Sara Hennessy, M.D.

Meet Dr. Hennessy

Bariatric Surgery Specialist in Dallas

Sara Hennessy, M.D., brings a unique perspective to every surgery. An expert in minimally invasive general surgery and bariatric surgery, she is also a fellowship-trained surgical intensivist, caring for patients in the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) after trauma or surgery.

“My background and training has prepared me to both operate on and care for some of the sickest patients in the hospital. Having this experience allows me to provide the best care possible for my patients before, during, and after surgery,” she says.

Some of the most complex patients Dr. Hennessy works with are those who come to her for weight loss surgery to help treat or prevent serious medical problems. People seeking weight loss surgery have often been unsuccessful with diet, exercise, medications, and lifestyle changes.

Dr. Hennessy helps her patients effectively lose weight and improve or resolve their medical problems by providing two of the most commonly performed bariatric operations: laparoscopic gastric bypass, a surgery that effectively reduces the stomach from the size of a football to the size of a golf ball, and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, a procedure that involves removing the stretchiest portion of the stomach.

With these minimally invasive procedures, patients experience less pain, have shorter hospital stays and a quicker recovery, and are able to get back to their normal activities faster than with traditional open surgical techniques.

Dr. Hennessy also uses advanced laparoscopic techniques to perform many other types of surgery. She treats patients with upper gastrointestinal problems including hiatal hernias and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). She is also experienced in laparoscopic techniques for abdominal hernias, intestinal surgery, splenectomies, and gallbladder surgery.

“I chose to focus in bariatric and minimally invasive surgery and critical care because I feel like I can really make a difference,” she says. “No matter how big or small, needing any surgery changes your life, whether it’s weight loss surgery, a hernia repair, or caring for someone who is very sick in the ICU. Being a part of that journey and being able to make a difference is amazing.”