Weight Management & Surgery

Q: Who is a candidate?

A: Weight-loss surgery is not for everyone. Usually candidates have triedand failed repeated attempts to lose weight. Most are at least 100 pound overweight. To qualify for the Baylor Grapevine program, you must have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher, or a BMI of 35 or higher with medical complications such as heart disease or diabetes due to obesity. BMI is the ratio of your height to weight.

Q: What are the benefits of weight-loss surgery?

A: Obesity raises the risk for many medical conditions: heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, diabetes, joint problems, sleep apnea, stress incontinence and acid reflux disease. Weight-loss surgery can improve your health, even bringing blood sugar levels down to normal to reverse type 2 diabetes. Just as important are the many positive emotional, social and psychological changes. Many people carry around a card that gives the date of their “rebirth” after they undergo surgery.

Q: What procedures does Baylor Grapevine offer?

A: Baylor Grapevine offers the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, laparoscopic gastric sleeve and revisions. However, weight loss surgery is just one component of the Baylor Grapevine program. Patients also receive education, nutrition counseling and medical supervision, as well as an on-site support group.

Q: What can I expect after the surgery?

A: How fast you lose weight and how much weight loss you achieve depend in part on the type of procedure you undergo. However, you can probably expect to lose 50 to 60 percent of your weight over a one- to two-year period. It is important to understand that weight-loss surgery is not a magic bullet; patients need to make long-term lifestyle changes and follow guidelines for nutrition and exercise to maintain the weight loss.