Bariatric

Welcome to our signature care for bariatrics, a center for metabolic and weight loss surgery in Marietta, Ohio. We are an accredited bariatric surgery center that addresses the entire spectrum of care and needs of people with severe obesity, from the pre-hospital phase and the treatment process through post-operative care.

We know that your weight-loss journey doesn’t end after surgery. Our commitment to providing the highest quality of care involves more than surgery. We teach our patients about the lifestyle changes necessary to achieve a lifetime of success after surgery.

Conditions We Treat

We provide weight loss surgery for people diagnosed with obesity. Obesity contributes to several significant health risks, including death. In the United States, over 400,000 people die from obesity every year. People who have obesity are at an increased risk for many serious health conditions, such as:

Acid reflux (GERD)
Depression
Fertility issues
Heart disease
High blood pressure
Kidney, breast, colorectal, and endometrial cancer
Lung/respiratory disease
Osteoarthritis
Sleep apnea
Type 2 diabetes
Urinary incontinence

The Body Mass Index (BMI) defines obesity. This is a person’s weight in relation to their height and does not vary by gender. Someone with a BMI of 25 or higher is considered overweight. A BMI of 30 or more is obese and has a higher risk of severe health problems.

Morbid obesity is defined as at least 100 pounds over ideal body weight, a BMI greater than 35 with an obesity-related disease (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, diabetes, etc.), or a BMI greater than 40. To calculate your BMI, use our BMI calculator.

Services We Offer

Weight loss (bariatric) surgery refers to a group of surgical procedures performed to address obesity by altering the stomach and other parts of the digestive tract, so fewer nutrients are consumed and absorbed by the body. Weight loss surgery is an effective and often enduring option for obese and morbidly obese patients who have not been able to achieve or maintain weight loss through non-surgical means.

Bariatric surgery can lead to significant weight loss and improvement or resolution of many obesity-related health conditions. More than three-fourths of patients have an increase in energy and self-confidence. It also leads to normalization of the menstrual cycle, increased libido, and improvement of osteoarthritis. Weight loss surgery is a step toward a new you.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass:

During this minimally invasive procedure, your surgeon forms a small pouch, approximately the size of an egg, to limit food intake. Your surgeon creates the small pouch by dividing the top of your stomach from the rest of your stomach. Next, your surgeon divides the first portion of the small intestine and brings up the bottom end of the divided small intestine and connects it to the newly created small stomach pouch.

Vertical sleeve gastrectomy:

During this procedure, your surgeon removes about 75%of your stomach, leaving a narrow gastric “tube” or “sleeve.” This greatly reduces the size of your stomach and limits the amount of food that you can eat at one time. Our surgeons perform this procedure using a minimally invasive approach.

Laparoscopic gastric band (Lap-Band®) management:

For patients who already have lap-bands, we offer adjustments of the band in-office. We also offer Lap-Band removals.

Why Choose Us

Expert, multidisciplinary team

Our experienced team—comprised of providers, physician assistants, certified medical assistants, dietitians, nurses, and exercise specialists—have a steadfast commitment to long-term personalized care. Therefore, as you settle into your new lifestyle you will have our full support.

Recognized for world-class bariatric care

We are proud to be a designated Blue Distinction Center+ for Bariatric Surgery. Blue Distinction Specialty Care recognizes providers for delivering high-quality, effective, cost-efficient specialty care. Providers that meet quality standards earn designation as Blue Distinction Centers. Those that meet both quality standards and cost-efficiency standards are called Blue Distinction Centers+.

Ongoing support

We empower our patients by providing comprehensive education to help you prepare for the rest of your life. Your plan of care will include nutritional and exercise counseling, behavior modification, stress reduction techniques, weight gain prevention, close monitoring of your physical and psychological health, and even support for your family and loved ones. Our monthly support group connects you with other bariatric patients for even more support.

MBSAQIP-accredited care

We have been accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Project (MBSAQIP). In order to become an accredited center, a bariatric program must meet rigorous standards and commit to continuously supporting quality improvement.

A recent study showed that patients at accredited programs are, on average, three times less likely to have complications. That means, by choosing an accredited bariatric center, you are more likely to continue your journey to the life you want, faster and easier.

Patient Resources

Are you a candidate for weight loss surgery?

Bariatric surgery is for patients who have been obese or morbidly obese for at least five years and who have not had lasting success with non-surgical weight loss methods.

To determine if you are a candidate for weight loss surgery, calculate your BMI by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. To calculate your BMI, use our BMI calculator.

Potential candidates include:

People with a BMI of 40 or greater
Men who are 100 pounds over their ideal body weight and women who are 80 pounds over their ideal body weight
People with a BMI between 35 and 40 who have at least two or more obesity-related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, non-alcoholic fatty liver, osteoarthritis, high cholesterol, or heart disease

Who is not a candidate for weight loss surgery?

Anyone with an unresolved major psychiatric disorder, substance abuse history, or eating disorder
Unresolved endocrine or metabolic disorder
Female of childbearing age who cannot avoid getting pregnant for two years (weight loss surgery can temporarily deplete vitamins essential for fetal growth)
Anyone who is a high risk for surgery or too ill

How to get started on your weight loss journey:

Attend an informational session
Check your insurance coverage
Complete an application package
Have an initial visit with your surgeon/provider
Attend our weight management program
Be evaluated and cleared for surgery by multiple specialists
Attend a support group
Attend bariatric counseling/consultation
Complete the preoperative class
Have a preoperative visit with your surgeon/provider (second visit)
Complete your surgery

Minimally-Invasive Bariatric Surgery

Our bariatric program offers minimally invasive techniques for bariatric surgery versus traditional open incision. Typically, we perform laparoscopic or robotic weight loss surgery, which leads to fewer complications, reduced pain, and shorter recovery time. By utilizing robotic surgery, or robot-assisted surgery (using the latest Xi DaVinci robot), we can perform complex procedures with more precision, flexibility, and control.

The benefits to our patients of laparoscopic or robotic surgery include:

Faster recovery
Fewer wound-related complications
Less post-operative pain
Less scarring
Quicker mobility
Shorter hospital stay

We offer minimally-invasive surgical options for those who want to follow the surgical path for weight loss: laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy, and gastric bypass.

Life After Weight-Loss Surgery

After weight loss surgery, your body will undergo significant adjustment. Once you are ready, you will be given programs to follow for your nutrition and physical activity. Follow these programs as directed, as the success of the surgery depends on the choices you make. Remember, it is a lifelong journey and therefore requires lifelong changes in your eating and exercise habits to maintain your weight loss.

Our bariatric support group

Statistically, long-term success depends on your support system after surgery. To assist you, we offer continued involvement in your lifelong journey through our support group in addition to our routine follow-up care.

For more information about our support group, call (740) 568-2178.

Insurance coverage

The cost of bariatric surgery and whether it is covered by your insurance varies. If you have decided to proceed with bariatric surgery, our bariatric patient insurance advocate will contact your insurance company to learn if the cost of bariatric surgery is covered under your benefits, and if there are any pre-surgery requirements.

We accept most insurance plans, including: