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Weight loss can be a struggle for some people, even with the help of diets and workout programs. When healthy lifestyle changes are not enough to reach or maintain your ideal weight, Nacogdoches Center for Metabolic & Weight Loss Surgery offers bariatric surgery options to help you achieve your health goals.

What Is Bariatric Surgery?

Knowing how excess weight and obesity affect your overall health is essential to understand the need for bariatric surgery. There is a difference between being overweight and being obese. Being overweight means having extra body weight from muscle, bone, fat, water or a combination of these, while obesity is having a high amount of excess body fat. Both conditions increase a person's risk of developing severe health outcomes that can lead to life-threatening results, such as:

  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Gallstones
  • Breathing problems
  • Certain cancers
  • Infertility
  • Joint disease
  • Sleep apnea
Bariatric surgery, also known as weight loss or metabolic surgery, is an umbrella term used for various procedures that limit the amount of food a person takes in or affects how a person digests food and absorbs nutrients. People with extreme obesity or who have serious health problems that keep them from safely losing weight may benefit from bariatric surgery.

Patients who undergo bariatric surgery may lose weight right after the procedure. It is essential for patients who have bariatric surgery to have regular medical check-ups and follow the recommended diet and exercise to help keep most of the weight off in the long term.

Are you a candidate for bariatric surgery? Take this free online health assessment and begin your journey to a healthy weight. 

The Nacogdoches Center for Metabolic & Weight Loss Surgery

If you think you're a candidate for bariatric surgery, the bariatric surgeons of Nacogdoches Center for Metabolic & Weight Loss Surgery can help you decide on the best weight loss surgery. Our dedicated weight loss clinic and weight loss surgeons are here to provide you with healthy and safe weight loss surgery options with comprehensive and personalized care to help you reach your health goals for life. 

Healthcare is better together. We'll work with you to help determine if bariatric surgery is right for you. Fill out our request referral form, and we'll provide helpful information about our bariatric surgeons and assist you in making an appointment. 

Types of Bariatric Surgery

Weight Loss Surgery Frequently Asked Questions

Are you a Candidate?

Find out if weight loss surgery is right for you.
Take the weight loss surgery assessment.

More Information

Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Weight Loss Options

The desire to lose a significant amount of weight comes with options – and many questions. Talking with a doctor or professional in the weight loss field can help you make the best decision for yourself and your lifestyle. Below is a list of questions to get you started:

  1. Do I have surgery options? What is the difference in results?
  2. If I take medication, will I be on it indefinitely, or can I stop taking it after I lose weight?
  3. How do different methods of weight loss work – medications, nonsurgical and surgical?
  4. What are the cost differences and insurance coverages for weight loss options?
  5. What are the side effects of different options, medications vs. surgery?
  6. What can I expect for the outcome of each of my options?
  7. What will I be able to eat/not eat with my different options?
  8. How long will it take to lose weight, and what can I do to maintain weight loss?
  9. What are the major and/or most frequent complications of surgery?
  10. What can I do to decrease my risk of complications?
  11. What are the safety concerns for different types of weight loss – medication and bariatric surgery?
  12. What kind of support is available for me on the weight loss journey – such as for diet or psychological support as my body changes?
  13. If I do not have surgery, what is the risk?
  14. What do I have to do to qualify for weight loss surgery?

Because obesity is so harmful to health, having surgery to help with significant weight loss may greatly reduce your risk of premature death. And, surgical techniques for weight loss surgery have been shown to be as safe or safer than gallbladder or hip replacement surgery, and the overall likelihood of major complications is about 4%.

The decision to have weight loss surgery typically happens after many years of trying other methods to lose weight. But why wait?

Weight loss surgery is generally designed for those with a body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 40, or equal to or greater than 35 with serious co-morbidities. Weight loss surgery is considered safe, but like many types of surgery, it does have risks. Consult with your physician about the risks and benefits of weight loss surgery.

Sources:
American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
UC Health
MedlinePlus