Are you a candidate for bariatric surgery?
Start Your Weight Loss Journey Today
A bariatric procedure at Rex Bariatric Specialists could be the answer you’ve been looking for. Are you a candidate? Give us a call to find out today!
About the Rex Bariatric Specialists Program
Meet our Weight-Loss Surgeons
Lindsey S. Sharp, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.S.M.B.S.
Dr. Sharp, a Virginia native, is the medical director of bariatric surgery services at UNC Rex Healthcare. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery, a fellow of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and a fellow with the American College of Surgeons. He also belongs to the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons.
Dr. Sharp focuses not only on the weight you lose, but also on the health benefits, confidence and active lifestyle you can gain through bariatric surgery.
Peter C. Ng, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.S.B.M.S.
Dr. Ng, a Raleigh native, is an expert in minimally invasive (laparoscopic) surgery and teacher of single-incision and hidden-scar laparoscopic techniques. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a fellow of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
Dr. Ng feels fortunate to help you improve your health and change your life through weight-loss surgery.
Dustin M. Bermudez, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.S.M.B.S.
Dr. Bermudez, a native of Massachusetts, is a diplomate of the American Board of Surgery and fellow with the American College of Surgeons. He belongs to the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and the American College of Surgeons. He has published papers and presented at national meetings about wound healing and weight-loss surgery.
Dr. Bermudez looks forward to caring for you long after surgery and seeing you achieve your goals.
Main Office
Rex Bariatric Specialty Center
Rexwoods II
4207 Lake Boone Trail
Suite 210
Raleigh, NC 27606
Take the First Step
Start your journey by learning more about the benefits of weight-loss surgery and our comprehensive program at one of our information seminars. For your convenience, we offer an online seminar. After attending a seminar and deciding to join our program, we will help you register for our orientation class.
Call today to get started.
Angela Lipscomb-Hudson, M.D.
Dr. Hudson, a Columbus, OH native, is a medical weight loss physician for Rex Bariatric Specialists. She is board certified in both Obesity Medicine and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. She graduated from the Howard University BS/MD Accelerated 6-year Combined Degree program in 2007, and then completed her residency at Northwestern University Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, which is now called the Ability Lab.
Dr. Hudson has a passion for obesity management, lifestyle medicine, and health coaching. She loves helping and motivating patients to achieve their goals through optimizing their health and well-being.
Linda Youngwirth, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.S.M.B.S.
Dr. Youngwirth, a Wisconsin native, is certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a fellow of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. She also holds membership in the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons.
Dr. Youngwirth looks forward to helping you achieve your weight loss goals. She is focused on partnering with you to improve your health and quality of life through weight loss surgery.
Types of Bariatric Surgery
Depending on your needs and goals, you and your fellowship-trained surgeon may choose to pursue one of these minimally invasive, bariatric surgery procedures:
- Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch
- Gastric bypass
- Gastric sleeve
Procedures work in two different ways: restrictive and malabsorptive. Restrictive procedures reduce the amount of food you can hold in your stomach, making you feel full faster. Malabsorptive procedures change your digestive tract so that you process fewer calories. In some cases, both methods are combined to effect greater change.
Weight loss results may vary depending on the individual. There is no guarantee of specific results. This website does not provide medical advice.
Obesity affects every aspect of your life, both the physical and emotional. If you struggle to lose weight with diet and exercise, weight-loss surgery may work for you. Our expert team will provide you the foundation you need to achieve a healthier life.
The comprehensive bariatric weight-loss program with Rex Bariatric Specialists is centered around education and support. This finely tuned program is designed to give you all the information you need to take the next step.
- Information seminar
- Orientation to the Rex Bariatric Specialists program
- Surgeon consultation
- Nutritional counseling
- Psychological consultation
- Sleep study
- Gastroenterologist consultation
- Support groups
Are You a Candidate?
You may qualify for weight-loss surgery at Rex Bariatric Specialists if you’re at least 18 years old and have one or both of the following:
- Body mass index (BMI) of 35–39.9, with a history of obesity-related conditions such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, infertility, high cholesterol or sleep apnea
- BMI of at least 40, regardless of any history of obesity-related diseases
Start Your Journey Today
Give us a call to find out if you are a candidate for bariatric surgery.
Team Approach
Our program is built on providing you with the support you need to find a healthier life. To accomplish this goal, we assembled a diverse team of experts:
- Board-certified Bariatric Surgeons
- Licensed Psychologist
- Registered Dietitians
- Health and Exercise Educators
Meet Our Team
Additionally, our friendly staff is here to help you navigate our program and the insurance coverage process if you have questions.
- Krista Herrell | Bariatric Program Coordinator
- Tricia Burns | Physician Assistant
- Erica Mckearney | Physician Assistant
- Mary Gray Hutchison | Head Dietitian
- Caroline Pope | Registered Dietitian
- Hannah Garehan | Registered Dietitian
- Margaret Roberts | Registered Dietitian
What are the health benefits of bariatric surgery?
Nearly 1 in 3 adults struggle with weight-related chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. In addition, obesity can impact quality of life, from simple things such as not being able to bend over and tie your shoes to getting winded walking from the parking lot into the grocery store.
Treating obesity with bariatric surgery can greatly impact your life. For example, after bariatric surgery, up to 85 percent of patients have resolution of their type 2 diabetes, up to 95 percent of patients have resolution of sleep apnea, and up to 90 percent of patients have resolution of their high blood pressure. Finally, patients who undergo bariatric surgery for obesity have a greater life expectancy or live longer than patients who do not.
Our team of therapists and dietitians can help you change your relationship with food, providing you with the support you need to be successful.
How much weight can you lose with bariatric surgery?
The amount of weight you can expect to lose when you have weight loss surgery depends on the type of procedure you choose and your general health. That said, weight loss can typically range from 40 to 80 percent of your “excess” weight.
Keep in mind that results also depend on motivation, how close you follow your doctor’s recommendations and ongoing support you receive such as a peer support group. Most weight loss occurs during the first few months after surgery and continues for about 12-18 months after your procedure.
Our team will work with you to determine which procedure is right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Benjamin Crisp, M.D.
Dr. Crisp, a Burlington, NC native, is a weight loss surgeon for Rex Bariatric Specialists. His interest in Bariatric and Advanced Gastrointestinal Surgery was born out of a desire to combine knowledge, surgical judgment and technical expertise to develop a solid patient-physician relationship, and achieve problem resolution for patients. He graduated from Duke University with a BS in Psychology before attending the UNC School of Medicine in Chapel Hill and completing residency at Cleveland Clinic Akron General.
Outside of work, Dr. Crisp enjoys spending time with his family, and watching and playing sports.