Romeo A. Lainez Bariatric Surgeon MD, FACS

Dr. Lainez was born in San Salvador, El Salvador and is a native Spanish speaker. He moved with his parents to the United States at the age of 5. He grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he went to college and did his residency. After finishing his fellowship training in Houston, he and his family relocated to Austin, joining Capital Surgeons Group and Southwest Bariatric Surgeons in the summer of 2014. He enjoys live music, snowboarding, playing the guitar, running, and working at animal shelters.

Surgical Specialties
Dr. Lainez is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery. He completed a fellowship in Minimally Invasive, Bariatric, and Robotic Surgery at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Texas. He trained under one of the pioneers of Minimally Invasive Surgery Philip Leggett, MD at Houston Northwest Medical Center. Additionally, he received specialized training in Robotic Surgery at Memorial Hermann, a program at the forefront of Robotic Surgical techniques. 

During fellowship, Dr. Lainez received expert training in minimally invasive techniques that provide patients a faster recovery with less pain and smaller incisions. Along with common general surgery procedures, Dr. Lainez performs laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of:

• acid reflux, including hiatal hernia repair and gastric fundoplication
• treatment for achalasia
• hernias, including groin and abdominal wall hernias
• tumors of the adrenal glands and spleen
• gallbladder, colon, and other gastrointestinal diseases

As a bariatric surgeon, Dr. Lainez performs surgery for the treatment of obesity that helps to improve overall quality of life, as well as medical problems related to obesity such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, acid reflux, weight-bearing joint pain, and sleep apnea. His surgeries include Gastric Banding, Sleeve Gastrectomy, and Gastric Bypass, which he does Laparoscopically and Robotically. 

Education and Professional Associations
Dr. Lainez received his Bachelor’s degree in biology at Loyola University in New Orleans. He then received his Medical Degree from University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. He continued his training in general surgery at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans, LA, where he would receive the Chief Resident and Teacher of the Year Award. After residency, Dr. Lainez was fellowship trained at the Houston Northwest Medical Center and Memorial Hermann as part of the UT Houston program in Houston, Texas. 

Dr. Lainez is a member of the Texas Medical Association, Travis County Medical Society, and the American College of Surgeons. 

ObesityHelp Contributing Author

Bariatric Surgery and Hair Loss