To qualify for bariatric surgery, you must meet a few requirements. In most cases, you should:
- Have a BMI of 35 or greater
- Have at least one medical condition related to obesity
- Be willing to engage in lifestyle and diet changes that support weight loss
- Have the support of your family, spouse or close friends
You may qualify with a lesser weight if you have serious health issues that could improve with significant weight loss.
The Path to Surgery
To determine if you’re a candidate for weight loss surgery, the first step is to attend one of our free informational seminars. We host both in-person and virtual seminars. Our seminars are a great way to learn more about our comprehensive surgical weight loss program so you can make the decision that is best for you.
If you decide to move forward with bariatric surgery at the Total Weight Loss Center, one of our insurance coordinators will verify your insurance coverage and requirements. Once we have verified your insurance, we will schedule your first clinic appointment.
Your First Clinic Visit
At your first appointment, you:
- Meet with one of our surgeons, a nurse, a dietitian and an insurance coordinator
- Share your medical history, including current medications
- Have a physical exam
- Discuss the different bariatric procedures and which one might be right for you
If you have underlying health conditions, we work with your primary care physician, cardiologist, pulmonologist or other medical specialists to help you get ready for surgery.
As you get closer to your surgery date, you meet with our psychologist, if you don’t already see one. They help you develop new strategies for managing food cravings and stressful situations so you can continue losing weight.
Ongoing Weight Loss Support
After you’ve enrolled in our program, we encourage you to attend the monthly support group meetings. This group is an important piece of your weight loss journey, both before and after surgery. It gives you a place to share experiences and information with others going through the surgical weight loss process.