Bariatric Surgery

Morbid obesity is a serious condition, far beyond being just “overweight”—it can shorten your lifespan. Morbid obesity interferes with everyday life, limiting normal abilities such as walking or even breathing.

Bariatric surgery provides a single line of therapy to manage not just obesity itself, but a host of co-morbidities.

Type II diabetes
Fatty liver disease
Sleep apnea
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Degenerative joint disease
High cholesterol and lipids
Degenerative spine disease
High blood pressure

Infertility
Depression
Sleep disorders/apnea
Risk of cancer

Where other options may provide short-lived solutions, bariatric surgery provides the opportunity for a resolution.

According to the National Institute of Health, “Only surgery has proven effective over the long term for most patients with clinically severe obesity.” While other non-surgical options for substantial weight loss may be temporarily successful, for 95% of patients, they result in recidivism or weight regain within five years.

Program Overview

Your bariatric surgery experience includes a "new patient orientation," financial counseling, medical evaluations, education classes, monthly visits with your primary care provider and meetings with your multidisciplinary team. You will also have access to support groups.

Are You A Candidate?

Patients who qualify for bariatric surgery include adults, ages 18-70, with a body mass index (BMI) of 35-70.

Medical Evaluation

What to expect at your visit:

The nurse will weigh you, measure your height and calculate your BMI.
Your medication list will be reviewed and any allergies recorded.
Your vital signs will be checked and you will change into a gown.
Your mid-level provider will do an extensive history and physical exam.
Your health history will be reviewed and discussed as well as the best surgical option and the risks and benefits of surgery.
You will have the opportunity to ask questions.
You will be given instructions to complete pre-screening work-up, including laboratory studies, an EKG and a chest X-ray.

Nutritional and Psychosocial Evaluation

Bariatric surgery patients will undergo extensive nutritional and psychosocial evaluations prior to surgery. They will also have access to psychosocial and nutritional counseling services following the procedure.

Case Review

The National Institute of Health (NIH) provides guidelines for weight loss surgery, which includes careful selection of patients utilizing a multidisciplinary team of professionals. For some, risks are identified and bariatric surgery is determined as an unsafe option. Others will need to meet additional requirements based on recommendations from the multidisciplinary team in order to proceed. Once the patient meets the qualifications for surgery, s/he will achieve team approval and be allowed to proceed.

Your Role

You play an essential role in the long-term success of surgery, Bariatric surgery is not a quick fix. Surgery is most effective when paired with lifestyle changes in diet and exercise. Patients are counseled to deal with emotional and psychological issues that may have contributed to their condition.

Life After Surgery

Bariatric surgery may lead to resolution/remission of comorbidity conditions, including:

Type 2 diabetes
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Hypertension
High cholesterol
Deconditioning
Joint pain
Back pain

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