Bariatric surgery, also called weight loss surgery, helps severely obese people lose weight. This surgery helps prevent or improve obesity-related conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Who Would Benefit From Bariatric Surgery?
- You are morbidly obese. This means you have a BMI, or body mass index, of at least 40, or a BMI of at least 35 plus an obesity-related disease, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Determine your BMI.
- Other weight-loss methods have not worked for you.
- You are committed to making the changes necessary for long-term success. To lose weight and keep it off — which most bariatric surgery patients are able to do — you will have to commit to making healthy choices.
What Are the Different Types of Bariatric Surgery?
In almost all cases, we use minimally invasive surgical techniques — which involve only small incisions — so you'll have a faster recovery and less pain.
We offer the full range of bariatric procedures:
- Laparoscopic gastrectomy: Part of the stomach is removed, leaving a small sleeve-shaped stomach tube that limits food intake.
- Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB): An adjustable silicone band is placed around the upper portion of the stomach to limit its size.
- Gastric bypass: The surgeon blocks off part of the stomach and attaches the remaining pouch to the small intestine. Food then bypasses parts of the intestine that usually absorb calories.
- Duodenal switch: Laparoscopic gastrectomy and gastric bypass techniques are combined (rarely needed).
- Revision surgery: Problems that led to complications or weight gain after a previous bariatric procedure are corrected.
After achieving your weight-loss goals, you may want additional surgery to remove excess skin and reshape underlying tissues. Our team includes plastic surgeons with expertise in these procedures.
Meet our bariatric surgery providers
RUSH Excellence in Bariatric Surgery
- National accreditation: RUSH University Medical Center is nationally accredited in bariatric surgery by the American College of Surgeons Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program. Accreditation is given to programs that exceed the national standards in quality and patient safety.
- Care for the whole person: Surgery isn’t the only part of weight loss. That’s why we also include a medical weight loss specialist, dietitians, psychologists and other experts who can help you prepare for life after surgery.
- Experienced surgeons: Surgeons at RUSH have performed more than 2,000 bariatric procedures. Research suggests that experienced surgeons have better outcomes and lower complication rates.
- Treatments backed by research: In addition to treating patients, bariatric surgeons at RUSH have published multiple studies on bariatric surgical techniques, outcomes and quality of life.