Am I a Candidate?
The bariatric surgery team at Alabama Surgical Associates in Huntsville is committed to helping patients maintain long term weight loss and improve their lives.
Am I a Candidate?
The bariatric surgery team at Alabama Surgical Associates in Huntsville is committed to helping patients maintain long term weight loss and improve their lives.
Dr. Darrell Doucette and our team believe weight loss surgery is one part of a comprehensive and lifelong journey to better health, rather than a “quick fix.” It is important to understand the qualifications necessary to have bariatric surgery as well as the lifestyle changes needed to ensure successful long-term weight loss and health maintenance.
Why Choose Weight Loss Surgery?
People seek weight loss surgery for a number of reasons, including to improve health, regain personal confidence, and benefit their families. Our patients have typically tried dieting, exercise and even other weight loss programs or bariatric surgery procedures, but the results have been unsatisfactory or they have not been able to maintain their weight loss. When they come to us, they are seeking a long-term solution. While weight loss surgery is very effective, it is only one of the resources needed to maintain weight loss. The team at Alabama Surgical Associates strives to equip patients with the tools, education, and care they can rely on to reach their health goals. Many patients have chosen our practice to assist them in their weight loss journey, and we have been honored to see their lives happily transformed.
Alabama Surgical Associates is Dedicated to Patient Success
At Alabama Surgical Associates our team is dedicated to providing lifelong support to help our patients succeed. Our experienced board-certified bariatric surgeon, Dr. Doucette, is the leader of our practice.
Dr. Doucette discusses each patient’s personal history and goals to determine if they are a candidate and which weight loss procedure will best fit their individual needs. Dr. Doucette also provides pre- and post-operative care to monitor the long term health of each patient. Our in-house licensed dietitians provide one-on-one support and counseling to help patients adopt a healthier relationship with food and maintain the lifestyle changes that will foster success. Our patient coordinator, educates our patients and guides them through the insurance process or financing options. Our practice also offers patients a number of resources to help them navigate insurance benefits and support after surgery.
Who Qualifies for Weight Loss Surgery?
During a consultation with Dr. Doucette, your specific health needs will be assessed. People who meet the following qualifications may be candidates for weight loss surgery:
Body Mass Index (BMI)
BMI of 40 or 35 with related medical problems including: high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, worn joints, acid reflux, and fatty liver among other problems.
Age 18-70
Most of our patients are between the ages of 18 and 70 although patients over 70 years old may be candidates depending on their medical history and overall health status.
Physical Exam
Each of our patients undergoes a thorough physical exam and discussion of their medical history with our surgeon.
Lifestyle Changes
Patients must be willing and motivated to commit to a new lifestyle that includes healthy eating and exercise.
Calculate Your BMI
- BMI < 20
- Underweight
- BMI 20 - 24.9
- Healthy Weight
- BMI 25 - 29.9
- Overweight
- BMI 30 - 34.9
- Class 1 Obesity
- BMI 35 - 39.9
- Class 2 Obesity
- BMI 40 - 49.9
- Class 3 Obesity
- BMI > 50
- Class 4 Obesity
InBody Scan – Body Composition Analysis
Our practice leverages the InBody 570 Body Composition Analyzer for precise assessment of weight loss surgery candidacy and ongoing patient support. This tool quickly provides detailed body composition insights, crucial for evaluating health beyond just weight, focusing on essential metrics like muscle, fat, and water content. The analyzer also shows us where patients carry their muscle mass, bringing any potential imbalances or deficiencies to our attention. It plays a vital role in both pre-surgery evaluations and post-surgery progress monitoring, helping us tailor our approach to each patient’s unique needs, from identifying fat loss to adjusting treatment plans during weight loss plateaus.
As a patient at Alabama Surgical Associates, your dietitian will guide you through the painless InBody 570 Body Composition Analysis process. Please note that you should not eat or drink anything for 3 hours before your scan, so you may prefer to schedule this appointment for the morning.
Step into Wellness: Your Path to a
Lighter, Brighter Future Starts Now
We often hear from patients that their only regret is not starting sooner. If you would like to meet with Dr. Doucette to discuss your options for weight loss surgery in Huntsville, call us at (256) 880-1977 or click below for a free insurance check. Our patient coordinator will be able to help you with insurance and financing questions as well.
Dr. Darrell Doucette has either authored or reviewed and approved this content.
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