Bariatric Surgery

To be a candidate for bariatric surgery, patients should meet all of the criteria below, as established by the National Institutes of Health:

• They should have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more (about 100 lbs or more over ideal body weight) or a BMI of 35 or more with serious medical conditions related to obesity that would improve with weight loss (use our online calculator to determine your BMI).
• They should have attempted (and failed) previous weight-loss efforts with diet, exercise, lifestyle changes or medications.
• They must be intelligent enough to understand the possible risks, benefits and side effects of the procedure.
• They must understand and be committed to the lifestyle changes necessary to succeed.
• They must be committed to lifestyle changes and long-term follow-up. We expect that patients follow up with us for at least 5 years.
• They must not have any medical, psychiatric or emotional condition that would prohibit surgery.
• They must be motivated and have realistic expectations of the surgery. Surgery is a tool to help you lose weight.