Dallas Bariatric Surgeon Stresses Importance of Center of Excellence Distinction for Weight Loss Surgery Procedures

DALLAS, TX--(Marketwire - Mar 21, 2012) - Dr. David Kim, a bariatric surgeon in Dallas, says he believes it is very important for a patient to choose a doctor and a hospital that is labeled as a "Center of Excellence." With the recent report of deaths arising from the centers associated with 1-800-GET-THIN advertising in California, Dr. Kim says patients should take great care to ensure their doctor has the proper credentials and has been designated a "Surgeon of Excellence" by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). He says this designation ensures that the doctor's practice has very low complication rates and would lower a patient's risk for life threatening problems occurring after surgery.

Dr. Kim says he and his Dallas weight loss surgery practice go to great lengths to stress the importance of selecting a board-certified surgeon operating at a verified ASMBS "Center of Excellence." Dr. Kim says the advertising campaigns were run by a group of surgery centers that had not received the "Center of Excellence" distinction and provided limited options to patients. He says by conducting extensive research into the credentials and qualifications of a weight loss practice, patients can rest assured that their weight loss procedure is being performed with the safest and most effective treatment plan.

Dr. Kim says one of the benefits of selecting an ASMBS "Center of Excellence" for one's bariatric procedure is that they take a personalized approach to patient care, offering multiple solutions for achieving a patient's weight loss goal. He says because each patient is different and has individual needs, a weight loss surgery practice should provide a variety of surgical options to patients based on their personal medical situation. With such a wide variety of treatment options available, Dr. Kim says he encourages all patients to discuss the weight loss options with a knowledgeable and personable bariatric surgeon before undergoing any procedure.

Whether patients are determined to be a good candidate for LAP-BAND surgery in Dallas, another bariatric surgical procedure, or a non-surgical weight loss plan, Dr. Kim says seeking the expertise of a board-certified surgeon practicing at a "Center of Excellence" as designated by the ASMBS before undergoing any treatment is essential. He adds patients will not only receive safe and effective care, but they can also enjoy the benefits of a properly performed procedure and a new life free from the burdens of obesity.

Dr. Kim says patients should verify that the hospital is deemed a "Center of Excellence" by the ASMBS and that their weight loss surgeon has been given the distinction of "Bariatric Surgeon of Excellence." He says this will ensure that both the surgeon and the hospital have met all of the criteria of excellence towards the treatment of bariatric surgery patients.

About David D. Kim, MD

Dr. David Kim has been designated as a bariatric surgeon of excellence since 2005 and operates only at hospitals that are designated as "Centers of Excellence." A graduate of the Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine, he has completed his general surgery residency at Case Western Reserve University as well as two fellowships in advanced laparoscopic bariatric surgery at both the Medical College of Virginia and Washington University in St. Louis. He has been voted a national leader in Bariatric Surgery by Castle Connolly and a "Top Doc" by Fort Worth Magazine, among numerous other awards. Dr. Kim is designated as a "Bariatric Surgeon of Excellence" by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, and several other professional organizations.

Located at 35 Veranda Lane Suite 100 in Colleyville, TX, Dr. Kim's practice can be reached by Fort Worth patients at (817) 717-7036 and by Dallas patients at (214) 614-7036. He can also be contacted online via the website drdkim.net or facebook.com/lapbanddallas.