Bariatric Surgery

Preparation for Weight-Reduction Surgery

Qualification

Mayo Clinic surgeons will not perform weight-reduction surgery merely because someone is overweight or for cosmetic reasons. The person must 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.

Health problems that can result from obesity include:

• Degenerative joint disease
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Hyperlipidemia
• Diabetes
• Obstructive sleep apnea

The evaluation

Bariatrics is the study of obesity – its causes, prevention and treatment. The Mayo Clinic bariatric health care team consists of a specialist in endocrinology who will do a thorough initial examination, a nurse practitioner or physician's assistant who will participate in follow-up care, a dietitian who will discuss necessary diet changes, a psychologist who will help identify behaviors that may interfere with long-term success of surgery and a surgeon who specializes in weight-reduction techniques. Cardiologists and sleep disorders experts also frequently participate in the care of an obese person.

Not all people who meet the criteria for weight-reduction surgery are psychologically or medically ready for the surgery. Before a person is approved for surgery, he or she needs a thorough medical exam.

For some people, psychological or psychiatric problems may need to be addressed before surgery. Mayo Clinic has learned that people with untreated anxiety or depression may find recovery from surgery longer and more difficult. People are more likely to keep weight off if they have behavioral therapy before and after surgery. For these reasons, candidates for surgery meet with a psychologist before surgery.

The psychologist works to identify factors that might complicate the results of surgery and long-term weight loss. The evaluation consists of an interview and some questionnaires. The psychologist will share the results with the person considering surgery and with that person's doctor. Surgery may be postponed until complicating psychological factors are managed and controlled. All candidates for weight-reduction surgery are expected to participate in behavioral therapy both before and after surgery.

The initial evaluation process usually takes from one to three months, but the overall evaluation could take six to 12 months.