Dr. Brian Long joined the Nicholson Clinic in 2015. He specializes in laparoscopic bariatric surgery, performing sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding and revisional procedures. He also has extensive experience in minimally invasive general surgical procedures including abdominal wall hernia repair, gallbladder surgery, gastric reflux procedures, and colon and intestinal surgery.
We want to help you get to know Dr. Long a little bit better, so we asked him some questions. Here’s what he had to say:
Why did you choose to specialize in bariatric surgery?
While in the military, I was offered a unique opportunity to help run the Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery Program at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. In addition to treating many ill and injured active duty men and women, this allowed me the opportunity to treat many military dependents and retirees who were struggling with severe obesity. Many of these individuals had been on active duty and very fit previously, but developed obesity after injury, illness, or for many other reasons. I grew to appreciate the courage that these patients displayed in choosing weight loss surgery and I was astounded by the life-changing results that bariatric surgery could provide to a motivated patient.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
One of the things I love most about my job as a bariatric surgeon is the cooperative nature of the process. We can provide the patient with a very powerful tool in the form of surgery, as well as lifelong instruction and support. It is most rewarding for me when my patients make the most of that opportunity, use that tool properly, and through much hard work and dedication, obtain remarkable and often life-changing results.
What are you most looking forward to as you join the medical staff at Nicholson Clinic?
I’m looking forward to working with a cohesive team of talented surgeons and a dedicated support staff, all of whom are committed to helping patients reach their weight loss goals and live a healthier, more active life. The Nicholson Clinic is truly a unique practice that provides state-of-the-art surgical care with a personal and compassionate approach, and I’m thrilled to be a part of the team.
Who/what is your biggest inspiration?
Two words: Nick Nicholson.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
An experienced bariatric surgeon once told me that weight loss surgery is the most rehabilitative treatment in modern medicine. What other single treatment can provide so many benefits, such as improving or resolving many medical problems (diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, etc.), allowing people to exercise and be more active, reducing health-care costs, improving self-image, and adding years to someone’s life?
If you could say one thing to someone considering weight loss surgery, what would you say?
Don’t be afraid and don’t wait. One of the most common things that patients tell me is that they wish they had done it sooner. Weight loss surgery is safer than ever, with lower risk than many common surgical procedures. And surgery is by far the most effective treatment for severe obesity—there’s nothing else that even comes close.
What do you enjoy doing with your time off work?
I enjoy spending most of my free time with my wife and three young children. We are very excited to have recently moved to Dallas and are having fun exploring all of the great parks, museums, restaurants, and other great things this city has to offer. I love food, music and sports, and I enjoy playing guitar and golfing. I am also an avid fan of Duke Basketball and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
