Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery, also called weight-loss surgery, refers to a variety of surgical procedures that help you lose excess weight by making changes to your digestive system. Bariatric surgery provides an option for weight-loss for patients who meet the appropriate medical criteria, and for whom other weight-loss methods have failed.
Reach out to the VHC Health weight-loss surgery program to find out if you qualify for bariatric surgery. The experience starts with an initial consultation that includes an extensive medical evaluation by our surgeons. If you qualify and you’re ready for the next step, we’re here to guide you every step of your journey.
Accredited Bariatric Surgery Program
At VHC Health, you can expect high-quality bariatric surgery and care that meets national standards. VHC Health is recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center+ for Bariatric Surgery and is accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) as a comprehensive center.
Bariatric Surgeons & Skilled Team of Specialists
Your VHC Health bariatric surgery team manages challenging bariatric cases using minimally invasive surgery and robotics technology. Your safety and effective outcomes are our top priorities. The team includes:
- Bariatric coordinator who offers guidance and answers your questions
- Physicians with board certifications in general surgery, bariatric surgery and obesity medicine
- Nurses with American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) certification
- Psychologists who facilitate support groups
- Other medical specialists, such as anesthesiologists, cardiologists or endocrinologists, dietitians and exercise physiologists, as needed
Comprehensive Support
Get everything you need to achieve your goals and become your healthiest self. Benefit from:
- Health promotion and wellness program, which offers fitness and healthy lifestyle classes
- Mental health evaluation and ongoing support
- Monthly support groups with other patients getting ready for surgery or who have already undergone surgery
Which Surgery is Right for Me?
Bariatric surgery is a surgical procedure that reduces the size of the stomach and helps patients lose weight. If you're a candidate for weight loss surgery, work with your surgeon and other members of your care team to decide which procedure is best for you. Whatever option you and your doctor choose, count on our team to help you reach the best possible outcome.
Bariatric surgeries work in different ways, whether by restricting the amount of food the stomach can hold, thereby limiting the number of calories you can eat; or by bypassing part of the small intestine, which reduces the body’s ability to absorb calories and nutrients.
The most common types of bariatric surgery include:
Minimally Invasive Techniques
Whenever possible, your surgeon uses minimally invasive, or laparoscopic, techniques. This means they'll do surgery with tiny tools and incisions, so you have less risk of complications like infection, as well as a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery.
Nonsurgical Weight-Loss Procedures
If you have a body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 40, you may qualify for an innovative procedure known as Orbera™ Intragastric Balloon. Without surgery, your doctor places a balloon in the stomach for six months to help you feel fuller sooner when you eat.
