Am I a candidate for surgery? The National Institutes of Health (NIH) established a basic guideline for candidacy. If your weight is in excess of 100 pounds over your ideal body weight and you have a BMI greater than 40, or if you have a BMI greater than 35 with pre-existing co-morbidities, then you have met the NIH's qualifying health criteria for the surgical procedure. For a more detailed explanation, see our Surgical Candidacy section.
How much weight can I expect to lose? Bariatric surgery offers the potential of losing between 70 to 80% of your excess weight after an 18-month period. Lap-Band surgery weight loss usually occurs over a two-year period. At this point, results are similar for the Gastric Bypass and Lap-Band recipients. Although the initial weight loss is important, bariatric surgery allows the patient to effectively maintain long-term loss of excess weight.
Are there risks involved with the surgery? Any surgery involves a certain amount of risks and possible complications, both operative and postoperative. Our physicians will be happy to explain the risks and the benefits of the procedure. Deciding on whether the surgery is right for you involves balancing the benefits of surgery and the improvement of your lifestyle against the surgical risks and also the risks of continued obesity. You can discuss these concerns regarding the surgery either by appointment or at one of our community lectures.
St. Joseph Hospital named Top Performer by Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration Project Read More