New Year, New Beginnings

Over the years, Potier, 57, slowly began picking up weight and feeling tired and lethargic. Last year, he found himself at a crossroads, weighing almost 300 pounds and facing pre-diabetes and other health challenges that threatened to cut short his life. After trying weight loss medications, exercise and many different diets, Potier received a consult to the Houston VA’s new Bariatric program and met Dr. Amelia Lucisano.

“I was at the end of my rope after trying so hard to lose weight and not succeeding,” Potier said. “Dr. Lucisano told me that with lifestyle changes and a lot of work, she could help me by performing a gastric sleeve operation, and I jumped on it. I could tell from the very beginning that she was in my corner.”

Lucisano, a bariatric surgeon and an assistant professor of surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, came to the Houston VA a few short years ago with a special passion for changing Veterans’ lives. After completing General Surgery residency and a fellowship in Bariatric and Minimally-Invasive Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, she saw first-hand how weight loss surgery can improve the lives of patients. She took on the challenge to get a Bariatric surgery program up and running at the Houston VA in 2024 and she succeeded– already, five Veterans have undergone weight loss surgery in 2024, with many more expected in 2025 and beyond. She is proud to offer high-quality, minimally invasive bariatric surgery to the Veterans in this community.

“Veterans are often very motivated, tough, and determined…. very important qualities in candidates for this kind of a surgery,” she said. “It’s so rewarding to watch them regain their health and their quality of life after surgery.”

To prepare for his surgery, Potier enrolled in the Houston VA’s MOVE! Program, learning about nutrition, exercise and how to make lifestyle changes to help him succeed in maintaining long-term weight loss. In early December of 2024, he had the gastric sleeve operation and says he is already feeling much better and is committed to making long term lifestyle changes to keep the weight off.

“It hasn’t even been a month since my surgery but I have more energy and have lost weight,” Potier said. “I am walking and exercising as much as I can and I’m already no longer considered pre-diabetic. I’m really looking forward to the future.”

According to Lucisano, Veterans with a BMI of 35 who are committed to permanent lifestyle changes, could be candidates for the surgery and should talk to their VA primary care physician about this option. She also recommends enrolling in the VA’s MOVE! Program, which is required as part of the preparation for surgery.

“Weight loss surgery can be a life-changing option for Veterans struggling with obesity, especially when other weight loss methods have failed,” Lucisano said. “Through this surgery, we are thrilled to be able offer Veterans the physical benefits, improved quality of life and mental well-being that allows them to engage more fully in their daily activities.”

Potier, who works at the Houston VA as a housekeeping supervisor, is already back on the job after having his surgery. He says having the surgery at his place of work has given him a new appreciation for the clinical care provided at the medical center.

“None of the staff that took care of me at VA knew that I worked here and they went above and beyond to take good care of me,” he said. “The nurses on 5B and all the doctors were compassionate, caring and professional. I feel incredibly blessed and grateful.”

For more information about Houston VA’s Bariatric Surgery program, please contact your primary care physician or reach out to the MOVE! program – https://www.va.gov/houston-health-care/programs/move-weight-management/