About Dr. Etter

Leon Etter, II, MD, FACS, is a board-certified general and bariatric surgeon at Southwest Surgical Associates. A native Houstonian, Dr. Etter is proud to provide excellent care to his community in Sugar Land, Cypress, Pearland, and Katy, Texas, and throughout the greater Houston area. 

Dr. Etter earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston (UTMB). Upon graduation, he completed his residency at St. Joseph’s Medical Center (SJMC) in 1987, where he continues to practice today.

Dr. Etter’s practice is dedicated to recognizing the patient’s mind, body, and spirit, as he knows these elements are essential to successful outcomes. He is an accomplished laparoscopic and robotic surgeon with an emphasis on complex biliary pancreatic diseases, as well as cancers of the breast, colon, and small bowel. In addition, he maintains a keen interest in bariatric surgery, gastric disorders, and complex hernia repair. He is currently a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, demonstrating his enthusiasm for the comprehensive breadth of surgical practice in modern-day medicine.

Dr. Etter is a clinical professor in the department of general surgery at UTMB and serves as a member of the governing board at SJMC. He is known as a remarkable surgeon who operates with his heart as well as his hands. Outside his practice, he prefers to balance mind and spirit through the practice of Chi-gong and Tai Chi.

Dr. Etter is a devoted husband and father who occupies much of his free time with his family.