Bariatric Surgery Frequently Asked Questions
What is a bariatric surgeon?
A bariatric surgeon is a doctor who specializes in weight-loss surgeries, including gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and more. These surgeons help people who’ve developed obesity-related health conditions by performing surgeries that make changes to their digestive system.
Bariatric surgeons treat conditions by helping you lose weight and lower your risk of severe health conditions, such as:
Usually, bariatric surgeons will only resort to surgery after you’ve tried other weight-loss solutions, such as continued healthier lifestyle habits. To qualify for bariatric surgery, you must also have:
- a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater or be more than 100 pounds overweight
- a BMI of 35 or greater with an obesity-related condition, such as diabetes
- the inability to reach a healthy weight through sustained lifestyle changes
Bariatric surgeons perform several surgeries to help individuals reduce their health risks. Some of the primary surgeries they perform include:
- gastric band
- gastric bypass
- duodenal switch
- sleeve gastrectomy
You can contact your bariatric surgeon for a complete list of procedures, their risks and benefits, and more.
You may benefit from bariatric surgery if you have qualifying conditions, severe obesity-related health conditions, and limited success in lowering your weight through diet and exercise. Though bariatric surgery can help you lose weight, your surgery’s success will still depend on your commitment to following the healthy lifestyle recommended by your doctor.