Options

Education is the key to success in any surgery.

But where bariatric surgery is concerned, understanding your options in the type of surgery you are having is vitally important. Your doctor will likely present a variety of options for you and offer his or her opinion, but educating yourself about the preparation, procedures, recovery, and life after surgery is invaluable.

In addition to the information you obtain from your physician and Sierra Surgery Hospital team members, you will find a wealth of information about bariatric surgery on the Internet. We encourage you to use this information as a tool to increase your understanding of bariatric surgery, but caution you to select your resources carefully. We suggest looking at nationally recognized resources. The National Institutes for Health offers an initial description of weight-loss surgery, with a number of links to approved sites. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a comprehensive resource on obesity and related treatments, programs, and facts. The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery also offers an excellent initial resource for information.

The staff at the Sierra Surgery Hospital and weight-loss surgery team are valuable resources in your education. A great deal of information is available at our regular public seminars. We will provide you with a collection of information about weight-loss surgery. This information can be expanded upon in personal consultation with team members and surgeons. We also advise you to speak with your doctor about any questions you may have about any part of the process, the benefits of the surgery, or related risks.

You may also wish to contact past patients who have had bariatric surgery or even a patient support group or obesity support group organization. Talking to others who have had or are considering weight-loss surgery can help you understand how obesity affects you and others. In all likelihood, when talking to others who have had bariatric surgery, you will learn both the positives and negatives they experienced from the procedure. You will learn that bariatric surgery, like any other surgical procedure, offers no guarantees of success without risks and complications. Having the surgery is only the beginning in a life-long process that requires commitment and dedication to making a positive change in your life. Everyone is different and faces individual challenges. We look forward to answering any questions you have about weight-loss surgery.