Tulane surgeon reaches 100th advanced weight-loss surgery

Tulane bariatric surgeon Dr. Shauna Levy has performed her 100th Single Anastomosis Duodenal Switch (SADI-S) surgery, making her the only surgeon in Louisiana — and one of only a few in the nation — to reach this milestone.

SADI-S is a newer type of weight loss surgery that works like a more powerful version of gastric bypass. Like gastric bypass, it reduces the size of the stomach and reroutes part of the intestine, but with a simpler design that uses just one connection instead of two. That difference lowers the risk of complications and often leads to greater, longer-lasting weight loss.

“Compared to gastric bypass, SADI-S tends to result in greater and more durable weight loss, and it’s especially powerful for patients with diabetes or metabolic disease,” said Levy, chief of bariatric surgery at Tulane University School of Medicine. “Because it only involves one intestinal connection instead of two, it also has a lower risk of complications.”

Demand for the surgery continues to grow even as many are turning to GLP-1 medications such as Zepbound or Wegovy to lose weight. Levy said both approaches can be effective, but they work differently and may be better suited to different patients.
 

“GLP-1 medications can be very effective, and for some patients they’re the right choice,” Levy said. “But they usually lead to about 15–20% weight loss, while SADI-S averages 30–40% of total body weight lost — often sustained long term. Medications must be taken indefinitely, and some patients stop due to cost or side effects. Surgery is a one-time intervention, though it requires lifelong vitamin supplementation and follow-up. Many patients actually use both: medications can complement surgery to help maintain results.”

Louisiana has some of the highest obesity and diabetes rates in the country, making access to advanced options like SADI-S especially important. Levy said she sometimes performs as many as four of these minimally invasive surgeries a week.

“It’s incredibly rewarding. Each number isn’t just a surgery — it’s a patient whose health and life are transformed,” she said. “Being the top SADI-S surgeon in the region is an honor, but what matters most is the impact on people’s lives. I am so happy to be treating patients in Louisiana and improving our health one patient at a time.”

For more information on Dr. Levy and Tulane’s bariatric surgery program, visit https://tulanedoctors.com/doctor/shauna-levy/