Welcome To

Alabama Bariatrics & Minimally Invasive Surgery

Alabama Bariatrics, the office of W. Jay Suggs MD FACS FASMBS is a comprehensive weight loss surgery clinic located in Decatur and Huntsville. In addition to offering the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, the laparoscopic gastric bypass, and laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, Dr. Suggs also does the nonsurgical Orbera intragastric balloons. Surgery is performed at Crestwood Medical Center and Huntsville Hospital, with minor outpatient surgery and endoscopy performed at Med Surg in Decatur and Crestwood Medical Center. The Orbera intragastric balloon is done as a quick, outpatient endoscopic procedure at Med Surg in Decatur. Dr. Suggs has done over 2,200 bariatric operations and has had multiple publications. Dr. Suggs is a member of the Board of Censors for the Medical Association of the state of Alabama, and a member of the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners. Although Dr. Suggs enjoys teaching medical students including being the director of the Huntsville campus of ACOM as well as VCOM-Auburn, his first love is improving the lives and health of people through bariatric surgery.

Bariatric Surgery:

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy is the most commonly performed bariatric operation in the U.S. now. 85% of the stomach is removed through tiny incisions resulting in 70% excess weight lost on average*. The risk of long-term side effects are just about the lowest of any bariatric surgery.

Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass is a tried-and-true bariatric operation in which a small pouch is created and the stomach bypassed, resulting in 70% excess weight lost on average*. This surgery was a major advance over the old “stomach stapling” over 30 years ago; another major advance occurred when this bariatric surgery was first performed laparoscopically over 20 years ago.

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band (the LapBand and the Realize band) is an implantable device, placed around the stomach to control hunger and restrict food intake. It results in 50% excess weight lost on average*. This is the least invasive and lowest risk of all bariatric surgeries. Adjustments in the office are important for success.

Non-Surgical Bariatric Procedures:

Orbera is a non-surgical weight loss procedure. Orbera combines a clinically tested and proven medical device with your own customized plan and support team to effectively manage weight loss. The comprehensive, two-part program starts with a soft balloon placed in your stomach for six months to encourage portion control. The balloon is then removed and your support team will continue to guide you toward making healthy lifestyle choices. Patients lose 3.1 times more weight than with traditional diets alone*.

Getting Started

Call our office for an appointment with Dr. Suggs, or attend a FREE webinar or office-based mini-webinar! When you have your visit, we will give you a detailed analysis of how your insurance will work to cover your surgery. Many require 6 months of dieting prior to approval. Other great ways to learn about bariatric surgery are attending a support group (Check Getting Started tab for a schedule of local meetings) or checking our website. Offices in Huntsville and Decatur.

Appointments with Dr. Suggs can almost always be made within a week, if not the next day. He will do a thorough history and physical to determine if you will be a good candidate for bariatric surgery, and discuss with you which operation (laparoscopic gastric bypass, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, or laparoscopic adjustable gastric band) is best for you.

Bariatric surgery is offered at the accredited bariatric centers at Crestwood Medical Center and Huntsville Hospital, and minor outpatient operations and endoscopes including the intragastric balloons at Med-Surg in Decatur.

Decatur Office Location:

705 Bank Street

Decatur, AL 35601

Phone: 256-274-4523

Fax: 256-203-8791

Huntsville Office Location:

610 Airport Road, Suite 100

Huntsville, AL. 35802

(Piedmont Commons Professional Center)

Website: www.alabariatrics.com

Email inquiries: office@alabariatrics.com *We’ll get back to you within 24 hours of a phone call or email. Hours M-T 8-5, Fri 8-12