Posted on July 13, 2017
Published by El Dorado News Times
By Kaitlyn Rigdon
Staff Writer
EL DORADO — Dr. Rex Luttrell, general and bariatric surgeon, is hosting a free weight loss seminar today at the El Dorado Conference Center at 6 p.m. To RSVP for the seminar, call 501-574-7171.
Luttrell, an El Dorado native, will discuss surgical and nonsurgical ways designed to help people live healthier lifestyles.
Luttrell is a 1972 graduate of El Dorado High School, and received his surgical residency at East Tennessee State University in 1993. He first began bariatric surgery in 1998 and currently serves as medical director for the Weight Loss Center in Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton.
Arkansas has one of the highest adult obesity rates in the nation, coming in sixth.
“We were second or third for many years,” Luttrell said in an email. “Our governor has done very well in bringing education and programs to the state, and this is a reason why we are doing better at this time. People have to learn the proper foods to eat and which ones to avoid. Sadly, sodas and empty calorie foods are abundant, and for this reason the only thing that will change obesity is education.”
According to his website, Luttrell has extensive experience in bariatric surgery and has performed over 1,000 RNY Gastric Bypass surgeries, and as of 2015, more than 1,000 LAP-BAND procedures.
Luttrell oversees weekly support groups to encourage and motivate patients, with an emphasis on nutrition and exercise.
The field of surgical weight loss has advanced over the years with laparoscopic or minimally invasive surgeries, which causes a faster recovery for patients. “It is amazing what we can do with a scope inside the abdomen today,” he said. “The only laparoscopic procedure I was taught in residency was gallbladder surgery. Now we do laparoscopy for most abdominal surgical problems we deal with today.”
Luttrell is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and by the American Academy of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine, according to his website. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Society for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, the Arkansas Medical Society and the Pulaski County Medical Society. He has won the Internal Medicine Award of Excellence, membership in Alpha Omega Alpha Honorary Society and a Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.
In 2017, Dr. Luttrell and his colleagues are presenting quarterly seminars in Arkansas communities.
You can visit his website at http://www.luttrellsurgical.com/.
Kaitlyn is a staff writer for the News-Times. She may be reached at krigdon@eldoradonews.com.