Learn more about surgery and U.S. Bariatric.

A few questions to consider as we begin!

Is Bariatric Surgery for Me?

Other Questions and Considerations - ASBS - NIH - CDC - CMS - Convinced?

Surgical Options

Other Questions and Considerations back to top

Other questions that you might consider when assessing your need for surgical intervention:

Did you make a New Years Resolution to lose weight again this year?
Can you walk up 10 stairs without stopping to catch your breath?
Did you select your last car based on the car that fits you rather than the car you wanted?
Have you stopped flying because the you require a seatbelt extension?
Are you the one behind the camera in your family photos?
Can you plan an afternoon in the park and enjoy it with the kids?

Learn more about health concerns related to your obesity that may affect your decision.
Learn more about the social stigmatization and discrimination that may affect your decision.
We also encourage patients who are considering a surgical approach to weight loss to surgery to attend at least one support group meeting prior to surgery in order to better understand if this is right for you.

American Society for Bariatric Surgery back to top

There is considerable misinformation concerning the validity of bariatric surgery in the management of morbid obesity. The following "Rationale for Surgery" covers the field in general. References are provided to allow the interested reader to obtain more detailed information along with the opportunity to examine the original data on which these statements are based.

Read the Rationale for Surgical Treatment of Obesity from the American Society for Bariatric Surgery in its entirety.

National Institutes of Health Recommendations back to top

U.S. Bariatric has a proven record of experience and successful outcomes. Experience has proven that medical weight reduction programs, by themselves, benefit less than 5% of the seriously overweight or morbidly obese population. Less than 1% of those who obtain significant weight reduction will keep the weight off.

The *National Institutes of Health (NIH) considers you a candidate for surgery:

If you have tried and failed with dieting.
If your Body Mass Index (BMI) is 35 or greater.
If you have any serious co-morbid conditions associated with your obesity, such as, diabetes, hypertension, depression, heart Disease, sleep Apnea...
If you are more than 100 lbs over "ideal" weight.

*Adapted from NIH Consensus Development Conference Panel. Gastrointestinal surgery for severe obesity. Ann Intern Med 1991; 115:956-61.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention back to top

All persons who are obese or overweight should try not to gain additional weight. In addition, those who are obese or who are overweight with other risk factors should consider losing weight. A complete health assessment by a physician is the best way to decide the right steps for you.

Whatever your BMI, talk to your doctor to see if you are at an increased risk for disease and if you should lose weight. Even a small weight loss (just 10% of your current weight) may help to lower the risk of disease.

Learn more about your BMI and its effects on your health from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Department of Health and Human Services back to top

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has determined that the evidence is adequate to conclude that open and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP), laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), and open and laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS), are reasonable and necessary for Medicare beneficiaries who have a body-mass index (BMI) > 35, have at least one co-morbidity related to obesity, and have been previously unsuccessful with medical treatment for obesity.

CMS has determined that covered bariatric surgery procedures are reasonable and necessary only when performed at facilities that are: (1) certified by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) as a Level 1 Bariatric Surgery Center (program standards and requirements in effect on February 15, 2006); or (2) certified by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence (BSCOE) (program standards and requirements in effect on February 15, 2006).

Read the entire Decision Memo for Bariatric Surgery for the Treatment of Morbid Obesity (CAH-00250R).

Convinced? back to top

Take enough time to study and ask all of the questions you need to before making your decision.

Are you ready to discover if U.S. Bariatric is right for you? Yes