Surgical Weight Loss Options
Bariatric surgery procedures are an option for patients who have not had long-term success with diets and other non-surgical weight loss approaches. The bariatric surgery team at University Hospitals uses the latest surgical advancements to help patients experience safe and successful weight loss, in order to enjoy a healthier, more active lifestyle.
We offer individualized support for patients, including lifetime nutrition counseling before and after weight loss surgery. Many of our team members have had weight loss surgery themselves so they understand the journey and know how to help patients achieve long-term success.
What Weight Loss Options Do I Qualify For?
In general, your candidacy for any given weight loss program will be determined by your body mass index (BMI). Your decision is also influenced by how much weight you want to lose, as well as your personal preferences – such as whether you want a non-surgical or surgical option.
Our bariatric surgery specialists and weight loss surgeons at University Hospitals use the latest surgical advancements to help patients experience safe and successful weight loss to enjoy a healthier, more active lifestyle. Bariatric surgery procedures are an option for patients who have not had long-term success with diets and other weight loss efforts. Our program offers both minimally invasive surgical weight loss solutions and non-invasive weight loss procedures to fit each patient's unique weight loss and health needs.
If weight loss surgery is part of your treatment plan, our highly experienced bariatric surgery specialists and staff offer individualized support for patients – including lifetime nutrition counseling for patients both before and after weight loss surgery with a team of registered dietitians. Many of our skilled staff are people who have had weight loss surgery themselves. So, they understand the journey and know how to help our patients achieve long-term success.
Bariatric Surgery Options
- Gastric Bypass
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Also known as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass weight loss surgery, this procedure reduces the size of your upper stomach to a small pouch to reduce the amount of food you can eat which leads to weight loss. The intestines are also rerouted to decrease the absorption of calories and change the metabolism of insulin. Gastric bypass surgery can help you lose 50 – 75 percent of your excess weight on average.
Gastric bypass has been around longer than any other surgical weight loss procedure available today and remains one of the most commonly performed bariatric surgery procedures worldwide. The gastric bypass is commonly considered for patients that have diabetes or severe heartburn. The gastric bypass is one of the most effective anti-reflux operations that are available today, and reflux is resolved in 75 percent of patients that choose this surgery.
Please enquire about self-pay or finance options available.
- Sleeve Gastrectomy
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With the minimally invasive sleeve gastrectomy procedure, our surgeon removes 80 to 90 percent of your stomach, making more of a tube shape, similar to a medium sized banana. With a smaller stomach, you will feel fuller faster. Bariatric sleeve surgery removes the portion of your stomach where hunger hormones are generated, which also results in a decreased appetite and improvement in hunger. You may lose 50 – 60 percent of your excess weight on average with a gastric sleeve procedure, along with seeing improvements in your overall health.
Please enquire about self-pay or finance options available.
- Robotic Bariatric Surgery
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In addition to our other minimally invasive bariatric procedures, UH also offers weight loss surgery using robotic surgery technology. The bariatric surgeons at UH are able to perform Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy procedures using the da Vinci robotic surgery system. This surgical technology uses an advanced set of tools that the surgeon is able to expertly manipulate with superior precision and range of motion. Because robotic surgery only requires a few small incisions through which to insert the instruments, it can mean less blood loss, lower risk of complications or infection and reduced pain for patients. Other advantages of robotic bariatric surgery may include shorter hospital stays, faster recovery and improved outcomes.
Please enquire about self-pay or finance options available.
- Revisional Surgery of Previous Weight Loss Operations
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If previous weight loss surgery has not been successful for you, or if you have experienced problems with your prior surgery, our team can provide a thorough health assessment and viable recommendations.
With appropriate tests and evaluation, we can help determine if you are experiencing difficulties related to your first weight-loss procedure and we can make suggestions for a revisional procedure if it is appropriate. Some problems can include weight regain from fistula formation, severe heartburn/reflux that isn’t controlled by medications, persistent ulcer formation, abdominal pain, inability to eat, diarrhea or constipation.
Please enquire about self-pay or finance options available.
- Duodenal Switch
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This biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS) is a more complex bariatric surgery technique that combines the steps of the sleeve gastrectomy with the decreased absorption of calories aspect similar to the gastric bypass. A duodenal switch (DS) is known to produce the largest weight loss of more than 150 pounds, as well as the greatest benefits for control of diabetes, but also carries the highest risk of malnutrition. Your surgeon can help determine if this is right for you.
Please enquire about self-pay or finance options available.
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University Hospitals has been recognized with 2023-2024 WebMD Choice Awards for excellence in Gastric Bypass and Gastroenterology. The award is the only health system recognition program based solely on the preferences of patients and providers at the local and state level.