Birmingham VA starts the New Year with its first bariatric operation, giving Veterans more care options
At the start of the New Year, the Birmingham VA Health Care System reached a major milestone by completing its first bariatric operation on January 5, 2026. This step expands specialized surgical care for Veterans with severe obesity and related health issues.
The Veteran who had the operation is recovering well and has been released from the hospital. This positive result shows the months of teamwork and preparation by staff across the medical center.
“This is a meaningful step forward for Birmingham VA and for the Veterans we serve,” said Dr. Margaux Mustian, a VA surgeon and Director of Bariatric Surgery and Assistant Professor of Gastrointestinal Surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. “Bariatric surgery is not cosmetic—it’s a medical treatment for severe obesity and the chronic conditions that often come with it.”
Bariatric surgery is a group of procedures that help patients lose weight and improve their health by changing how the body works. The most common types are sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. These operations make the stomach smaller, help people feel full sooner, change how the body absorbs nutrients, and mediate hormonal changes that help people lose weight.
Bariatric surgery is common in the United States, with over 270,000 procedures done each year. However, it is less common in the VA health care system. Only a few hundred are performed at VA facilities each year, so Birmingham VA is now one of the few VA centers able to offer this care.
Dr. Mustian says Birmingham VA was able to offer bariatric surgery by developing the right surgical skills, building strong multidisciplinary clinical support, and setting up long-term care systems to ensure safe and effective results.
“Veterans typically come to bariatric surgery through a structured referral process,” she said. “This includes participation in the MOVE! weight-management program, along with medical, nutritional, and psychological evaluations to ensure they are prepared for surgery and the lifelong changes that follow.”
Eligibility for bariatric surgery follows national clinical guidelines. Usually, candidates have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more, or a BMI of 35 or more with serious health problems like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea. Veterans also need to show they have tried to lose weight without surgery and are ready to make long-term lifestyle changes.
The health benefits of bariatric surgery can be significant.
“Many patients experience significant and sustained weight loss,” Dr. Mustian explained. “That often leads to better control—or even remission—of conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. Veterans may need fewer medications, move more easily, sleep better, and report a higher quality of life.”
Long-term studies show that bariatric surgery can lower the risk of heart disease and early death in patients who are good candidates for the procedure.
Dr. Mustian stressed that bariatric surgery is not a quick solution.
“Successful outcomes depend on long-term follow-up, nutritional supplementation, mental health support, and sustained changes in healthy living,” she said. “That’s why the VA’s comprehensive, team-based approach is so important. Veterans are supported before surgery and well beyond it.”
As Birmingham VA Health Care System works to treat obesity as a long-term condition, adding bariatric surgery gives eligible Veterans another proven way to improve their health, independence, and quality of life. This new service brings fresh hope and possibilities for the New Year.