Dr. Wes Turton

TIFTON – Southwell has welcomed bariatric surgeon Dr. Wes Turton to the health system.

Turton is a board-certified general surgeon with expertise in bariatrics, hospital officials said in a statement.

With more than 2,000 bariatric procedures performed, Turton specializes in Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy and Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass.

Bariatric surgeries will be performed at Tift Regional Medical Center but Turton will see patients at South Georgia Surgical in Tifton as well as Southwell Specialty Clinic in Valdosta.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Turton to the Southwell family at the end of August,” said Claire Byrnes, senior vice president, ambulatory operations for Southwell. “If you are having trouble losing weight through traditional diet and exercise, bariatric surgery may be a safe option for you. We are looking forward to providing this service to our region.”

Turton earned his medical degree and completed residency training at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

Turton said he is eager to begin providing the service to patients in the region.

“Bariatric surgery results in much more than weight loss — it is an excellent treatment for many health conditions like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease,” Turton said. “For overweight or obese individuals who suffer from these chronic conditions, it can be an important first step to achieving a lifetime of better health.”

People interested in learning more about bariatric surgery can call South Georgia Surgical at (229) 382-9733.