Effectiveness & Risks of Weight Loss Surgery

Most patients will lose around 50 to 70% of their excess weight and keep it off for more than five years. That means if you are 100 pounds overweight, you can expect to lose 50 to 70 pounds in the first year after your surgery.

Yes. Over half of patients with type 2 diabetes no longer need any medication, and 90% require less medication after surgery.

Most surgeries last between two and three hours. Since all of our surgeries are performed through small incisions, patients only spend one or two days in the hospital. Most return to work after about one to three weeks, depending on the nature of their jobs.

We complete over 300 weight loss surgeries every year. Our surgeons, nurse practitioners, dietitians, operating room staff and other members of the team are highly skilled at delivering the best care and safest surgery.

We are accredited as a Comprehensive Center for Bariatric Surgery through the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP).

To receive this accreditation, we have to demonstrate that we can take care of the most complex patient cases and deliver high-quality results. Representatives from the MBSAQIP program review our facilities, program and all other aspects of your care every three years to make sure we have everything we need to provide the best care possible.

Around a quarter of patients who undergo a metabolic or weight loss surgery may experience weight regain in the years following surgery.

Since there are so many factors that lead to obesity, causes for weight regain can vary based on the individual. Certain medications, exercise frequency and stress levels are all possible factors. Our team is here to provide long-term support to help prevent and reverse weight regain.

Yes. Our advanced practice providers or surgeons will talk to you about your weight-loss medication options. Additionally, if you’re struggling with weight gain after surgery, our team will evaluate your situation to determine whether medication is necessary. Our practitioners are trained to prescribe a wide array of weight loss medications.

All medical treatments, including surgery, have risks. However, the risk of mortality from obesity-related problems is higher than the risk associated with obesity surgery.

• More common are the risks of both short- and long-term non-fatal complications. (Overall there is a 10-20% risk).
• The most common short-term complications are nausea and dehydration (roughly 5-10%). Less common are bleeding and blood clots, each with risks around 1% or less.
• Long-term complications depend on the type of surgery. Patients that have the lap band experience band slippage, band erosion or intolerance of the lap band roughly half the time or more, which may require additional surgery.
• Patients that have the bypass might experience ulcers, bowel blockage, or vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
• Roughly 20% of patients that have the sleeve gastrectomy experience heartburn.