Bariatric Surgery

WHO IS A GOOD ADULT CANDIDATE FOR BARIATRIC SURGERY?

Bariatric surgery may be an option for adults who have a:

Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more, OR
BMI of 35 or more with a serious health problem linked to obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or sleep apnea
BMI of 30 or more with a serious health problem linked to obesity, for the gastric band only.

Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. BMI is a measure of your weight in relation to your height. Class 1 obesity means a BMI of 30 to 35, Class 2 obesity is a BMI of 35 to 40, and Class 3 obesity is a BMI of 40 or more. Classes 2 and 3, also known as severe obesity, are often hard to treat with diet and exercise alone.

Learn more about BMI: Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Body Mass Index

Bariatric surgery is an operation that helps you lose weight by making changes to your digestive system.

Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery

Some types of bariatric surgeries make your stomach smaller, allowing you to eat and drink less at one time and making you feel full sooner. Other bariatric surgeries also change your small intestine—the part of your body that absorbs calories and nutrients from foods and beverages.

Bariatric surgery may be an option if you have severe obesity and have not been able to lose weight or keep from gaining back any weight you lost using other methods such as lifestyle treatment or medications. Bariatric surgery also may be an option if you have serious health problems, such as type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea, related to obesity. Bariatric surgery can improve many of the medical conditions linked to obesity, especially type 2 diabetes.* Having surgery to lose weight is a serious decision. If you are thinking about having bariatric surgery, you should know what’s involved. Your answers to the following questions may help you decide if surgery is an option for you:

Have you been unable to lose weight or keep it off using nonsurgical methods such as lifestyle changes or drug treatment?
Do you understand what the operation involves and its risks and benefits?
Do you understand how your eating and physical activity patterns will need to change after you have surgery?
Can you commit to following lifelong healthy eating and physical activity habits, medical follow-up, and the need to take extra vitamins and minerals?

The Alexander Center for Obesity Surgery is dedicated to helping people take control of their weight in order to live healthy lives. Using the latest surgical weight loss techniques we have helped countless people improve their health in order to live longer and enjoy life more.* Surgeries are performed at First Baptist Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, a premier North Texas surgical specialty hospital.

Laparoscopic gastric bypass, vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG), and gastric banding (LAP-BAND®), are all complex procedures requiring specialized training and experience in bariatric surgery, as well as tremendous skill. Dr. Alexander has the experience and advanced training needed to offer a safe and effective surgical weight loss program. He works with a team of highly skilled physicians, surgeons and nurses. expert psychologists. therapists and dieticians, and a veteran support staff that will work with insurance companies to help patients maximize coverage of expenses. This team has worked together for many years and every member is unwaveringly committed to the success of their patients.

In addition to advanced obesity surgery, we perform abdominoplasty and other reconstructive surgery for patients who are left with excess skin after losing weight. He also performs post-bariatric reconstructive surgery, often referred to as “tummy tuck,” “leg lift.” or “arm lift.”

Dr. Alexander is highly regarded in the field of weight loss surgery and many other doctors and medical professionals choose him specifically to perform bariatric surgery for them or their family members. View our gallery of weight loss before-and-after pictures to see the difference this approach to weight loss can make.

Read More: This content is provided as a service of the The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Health Information Center.

START BY CHECKING YOUR BMI

BMI

Body Mass Index Calculator

Calculate BMI using feet/inches & pounds:

Read more about body mass index:
Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Body Mass Index

*Results may not represent typical surgical outcomes. Every surgery and each patient undergoing bariatric surgery represents unique sets of circumstances and, therefore, results will vary.