If you've ever struggled with weight loss, you may have at one point considered bariatric surgery as a viable option. While not without risks, procedures like the lap band, gastric sleeve or gastric bypass have all been used to successfully lower patient weight to a healthy level. First, you must meet several preconditions required by the FDA. You must have a BMI of 40 or higher, or have a BMI of at least 35 and suffer from some weight-related condition such as high blood pressure or diabetes. Next, you must be in the proper mental state to elect surgery. This means that you should be choosing gastric surgery as an option because you have thoughtfully considered alternatives and have been unsuccessful with other weight loss options. Finally, you must be ready to commit to a new lifestyle that requires modified food choices for the rest of your life.
If you meet these criteria, the next step is finding a doctor. Choosing the best bariatric surgeon can be daunting. However, this site has been created to help.