Patient Care

Surgery is suitable for individuals who have already tried to lose weight by other methods but have not been successful. Surgery is not the first choice for weight management.

Success for bariatric surgery depends largely on diet and exercise recommendations after surgery. Commitment to lifelong diet modifications and exercise as well as motivation to change habits is necessary. UI Hospital recommends surgery for the following candidates:

• A Body Mass Index (BMI), of 30 or greater is considered for surgery when it is accompanied by obesity related illnesses like diabetes, hypertension or sleep apnea.
• BMIs over 40 are eligible for surgery based on weight alone. Patients with BMIs greater than 60 may be asked to lose weight before surgery for safety reasons.

Bariatric Surgery is not for everyone.

The following patients should not be considering the surgical option:

• Anyone who cannot adhere to the necessary pre- and post-operative dietary changes should not have bariatric surgery
• Anyone with a substance abuse problem will not be considered for this operation
• Those with an eating or psychiatric disorder that is untreated or unresolved are not surgical candidates. If these conditions are resolved or well-controlled, and clearance is received from a psychologist, surgery can be considered
• Women planning pregnancy in the near future should not undergo surgery
• Patients with health conditions making them medically high risk should avoid surgery

Get started with on your weight loss journey

If you have attended or completed the on-line information session, you are ready to take the next steps to prepare you for bariatric surgery.   Please remember that weight loss surgery is a process.  It can take several months to complete the necessary requirements and receive financial clearance from insurance carriers.

Pre-Operative Testing Phase

• Step 1: Complete medically weight loss
  Call for appointment 312-413-3631
• Step 2: Arrange a Psychological Evaluation
• Step 3: Submission to insurance carrier
  Please ensure your demographic information is updated in system so our insurance coordinator can contact you once we obtain insurance approval.
• Step 4: Schedule your Surgery
  Patients will meet with surgeon, nurse practitioner and dietitian in clinic- 1801 W Taylor Clinic 3F.
  Pre-operative testing will be discussed and appointments made for anesthesia evaluation and surgical date.
• Step 5: Anesthesia Appointment will occur on same day as preoperative visit. No need to call for an appointment!
  Anesthesia is located in main hospital
  1740 W Taylor Room 3300, 3rd Floor
  312-996-7487
  Please call if you need to cancel
• Step 6: Day of surgery
  Working day before surgery, please call 312-413-7874 from 2-5 pm to find out what time to arrive the day of surgery.
  Nothing to eat or drink after midnight.
• Step 7: Achieving Weight Loss
  After surgery, you will need close follow-up with your surgeon and our multidisciplinary staff to evaluate the progress of your surgery.
  We also provide monthly support groups at clinic and an on-line support group for our surgical patients. Please provide us your email address if you would like to join the online group.
  Bariatric Surgery is a long term commitment.