Meet The Bariatric Team
DeTar Healthcare System's bariatric program is about so much more than weight loss - it's about arming you with the tools, information and inspiration you need to make and maintain profound changes for lifelong health and happiness. Our hands-on team features a dedicated coordinator, nutritionist, physiologist and other weight loss specialists committed to your total well-being. From pre-operative education, through compassionate follow-up care, we're here to support you through every phase of your journey.
Our program includes:
- Nutritional and dietary guidance
- Exercise education
- Psychological counseling
- Cardiology and pulmonology assessment
- Ongoing support for lasting health and happiness
Craig Chang, M.D., FACS, FASMBS, is the medical director for the bariatric surgery program at DeTar Healthcare System. He has been performing surgery for over 20 years and specializes in minimally-invasive, also called laparoscopic, procedures.
This type of surgical procedure typically results in less scarring and anesthesia as well as a faster recovery, when compared to traditional open surgical procedures. More than 98% of patients are discharged either the same day as the surgery or with one overnight stay at the hospital. Most are able to return to work within one to two weeks after their surgeries.
The goal for patients is to help them become healthy through lifestyle changes, with surgery as the first step toward a new life. The key benefit of weight loss is to reduce or eliminate the health problems associated with obesity. These include chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and lipid disorders.
The following bariatric procedures are performed:
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- Gastric bypass
- Revision and conversion surgeries
Meet the Surgeon
Craig Chang, M.D., FACS, FASMBS*
- Medical School: University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS
- Residency: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO
- Fellowship: University of Texas Southwestern University Hospitals, Dallas, TX – Laparoscopic Surgery
- Certified: American Board of General Surgery
- Fellow: American College of Surgeons, American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
Dr. Chang has more than 15 years of experience in bariatric surgery and has performed more than 1,500 procedures. Additionally, Dr. Chang is a three-time recipient of the Vitals ‘Patient Choice Award’ which is based on patient reviews/ratings and presented to less than 5% of physicians nationwide.
*Independent Member of the Medical Staff at DeTar Healthcare System.