Bariatric Surgery

About

Mayo Clinic surgeons will only perform weight-loss surgery on people who have a high risk for developing health problems or have a weight-related health problem that could likely improve by losing significant amounts of weight.

Evaluation

Mayo Clinic's bariatric treatment program includes an extensive, multidisciplinary evaluation to ensure candidates are psychologically and medically ready for the surgery. The initial evaluation process usually takes from one to three months, but the overall evaluation takes about three to six months. The time until surgery can be longer than six months due to insurance processing and scheduling.

Surgery

Mayo Clinic doctors perform several types of weight loss procedures.

Complications

Several complications, rarely fatal, can occur following weight loss surgery. Short-term potential complications include blood clots, infections and need for additional surgery. Long-term complications are most commonly nutritional, requiring lifelong monitoring.

Follow-up care

During the first year following surgery, you typically meet from two to four times with the health care team. Team members work to help you succeed with long-term lifestyle changes. Monitoring to prevent, identify and treat potential problems related to surgery becomes a critical part of long-term follow-up.

After the first year, follow-up care can be conducted by your hometown doctor, working closely with the Mayo team.

Bariatric surgery alone will not help someone lose weight and sustain a healthy weight and lifestyle. Surgery, together with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet and daily exercise, will help someone lose weight and maintain the weight loss. Following the guidelines about food choices and sustaining a level of physical activity is very important. Behavioral therapy focuses on behaviors that get in the way of losing and keeping off weight.