According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), limited success has been achieved by a variety of non-surgical approaches that include medically supervised dieting and intensive behavior modification. Very low calorie diets (VLCD) have been widely publicized as having dramatic success in the treatment of clinically severe obesity.

However, without behavior modification, keeping your weight off in the long-term is unlikely. Patients regain most or all of their weight within one year and very often the long term weight gain exceeds the previous loss. This is often referred to as the ‘yo-yo effect’.

According to the National Institutes of Health, bariatric surgery is an effective means of long term weight control for the severely obese. Surgical treatment is not a cosmetic procedure. Surgical treatment of severe obesity does not involve the cutting or suctioning away of fat. Bariatric surgery involves reducing the size of your stomach and, depending on the procedure, reducing the amount of intestine used in absorption. Your eating habits improve dramatically. The procedure reduces the amount of calories you eat and ensures that you practice behavior modification, eating small amounts slowly, and chewing each mouthful well.

Weight loss surgery typically improves and often eliminates co-morbid conditions such as diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, hypertension and high blood pressure. In addition, patients experience better moods, self-esteem and an enhanced quality of life. Many patients have indicated that they are able to enjoy social and physical activities that were previously inaccessible to them. Furthermore, patients also have a more positive self image.

A certain amount of risk comes with any operation, and morbidly obese patients are at a greater risk of complications than surgical patients without co-morbidities. You should consider a surgeon’s record when deciding where to have weight loss surgery. Team Bariatric surgeons all have outstanding records and take many steps to reduce the likelihood of complications. Still, even with the best of surgeons, complications cannot always be avoided. Ask your surgeon about possible complications of bariatric surgery specific to you.

Team Bariatric programs strive to exceed the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons (ASMBS) Center of Excellence requirements.