprehensive Center under the American College of Surgeons Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). The center offers weight-loss surgeries such as gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy as well as duodenal switch.
If you’re ready to take steps toward a new life beyond obesity, learn more about bariatrics at Parkwest Medical Center. You can also watch online or attend free informational session to see if bariatric surgery is right for you.
New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery is a division of Premier Surgical Bariatrics in Knoxville, Tennessee.