As 2025 begins, Marine Corps Veteran Byron Potier is reclaiming his health and improving his quality of life after gastric sleeve surgery at Michael E DeBakey VA.
Over the years, Potier, 57, slowly began putting on 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 Houston VA’s new bariatric program and met Dr. Amelia Lucisano (pictured above).
“I was at the end of my rope after trying so hard to lose weight and not succeeding. 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,” Potier shared.
Lucisano, a bariatric surgeon and 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 Houston VA in 2024 and she succeeded. Five Veterans underwent weight loss surgery in 2024, with many more expected in 2025. She is proud to offer high-quality, minimally invasive bariatric surgery to Veterans in southeast Texas.
“It’s so rewarding to watch them regain their health.”
“Veterans are often very motivated, tough and determined, very important qualities in candidates for this kind of a surgery. It’s so rewarding to watch them regain their health and their quality of life after surgery,” Lucisano said.
To prepare for his surgery, Potier enrolled in 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 December 2024, he had the gastric sleeve operation, and he’s now 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. I am walking and exercising as much as I can, and I’m no longer considered pre-diabetic. I’m really looking forward to the future,” he said.
“We are thrilled to offer Veterans an improved quality of life.”
According to Lucisano, Veterans with a BMI of 35 and 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. Through this surgery, we are thrilled to be able to offer Veterans the physical benefits, improved quality of life and mental well-being that allows them to engage more fully in their daily activities,” she said.
Potier, who works at 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. The nurses and all the doctors were compassionate, caring and professional. I feel incredibly blessed and grateful.”
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I’m a patient at the Durham NC VAMC and the CBOCs here locally in Raleigh NC… the nearest VAMC that offers any bariatric surgery is in Richmond VA VAMC and I had to use my private insurance to get the dudonal switch procedure on 21 June 2024 here locally in Raleigh NC… best decision I ever made! I’ve dropped 130lbs and down to 240lbs from surgery weight of 370lbs… diabetes type 2 is gone! High BP even with meds is now 110/70! Cholesterol levels are perfect!
I was fairly strong because I lifted weights/workout since my active military service as a US Marine (1985-91) and had much muscle mass but still way too heavy and my BMI was over 40, at 6’3 and 370lbs… my body fat is now 21% and I’m in better shape physically than when I was wounded in Iraq in early Oct 2004 as a Soldier in the NC Army NG on active duty.
I only wish that the VA would’ve been more supportive and not forced me to use my own insurance instead of quickly approving my care under the Community Care program!
This is amazing!!!
People are always bashing the VA but I am receiving the best health care that I’ve ever gotten in my life.
I left the USAF in 1992 but didn’t start using the VA until 2019 and I’m so glad that I did.
Kudos to the caregivers and administrators who serve at OUR hospitals.
My husband goes to the VA in Tucson. He could get the gastric sleeve surgery BUT he has to go all the way to San Diego to do it! My bariatric surgeon is in Tucson and they are contracted with the VA so it makes no sense to me why he would have to drive all the way to San Diego.
Same here in Durham NC… I’m a patient at the Durham NC VAMC and the CBOCs here locally in Raleigh NC… the nearest VAMC that offers any bariatric surgery is in Richmond VA VAMC and I had to use my private insurance to get the dudonal switch procedure on 21 June 2024 here locally in Raleigh NC… best decision I ever made! I’ve dropped 130lbs and down to 240lbs from surgery weight of 370lbs… diabetes type 2 is gone! High BP even with meds is now 110/70! Cholesterol levels are perfect!
I was fairly strong because I lifted weights/workout since my active military service as a US Marine (1985-91) and had much muscle mass but still way too heavy and my BMI was over 40, at 6’3 and 370lbs… my body fat is now 21% and I’m in better shape physically than when I was wounded in Iraq in early Oct 2004 as a Soldier in the NC Army NG on active duty.
I only wish that the VA would’ve been more supportive and not forced me to use my own insurance instead of quickly approving my care under the Community Care program!