About the Surgery

Why Surgery?

It is a well-known fact that diet and exercise can result in weight loss. The real challenge is keeping the weight off. Scientific studies indicate that nearly 100 percent of obese individuals who successfully lose weight through diet and exercise fail to keep it off during a five-year period. Further, a continuous cycle of weight loss and weight gain (known as yo-yo dieting) can cause serious health problems. 

If non-surgical weight loss methods have not helped you to lose weight and keep it off, weight-loss surgery is an increasingly safe and effective option to consider.

Criteria For Surgery

The minimum insurance qualification for consideration as a candidate for the procedure is a Body Mass Index of 40 or greater or a BMI of 35 or higher if the patient is suffering from serious negative health effects, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea. The average female in the U.S. is 5 feet, 4 inches tall; at a weight of 234 pounds, she will have a BMI of 40 and meet criteria for surgery. In many cases, insurance companies require proof that attempts at non-surgical dietary weight loss have been ineffective before surgery will be approved. More important, however, is the commitment on the part of the patient to the required long-term follow-up care. Patients are required to demonstrate serious motivation and a clear understanding of the extensive dietary, exercise, behavioral and medical guidelines that must be followed for the remainder of their lives after having weight loss surgery. Learn more about determining your BMI

Risks vs. Benefits

• The federal government (AHRQ) and studies report significant improvements in safety
• Risk of death from bariatric surgery is about 0.1%
• Morbidly obese individuals who have bariatric surgery increase their longevity, as compared to those who do not have surgery
• Patients can improve life expectancy by 89%
• Patients can reduce their risk of dying by 30% – 40%
• Morbidly obese patients who have surgery dramatically reduce their risk of dying from an obesity-related disease, as compared to those who do not have surgery
• Risk of death from diabetes decreases 92%, from cancer decreases 60% and from coronary artery disease decreases 56%

Learn more about the pathway to surgical weight loss