Published: January 5, 2023
Considering weight loss (bariatric) surgery? Here are some requirements and guidelines you’ll need to understand before the procedure.
Body mass index (BMI) is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate someone’s percentage of body fat. You may be a candidate for weight loss surgery if you have:
Depending on the severity of the obesity-related illness, some people with lower BMI may be eligible for weight loss surgery.
According to Jeff W. Allen, M.D., medical director of bariatric surgery with Norton Weight Management Services, there are also some less concrete criteria for patients to be ideal candidates for weight loss surgery.
“Patients who understand that surgery is a tool, not the only answer [to a weight loss issue], do much better,” Dr. Allen said.
Motivation to do the work at home in terms of eating well and moving their body is just as important as having the required BMI, if not more so, according to Dr. Allen.
Find out more about bariatric surgery or a medically guided weight loss plan.
Bariatric Surgery
Nonsurgical Weight Loss
Your medical team will develop a treatment plan for you that may include:
“Patients ask for ‘the best surgery,’ and to that I say, there are several good surgeries we do right now. It really depends on the patient,” Dr. Allen said. “We use these procedures for different people with different situations.”
There are three main types of bariatric surgery:
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