Carlos A. Barba, MD, PLLC

Carlos A. Barba, MD, PLLC Dr. Barba is the founder of Premier General Surgeons (PGS Clinic), serving Brownsville and Cameron County.

He specializes in general and weight loss surgery, offering expert, compassionate care to help patients achieve long-term health and wellness. As the Brownsville and Cameron County’s premier general surgeon, Dr. Carlos Barba is dedicated to treating each of his patients like family. The moment you walk into our office you should rest assured knowing that Dr. Barba will do everything possible to make certain that you receive the best care available. Specialized in a variety of surgeries and procedures, Dr. Barba is an experienced surgeon are at the forefront of the latest and most advanced techniques.

12/06/2025

Let’s talk about soda and carbonated drinks after Bariatric surgery…

This is one of the most common questions I get. Carbonated drinks can cause bloating, pressure, discomfort, and can even stretch your new stomach pouch over time. They also tend to be high in sugar, acids, and empty calories that work against your progress. For most patients, the best option is to avoid them completely.

Here is what you need to know:

• In the first month after surgery your stomach is healing. Carbonation can be painful and unsafe at this stage.
• Even in the second month your pouch is still sensitive. Small amounts may be tolerated, but many patients still feel discomfort.
• Sugar sweetened sodas slow weight loss and can trigger dumping syndrome.
• Zero calorie sodas may seem harmless, but carbonation and artificial sweeteners can still cause cravings and irritation.
• Sparkling water has the same carbonation effect and should be treated the same way.

If you absolutely feel the need to have something carbonated, wait at least one to two months, take very small sips, and let the drink go mostly flat first. Never gulp. Never drink it fast. Listen to your body.

Your stomach is healing. Your habits are resetting. This is your window to build a foundation that truly lasts. When in doubt choose water, protein drinks, decaf tea, or electrolyte solutions that help your recovery rather than slow it down.

12/01/2025

What if it does work? What if you actually win?

Becoming a doctor isn’t about perfection, it’s about showing up again and again, even when it’s hard. Doubt is loud, but so is the possibility that you’re closer than you think.

Keep studying, keep pushing, keep betting on yourself. The payoff is real.

11/26/2025

A question I hear almost every week: “Do my medications stop working after bariatric surgery?” or “Will they mess up my progress?” The truth is that most medications do not harm your results, and bariatric surgery does not cancel out your medications. What really changes is how your body absorbs them.

After surgery, your stomach empties faster, your surface area changes, and your metabolism shifts. That means some medications may hit your system quicker or stronger than before. So instead of stopping them, we usually adjust the dose, switch the form, or monitor your levels more closely.

Your blood pressure meds, diabetes meds, anxiety meds, birth control, thyroid meds… the goal is not to eliminate them overnight. The goal is to keep you safe while your body goes through major physiologic changes.

So no, medications do not “block” your weight loss or slow your progress. We just tailor the dosage to your new anatomy. Stay in close contact with your surgeon and primary doctor, and always let us know what you’re taking. Your surgery and your medications can work together safely when managed the right way.

11/19/2025

I get this question all the time after weight loss surgery. Does your gallbladder stop working after bariatric surgery The answer is no. Your gallbladder does not shut down or quit. It still makes and releases bile the way it always has.

What can happen is this. Rapid weight loss changes the way your body handles cholesterol and bile salts, and that shift can make gallstones form more easily. About 30 percent of patients will develop stones in the months after surgery simply because the weight is coming off quickly. It is not because the surgery damaged the gallbladder. It is because your metabolism is moving fast and your body is adjusting.

Some people never feel a thing. Others might get symptoms like right upper abdominal pain, nausea, or discomfort after eating fatty foods. If that happens, we check an ultrasound and talk about next steps. Sometimes medication can help, and sometimes the safest option is to remove the gallbladder. It is a very common, straightforward procedure.

So do not panic. Your gallbladder did not stop working. Your body is just changing quickly, and stones can be part of that process. Stay on track with follow up visits, listen to your body, and always reach out if something feels off.

11/19/2025

After bariatric surgery, we perform something called a leak test, and it is one of the most important steps in the entire operation. A leak happens when fluid escapes from the new stomach pouch or the connection we create in a bypass. That is rare, but it is a serious complication, so we look for it before you ever leave the operating room.

During the leak test, we gently fill the stomach or the connection with blue dye or air while watching closely for any sign of escape. If everything stays contained, that tells us the staple line is secure and the anatomy is sealed the way it should be. If we see anything suspicious, we fix it immediately while you are still asleep.

This test takes only a few minutes, but it gives us tremendous information and allows us to keep you safe from day one. Bariatric surgery is incredibly effective when done carefully, and this is one of the safety checks that makes a huge difference. Your long term health and safety are always the priority.

11/16/2025

Most people never think about their appendix until it starts causing trouble, but when it does you need to take it seriously. As a general surgeon, I always tell patients that timing matters. If you have sharp pain that starts around your belly button and moves to the lower right side, loss of appetite, nausea, fever, or pain that gets worse with coughing or walking, those are red flags.

Appendicitis does not magically get better on its own. The longer you wait, the higher the chance the appendix can perforate, which means infection spills into the abdomen. That turns a simple surgery into a more complicated recovery and increases the risk of abscesses or sepsis.

If you are worried, do not sit at home searching Google. Get evaluated. A quick exam, labs, and a CT scan can tell us exactly what is going on and help us decide the safest plan. When caught early, an appendectomy is straightforward and patients usually recover quickly with minimal restrictions. If it ruptures, you are looking at drainage, antibiotics, and a longer healing period.

Trust your body. If the pain is severe, persistent, or just feels different from anything you have had before, get checked. Your appendix is one thing you do not want to wait on.

11/13/2025

I hear this all the time: “If 80% of my stomach is removed during a sleeve gastrectomy, how much weight will I actually lose?” Let’s clear it up.

A sleeve gastrectomy isn’t just about making the stomach smaller. Yes, we remove a large portion of it, but the real power of this procedure comes from how it changes hunger hormones, fullness signals, and the way your body processes food. Most patients lose 60–70% of their excess weight within the first year, sometimes more if they pair surgery with consistent lifestyle changes.

This doesn’t happen because you’re starving. It happens because your hunger naturally decreases, your portion sizes become appropriate, and your metabolism gets a reset it’s been needing for years. The sleeve is a powerful tool; not magic, not the “easy way out,” but a scientifically proven metabolic surgery that helps you work with your body instead of constantly fighting against it.

Everyone’s journey looks a little different, but what stays the same is this: sleeve gastrectomy gives you a real chance at long-term, sustainable weight loss when nothing else has worked. And I love seeing my patients thrive.

If you’re considering it, ask questions, get informed, and make the decision that supports your health and your future. You deserve to feel good in your body again.

11/11/2025

The SADI procedure stands for Single Anastomosis Duodeno-Ileal Bypass with Sleeve Gastrectomy. It’s a newer variation of the duodenal switch, and while it can be effective for weight loss, it’s not the magic solution that some people make it out to be. In this surgery, we start with a sleeve to reduce stomach size, then connect the first part of the small intestine to a lower section so that food bypasses a portion of the intestine. This limits how many calories and nutrients are absorbed.

It can work well for the right patient, especially those with severe obesity or metabolic disease, but it’s not without drawbacks. Nutrient deficiencies, chronic diarrhea, and long-term vitamin dependency are real concerns. It also takes a very disciplined patient to follow up on labs, supplements, and diet changes for life.

So while SADI can be a powerful tool, it’s not automatically the best option for everyone. The right surgery is the one that matches your health, your goals, and your ability to commit to long-term follow-up. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution in bariatric surgery.

11/09/2025

“You look happier.”

I am, and it is because I never forgot where I started.

I left Panama at 25 with a dream, not a guarantee. I did not come from money, connections, or a family of surgeons. I came with faith, discipline, and the hope that if I worked hard enough, one day I would be able to help people in a meaningful way.

The journey took me through years of training in places I never expected to be: McGill in Canada, UPenn in Philadelphia, trauma bays, operating rooms, long overnight calls, and a lot of learning and unlearning. I became a general surgeon, then a trauma surgeon, then a bariatric surgeon. Not because it was easy, but because helping someone regain their health is one of the greatest privileges I know.

I opened my first bariatric practice in Connecticut and learned so much from every patient who trusted me. Today, I am in the Rio Grande Valley, leading a Center of Excellence for weight loss surgery like the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and revision procedures, while still taking trauma call and doing the general surgeries that save lives every day.

I love Panama. I carry it in how I treat people, how I stay grounded, and how grateful I am for every door that opened along the way. I still remember the 25-year-old version of myself who hoped this life was possible.

So if I look happier, it is because I get to live the answer to many prayers. I get to help people heal and start again.

And I am thankful every single day.

11/09/2025

Hit a weight loss plateau years after bariatric surgery? It happens more often than you think, and it does not mean you have failed or that your surgery stopped working. It simply means your body has adapted, and now it is time to adjust the plan.

Here are the most common next steps I discuss with patients:

• Diet and lifestyle reset: return to protein-first eating, hydration goals, and structured meals

• Increase physical activity: combine strength training and cardio to support metabolism

• Prescription options: oral
medications like phentermine or topiramate, or GLP-1 based injectables such as semaglutide or tirzepatide

• Endoscopic sclerotherapy: tightens a stretched sleeve or bypass pouch without incisions

• Surgical revision: if you have a sleeve, converting to a gastric bypass can offer more durable weight loss and help with reflux and diabetes

The key is to remember that you still have options. A plateau is not the end of your progress. It is a sign to reevaluate, reset, and keep going. If you feel stuck, reach out to your bariatric team and let us help you move forward again.

10/30/2025

Deciding if weight loss surgery is right for you is a deeply personal choice and it should always start with your decision, not pressure from anyone else. The first step is making sure you truly want this surgery for yourself and your health goals. Second, surgery is most effective for people who are living with obesity and struggling with related health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea. These comorbidities not only make weight loss harder but also put long-term health at risk, and surgery can be a powerful tool to improve them. Finally, we have to talk about logistics. Bariatric surgery is an expensive procedure, and insurance coverage is often necessary to make it accessible, so checking your benefits is an important part of the process.

When all three of these pieces come together, your commitment, your medical need, and the practical support to make it happen, that is when it may be the right time to take this step.

10/28/2025

Sleeve gastrectomy is one of the most common weight-loss surgeries we perform. Right now, patients typically stay just one night in the hospital so we can keep a close eye on recovery, hydration, and comfort.

But here’s the exciting part: as techniques and recovery protocols keep improving, sleeve gastrectomy has the potential to be done as an outpatient procedure at an ambulatory surgery center. That means patients could go home the same day!

We’re not quite there yet, but the progress is promising. Even with the current one-night stay, it’s incredible to see how quickly patients are up, walking, and beginning their journey toward better health.

Address

4970 N Expressway Ste A
Brownsville, TX
78526

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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