Candidates for weight loss surgery

You need to meet certain medical criteria to qualify for bariatric surgery. You should have more than 100 pounds of extra weight on your body. You'll also need a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40 or a BMI of 35 with two or more weight-related medical conditions. Weight-related medical issues can include:

• Arthritis or joint disease
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Inability to achieve a healthy body weight with help from a doctor
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Type 2 diabetes

Weight loss surgery isn't the right option for everyone. Bariatric surgery may not be right for you if you have one or more of the following:

• An inflammatory disease
• Cirrhosis (progressive scarring of the liver)
• Disease of the esophagus (the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach)
• Disease of the stomach or intestines
• Pregnancy
• Severe heart or lung disease

BMI is a number calculated by your height and weight. We can use BMI as an indicator of body fatness for most people and to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems. BMI can’t distinguish between excess fat and muscle. You can use our BMI calculator at the bottom of this page, and your doctor can also provide more information about your individual BMI.

Candidates for duodenal switch surgery

Duodenal switch weight loss surgery is a combination of gastric sleeve and gastric bypass. We usually only consider the duodenal switch if your BMI is 60 or more and you have two or more weight-related health problems. The duodenal switch procedure can't be reversed, and you'll need to take vitamins for the rest of your life to get enough nutrients. Our specialists can explain the benefits and risks for this weight loss treatment.

Learn more about duodenal switch surgery and our other weight loss surgery options.

If you qualify for bariatric surgery, we’ll help you prepare for your procedure and the lifestyle changes you’ll need to make after. You’ll receive nutrition counseling from a registered dietitian and have a psychological evaluation to ensure you’re emotionally ready for the journey ahead. Your surgeon might order certain imaging tests to get a better look at your stomach and esophagus in preparation for your surgery. Some insurance companies require a doctor-supervised diet for several months before they’ll approve weight loss surgery.

More details about what you can expect before, during and after weight loss surgery are outlined below.

Attend a free seminar

Before making the final decision to have weight loss surgery, we recommend you attend one of our free educational seminars to learn more about their options and what your long-term commitment to lose weight looks like. After completing the seminar, you will work with our Bariatric Patient Navigator to pre-qualify your insurance or desired payment method for the procedure. At this time, you will also be scheduled to have an initial consult with one of our surgeons, officially beginning your journey to improving your life and health.

Consult and clearance

We require a number of additional evaluations to help prepare you for the lifestyle change that accompanies weight loss surgery. These include:

• Primary care provider referral
• Initial surgery visit – selection criteria, surgical treatment options, risks, and benefits
• Documentation of medically supervised diet
• Nutrition evaluation
• Psychological evaluation

During surgery

Once you have completed your required evaluations, all of your clearances and your pre-op diet, you are ready for surgery! What you can expect from us during your procedure:

• Standardized care protocols
• Dedicated and specially trained staff
• Bariatric equipment and supplies

After surgery

After surgery, we are dedicated to partnering with you throughout your recovery. What to expect after surgery:

• Amount of weight loss and rate of weight loss is dependent on the type of surgery – weight loss expected from the gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy is faster than the gastric band expectation of about 1 to 2 pounds per week
• Assessment of inadequate eight loss may require radiological studies as well as an evaluation of plan compliance
• Follow-up laboratory tests should be regularly performed, including a complete blood count and measurement of iron and B12 levels
• Pregnancy is not recommended for at least 12 months
• Support group attendance is strongly encouraged
• Medication dosages for obesity-related conditions should be closely monitored
• Oral contraceptives may not be fully absorbed after bariatric and metabolic surgery, potentially decreasing their effect
• Patients may need lifelong vitamin and mineral supplements
• ASA and NSAID products (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen sodium) should be avoided due to increased risk of ulcers and strictures