Enjoy the life you were meant to have. Take our quick assessment to help determine if weight loss surgery is right for you.
Weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, is a medical procedure used to treat obesity by limiting the amount of food a patient can eat, changing how the body absorbs food, and altering the digestion process.
Medical weight loss is a specialized program that offers a comprehensive approach to weight loss under the guidance and supervision of trained healthcare professionals. This approach is customized to each individual's specific needs and is designed to address the underlying causes of obesity, which can include factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and medical conditions. The benefits of medical weight loss go beyond just shedding excess pounds. It can also improve overall health, reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, and increase quality of life. Additionally, medical weight loss programs offer ongoing support and education to help individuals achieve and maintain their weight loss goals.
If you have already gone through the gamut of diet, exercise, and sacrifice without achieving significant, sustainable weight loss, bariatric surgery such as gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy may be the answer.
Bariatric surgery is not cosmetic and should not be considered based on simply "looking better." There are risks with any surgery, so this alternative should be an option only after serious discussion with your physician to determine:
Everyone is different, but weight loss surgery could be an option for you if you:
It only takes a few minutes and can help you determine risk factors and the impacts of excess weight on quality of life.
The best way to get started is to take the weight loss surgery assessment and view our virtual informational online video. The assessment and video are designed to help you better understand the surgical options, the requirements before surgery, and what to expect after surgery. The surgical procedures we offer will be discussed:
Ready to take the first step? Our virtual informational video can provide you the information you need to make an educated decision on whether weight loss surgery is right for you.
View our virtual informational video
Though feeling better is a usually a desired goal of weight loss, other medical benefits may also include:
Recovery time is 2-4 weeks, depending on the individual and their lifestyle. You will stay in the hospital for one night after surgery, and then return to normal activity within two to three weeks. Weight loss typically continues for about a year and then abates. You should use the first year to develop good eating and exercise habits that will keep you from regaining weight. Many weight-related health problems improve or even disappear after bariatric weight loss surgery, including diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, and obstructive sleep apnea
The physicians and staff associated with Dignity Health - Mercy Hospitals Weight Loss Surgery Program will be with you every step of the way, from our introductory education session and physician consultation, nutrition counseling, and weight loss surgery, all the way through postsurgery support. We are right here to help you develop the tools to begin your new life—a life of improved health, increased activity, and longevity.
The Mercy Hospitals Surgical Weight Loss Program has:
On average, our surgical weight loss patients lose between 60-85% of excess body weight one year after surgery with more than 80% of patients reporting that their diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea improved or went away completely.
Yes, 98% of insurances cover weight-loss surgery.
Our weight loss program is accredited by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (MBSAQIP).
A distinction like this recognizes our comprehensive and personalized approach to treating our patients and providing tools for lifelong success, including:
Mercy Hospitals has been designated an Aetna Institute of Quality® Bariatric Surgery Facility for treating individuals living with morbid, or extreme, obesity.
Mercy Hospitals is designated as a Blue Distinction Center® by Blue Shield of California for Bariatrics.
Blue Cross Blue Shield named Mercy Hospitals a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery®. To achieve this recognition, Mercy Hospitals met numerous criteria that included: full accreditation from The Joint Commission or Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program, a required volume of bariatric surgeries during the recent 12-month reporting period, staffing by an experienced and appropriately credentialed bariatric surgical team, and utilization of appropriate equipment and staffing.
Note: Designation as Blue Distinction Centers means these facilities’ overall experience and aggregate data met objective criteria established in collaboration with expert clinicians’ and leading professional organizations’ recommendations. Individual outcomes may vary. To find out which services are covered under your policy at any facilities, please call your local Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plan.
Mercy Hospitals is proud to be a member of the OptumHealth Bariatric Center of Excellence (COE) network, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group. Inclusion in the Optum Center of Excellence network means that Mercy Hospitals meets or exceeds nationally recognized standards of care. Centers of Excellence network membership also offers further evidence of the high standards upon which the Mercy Hospitals professionals pride themselves on exceptional health care delivered daily.
Weight loss is a process that does not just end and begin with the bariatric procedure. Our monthly support group keeps you connected with your care team, as well as others who are on the journey to weight loss.
Register for our virtual support group
Questions? Please contact Laura, our support group facilitator, by calling (832) 247-0668 or via email.
To learn more about the Mercy Hospitals Weight Loss Surgery Program, please call (661) 632-5117. If you’re looking for a doctor, we can also help with that. Please call (661) 324-7070 or use our Find A Doctor tool.
