Bariatric Surgery

Weight-Loss Surgery

Obesity can cause a number of conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and joint problems. Weight-loss surgery, combined with exercise and a sensible diet, has controlled obesity and its effects for thousands.

UVA's bariatric surgery program is the only program in Central Virginia recognized by the American College of Surgeons as a Level 1a Accredited Bariatric Center of Excellence. This means you'll get care from a team that's nationally recognized for providing the highest levels of patient care. Our doctors have extensive experience with the most serious obesity cases, including patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 60 or higher.

UVA's care team offers a full range of weight-loss, or bariatric, procedures, including:

Gastric bypass, the most commonly performed weight-loss surgery in the nation
Gastric banding, a lower-cost, minimally invasive approach

Both techniques reduce the size of the stomach to allow the loss of life-threatening weight.

Our use of less invasive laparoscopy (where operations are performed through small incisions in the abdomen) allows us to perform these procedures with as little pain and as few complications as possible.

Is Weight-Loss Surgery For You?

If you are morbidly obese and have tried every diet, medication and lifestyle change with no long-lasting result, this procedure may be for you. You must also:

Feel ready to undergo a change in lifestyle and eating habits
Be twice your ideal body weight or more, or have a BMI greater than 40
Have the approval of your primary doctor and insurance

Before and After

More than 2000 patients have come to UVA for their bariatric surgery since we first started offering the procedure in 1986. The process begins with an assessment, counseling on the risks and benefits of surgery and a discussion of eating habits and lifestyle.

After the operation, patients experience an average weight loss of 55-70% the first year and maintain over 50% weight loss after five years.

Resources to Help Support You

Successful maintenance of weight loss requires diet and exercise. To support you in these efforts, we offer:

Nutritionists/dietitians giving you one-on-one guidance
A patient support group and weekly walking group
Diet tips, recipes and resources
A patient booklet with helpful information (PDF) and a diet plan for patients who've had surgery (PDF)
Lighter Life Obesity Support Group

Helpful Links

Want to Know More?

Call to sign up for a free educational seminar: 434.924.2104

Personal tools

Sections