Surgery Process
Bariatric/Medical Weight Loss
- Surgical vs. Non-Surgical Weight Loss
- Surgery Process
- Bariatric Surgical Candidate Criteria
- Types of Weight Loss Surgery
- Non-Surgical Medically Supervised Weight Loss
- Bariatric Seminars
- IU Health Bariatric & Medical Weight Loss Physicians
- Ongoing Support
- Insurance Information
- Contact Us
- Patient Stories
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Bariatric surgery is now accepted as the best and most effective treatment for morbid obesity. About 65 percent of all bariatric surgery patients are able to lose their excess weight and keep it off for more than five years.
When you consider that only approximately two percent of nonsurgical treatment patients are able to lose and keep off their weight for more than a year, you can appreciate these surgical results.
Health problems resolved or improved after surgery:
- 86 percent diabetes
- 70 percent high cholesterol
- 78 percent high blood pressure
- 84 percent sleep apnea
Expected weight loss (weight loss occurs for 18-24 months after surgery - mostly in first year):
- Lap-band surgery - 40-48 percent excess weight loss (national avg. = 47 percent)
- Gastric bypass surgery - 65-80 percent excess weight loss (national avg. = 62 percent)
- Sleeve Gastrectomy - 60-75 percent excess weight loss
Did you know that almost all bariatric surgeries done at IU Health Bariatric & Medical Weight Loss are minimally invasive surgeries? This is a less invasive surgical option, where a small video camera is inserted through the small incision made in the abdominal wall, and the surgeon views the procedure on a video monitor. This allows for a quicker recovery time, less pain, and fewer complications. Unless there is a medical reason not to do so, all bariatric surgeries are performed laparoscopically.
What to Expect
From their very first visit at IU Health Bariatric & Medical Weight Loss, all patients receive extensive education about the incidence of obesity, the presumed causes of the epidemic rise in obesity, the medical, psychological, social and economic consequences of obesity, and the keys to maintained successful weight loss.
These educational sessions are conducted by physicians, nurses, nutritionists, psychologists and other experts. The sessions are also attended by former patients who provide a personal perspective of their experience and describe the challenges they faced after weight loss.
At about two weeks prior to surgery, patients attend a "preoperative visit," during which the major technical aspects of the operation are discussed, in addition to the required preparation at home, the details of the hospital stay and tips on how to optimize recovery at home.
The educational process continues through into the postoperative period. At each postoperative encounter, patients are seen by a physician and a nutritionist. These meetings are valuable opportunities for continued reinforcement of feeding and lifestyle guidelines.
We adhere to the principle that all our efforts are essentially a form of behavior modification, and we understand that success is only gained through repetition and progressive cultivation and strengthening of our relationships with each individual patient.
IU Health Bariatric & Medical Weight Loss also offers ongoing support groups, cooking classes and exercise classes.