Bariatric Surgery
The regional leader in bariatric surgery.
Take the First Step in Your Weight Loss Journey
Overview
Obesity is a disease that puts your health at risk. Successful treatment of obesity can reverse the harmful effects, both physically and mentally, and increase your quality of life.
Our bariatric center has options to fit your current needs. Each program offers medical oversight, healthy lifestyle skills, counseling and peer support. Your success is our success. We are here to support your long-term health goals.
Take the first step in your weight loss journey—for free.
View Our Virtual SeminarOur bariatric surgical team specializes in minimally invasive (laparoscopic) surgery, which involves small incisions using tiny instruments and a camera to guide the surgery. Smaller incisions result in decreased scarring, reduced pain, fewer complications, and a quicker recovery.
Surgery Options include:
Gastric sleeve surgery is considered “restrictive” as the surgery makes the stomach significantly smaller. More than half of the stomach is removed, leaving a narrow vertical sleeve, about the size of a banana. This surgery is not reversible as the part of the stomach has been removed.
After surgery you will be “restricted” to smaller portions due to the size of your new stomach. You will feel full faster.
In the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Procedure the surgeon creates a smaller stomach pouch and attaches a Y-shaped section of the small intestine directly to the pouch. Food intake "bypasses" much of the small intestine resulting in less calorie and nutrient absorption. The smaller pouch makes patients feel more full while consuming less food.
UR Medicine's Approach
We’re here to support you on your weight-loss journey and want to help you reach your goals.
Understanding your current medical and nutritional health is key to getting started. Working with your current physician, along with our surgeons and dietitians, we will determine your degree of long-term success.
Medical History and Physical Exam
After completing your seminar, we will begin to evaluate your eligibility for surgery. You will asked to submit the primary care provider form to your current provider for completion. During your first appointment, we will:
- Go over your medical history and perform a physical exam.
- Review tests and procedures necessary prior to surgery.
- Review and sign the Bariatric Center Partnership Agreement.
Nutritional Appointments
You will be required to attend a nutritional seminar followed by a series of individual appointments with a dietitian.
You will learn about:
- Adopting lifelong healthy eating habits.
- Developing healthy meal plans and menus.
- Preparing for the lifestyle changes for long-term success.
The nutrition track takes between 2 and 6 months to complete.
Insurance
It is important for you to check with your health insurance company to understand whether bariatric surgery is a covered benefit under your policy. Surgery is usually covered, however there still may be co-pays and deductibles that you are responsible for.
Following the completion of your surgical consultation, we will submit a request to your insurance provider for surgery approval.
When can I expect to have surgery?
On average it takes approximately 4-6 months to meet the medical and nutritional requirements for surgery. Keep in mind that this is elective surgery and our team of professionals will determine when it is safe to proceed to surgery. You must complete the nutritional program, the required medical testing and must demonstrate the ability to make the necessary lifestyle changes to be successful with surgery. Each component of the program is time sensitive. If you do not have surgery within one year of beginning the program (attending a seminar) you may need to repeat a portion of or all of the program.
Surgical Consultation
Your last appointment before your surgery will be with your surgeon. During this consultation, you and your surgeon will decide the type of surgery you will have and recap all the information that you’ve learned over the past months. Our team wants to make sure you are feeling comfortable and prepared for your surgery.
Before you leave your consultation, we will schedule your surgery date.
Pre-surgical Screening Appointment
All patients will have a pre-surgical screening. The appointment will include: blood work, urine sample, EKG, health history screening, pre-surgical education, and MyChart signup. The goal of this screening is to ensure your body is ready for surgery.
When can I expect to have surgery?
On average it takes approximately 4-6 months to meet the medical and nutritional requirements for surgery. Keep in mind that this is elective surgery and our team of professionals will determine when it is safe to proceed to surgery. You must complete the nutritional program, the required medical testing and must demonstrate the ability to make the necessary lifestyle changes to be successful with surgery. Each component of the program is time sensitive. If you do not have surgery within one year of beginning the program (attending a seminar) you may need to repeat a portion of or all of the program.
Surgical Consultation
Your last appointment before your surgery will be with your surgeon. During this consultation, you and your surgeon will decide the type of surgery you will have and recap all the information that you’ve learned over the past months. Our team wants to make sure you are feeling comfortable and prepared for your surgery.
Before you leave your consultation, we will schedule your surgery date.
Pre-surgical Screening Appointment
All patients will have a pre-surgical screening. The appointment will include: blood work, urine sample, EKG, X-rays (if requested by your surgeon), health history screening, pre-surgical education, and MyChart signup. The goal of this screening is to ensure your body is ready for surgery.
Follow-up Care
In the first year after surgery you will have five follow-up appointments. Our aftercare program provides routine follow-up, continued nutrition education counseling, monitoring of blood work, renewal of prescriptions and early intervention and support if needed. We work in conjunction with your referring physician during treatment and follow-up but patients are expected to continue to see their PCP for general health care. Our visit schedule includes:
- Visit 1: 7-10 days after surgery. Transition to the Pureed Meal Plan.
- Visit 2: 5 weeks after surgery. Transition to the Soft Meal Plan.
- Visit 3: 9 weeks after surgery. Transition to the Bariatric Lifestyle Meal Plan.
- Visit 4: 6 months after surgery.
- Visit 5: 1 year after surgery and continuing visits annually thereafter.
Eating and Meals
You will begin with a liquid diet as your first meal plan after surgery. Your dietitian will have covered the details of the liquid diet at your last nutrition appointment. After your first post-operative appointment you will advance to the pureed diet. At each successive visit you will progress to the soft diet and ultimately to the lifestyle meal plan.
Active Life
This is the time for you to check things off your bucket list! Do the things that your weight was holding you back from. You can finally play tag with your kids. You can ride your bike with your partner. You can join the gym. You can make a difference and walk for a cause. The possibilities are endless.
Healthy Lifestyle Coaching
Led by our dietitians, our weekly virtual coaching program will help to support long-term goals, weight maintenance and healthy habits for our post bariatric surgery patients. Learn more about Healthy Lifestyle Coaching.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get the answers you need to the most common questions from our expert team.
Patient Stories
Improving More Than Just Weight
See how John achieved his goal with the help of the Bariatric Center.
What Sets Us Apart?
Highland Hospital’s Bariatric Surgery Center is the regional leader in bariatric surgery.
We are recognized for providing high-quality, comprehensive bariatric surgical care even with the most challenging and complex cases. We take a multidisciplinary approach and partner closely with patients for the best long-term outcomes including psychological and physical fitness. We also have specially-equipped facilities for optimal patient comfort.
Our comprehensive medical weight loss team is here to help you.
- Personalized Treatment Plans. Achieving your goals using options that meet your individual needs and comfort level.
- Experienced Bariatric Experts. Understanding the disease of obesity and the importance of a lifelong commitment to treatment.
- Continuous Education and Support. Giving you the foundation for a sustainable lifestyle, long-term weight management and positive health behaviors.
American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accredited Center
What to Expect After Bariatric Surgery: A Guide to Recovery and Success
Bariatric surgery is life-changing for people looking to achieve significant weight loss and reduce health problems linked to obesity, but recovering from bariatric surgery can be a confusing process.
Locations
We serve you in the Rochester metropolitan area and surrounding region.
1 location
Highland Hospital
1000 South Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620