California Thin a Southern California directory of surgeons most are board-certified general and laparoscopic bariatric specialists Shyam L. Dahiya M.D., Carson Liu, M.D.

California Thin brings you a Southern California directory of surgeons accepting obesity patients for California Bariatric Management. These surgeon's listed here are private, independent practitioners. These surgeon's are Laparoscopic Bariatric Specialists, and we always encourage our patients to due their due-diligence prior to selecting a weight loss surgeon. All the lead surgeon's are board certified with the American Board of Surgery and are also members of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.

Shyam L. Dahiya, M.D., Lead Surgeon
(operating in the South Bay and L.A. County)

Dr. Dahiya is a board-certified general and laparoscopic surgeon who performs the most state-of-the-art method of bariatric surgery - the Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass. He has more than 20 years of experience in general and trauma surgery and is considered a leader in his field.

Dr. Dahiya's interest in gastric bypass surgery stems from his passion for micro surgical applications that minimize pain and increase recuperation. A new surgical approach unlike traditional weight loss surgery that makes one large incision, laparoscopic gastric bypass (minimally invasive) surgery makes four or five small, half-inch incisions to access the abdomen. A tiny video camera and small instruments are inserted into the incisions while surgeons view the operation on a television monitor.

"This recent and minimally invasive approach to bariatric surgery will provide the patient with a more rapid recovery, which allows patients to return to their normal activity faster," said Dr. Dahiya, a fellow of American College of Surgeons who has served as Chairman of Surgical Department at St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach.

Carson Liu, M.D., F.A.C.S., Lead Surgeon
(operating in Orange County)

Dr. Carson Liu, M.D. received his medical degree from the University of Chicago, Pritzkey School of Medicine and completed his internship, residencies and research fellowship at UCLA Medical Center. In 1998, Dr. Liu was appointed Assistant Professor of Surgery at UCLA Medical School where he continued to hone his skills in clinical practice, teaching and research.

Dr. Liu has conducted extensive research and is widely published in the fields of Bariatric and gastrointestinal surgery; he is nationally recognized in his field and has lectured extensively to professional societies on these subjects. Dr. Liu is board certified in General Surgery and over the course of his career has performed over 900 Bariatric Surgeries.

Stephen J. McColgan, M.D.
(operating in Orange & L.A. Counties)

is a general surgeon who has been trained in the most advanced surgical applications for patients who suffer from morbid or severe obesity-called Laparoscopic Surgery. The laparoscopic technique allows many patients, who would otherwise shun surgery, a chance to reconsider surgery as a permanent solution for obesity." Dr. McColgan received his medical training at Boston University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts and then completed a surgical internship at the University of California at Irvine. Dr. McColgan continued his medical training as a cardiovascular research fellow, surgical resident and chief surgical resident at the University of California at Irvine, Department of Surgery.

Dr. McColgan is currently serving as Chief of Surgery and as a member of the Board of Directors for Bellflower Medical Center and Southern California Family Medical Group. Dr. McColgan also contributed his time to the American Heart Association as a member of the Board of Directors. Dr. McColgan contributes to the community as a surgeon for numerous medical facilities. He currently serves as an attending surgeon at St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach, California; Suburban Medical Center in Paramount, California and Anaheim General Hospital in Anaheim, California as well as Bellflower Medical Center, Lakewood Regional Medical Center and La Palma Intercommunity Hospital, all located in California. Among his many affiliations, Dr. McColgan serves as a clinical instructor for the Department of Surgery, at Long Beach Veteran's Medical Center in Long Beach, California.

Arthur C. Valles, M.D.
(operating in Orange & L.A. Counties)

Dr. Valles is currently Chief of Surgery at the Metropolitan Hospital of Los Angeles. He trained under two pioneers of gastric bypass surgery. He also performed or assisted in over 1000 cases; more surgeries than most surgeons. Today, nearly all of the bariatric surgeries Dr. Valles performs are done laparoscopically. "The field of bariatric surgery is quite challenging and innovative," said Dr. Valles. "I enjoy helping people change their lives." In addition to primary surgeon and assistant surgeon on bariatric cases, Dr. Valles also performed all the upper G.I. endoscopies and colonoscopies.

Dr. Valles, a native of the Philippines, earned a Bachelor of Science in Pre-medicine and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of East in Quezon City. He attended the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in the Philippines where he completed his general surgery residency. In 1988, he continued his surgical residency at Los Angeles County King Drew Medical Center, where he was the chief resident of the Department of Surgery.

Dr. Valles completed a trauma and critical care fellowship at the King Drew Medical Center. Dr. Valles maintains medical appointments at the Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center, California Medical Center and King Drew Medical Center.