Are you a candidate for Bariatric Surgery?

When considering a Bariatric procedure for yourself (or a loved one) you must keep in mind that it is not a cure but a potentially very effective tool to help you reach your health goals, whether they be focused on weight loss or the betterment of underlying illnesses or conditions you may suffer from.

 

When evaluating a new patient we must consider age, gender, BMI, any preexistent illnesses (either diagnosed or in active treatment) and any previous weight loss procedures or surgeries.

The BMI (Body Mass Index) of a patient is a measurement obtained by your weight and height used to work out if you’re in what is considered a healthy weight category. A number from 18.5 to 24.5 kg/m2 is considered a healthy weight. Anything over this range is considered overweight and categorized, changing to obesity as the number goes up.

Your BMI helps us better understand where you stand in this scale and allows us to better explain the procedure best suited and with the most benefit for you.

 

The requirements for a patient to be considered for a bariatric procedure may vary from case to case, but are usually as follows:

1. BMI >30 kg/m2 when accompanied by Diabetes, High Blood Pressure or other obesity associated disorders.
2. BMI >35 kg/m2. regardless of presence, absence or severity of other illnesses.
3. BMI 30-34.5 kg/m2 with previous failure of non-surgical weight loss treatments or inability to control or improve weight associated disorders (Diabetes and/or High Blood Pressure).

 

While the ideal target patient for a bariatric procedure is in the 18 to 65 age range, age alone is not a determining factor to rule you out. Under adequate protocol and regimen, we have obtained beneficial results in adolescents (over 14 years of age) and selected patients over 65 years old.

 

Most national and international organizations, such as the NIH (National Institute of Health), ACS (American College of Surgeons), ASMBS (American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery) and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO), among others, recommend that all bariatric and weight loss procedures be carried out by a multidisciplinary team of professionals who can guide you through the process and offer follow up care, to give you the best chance at achieving your weight goals and guide you to a healthier lifestyle.

For more information about our multidisciplinary team you can click here.