The following questions help to determine if you may be eligible to have surgery:

• Are you over 18 years of age and under 65 years of age?
• Do you have a BMI greater than 40, or a BMI greater than 35 with one of the following?
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Sleep apnea
  • Diabetes
  • Degenerative joints
• Have you tried several methods to lose weight and were unsuccessful? (diet, activity, medications, counseling)
• Are you ready to make significant and permanent lifestyle changes?

Not an option?

For some people, surgery may not be an option.  Some of the reasons include:

• Age > 65
• Smoking (Must be smoke-free for 6 months prior to starting program)
• Active substance use
• Unstable mental health such as bulimia, suicidality, mood lability, major neurocognitive disorders, or other psychiatric illness that can affect a patient’s ability to cope with the potential challenges after bariatric surgery (require 18 months mental health stability)
•  Medical problems that increase risk for elective surgery
• Certain metabolic or genetic conditions
• Inability to follow directions or comply with recommendations

Bariatric surgery is one tool used to treat morbid obesity, it is not a cure.  To achieve and maintain weight loss, significant and permanent lifestyle changes are required and include healthy eating habits, regular physical activity, behavioural changes and stress management.

Please note that our Bariatric Surgery Program is here to ensure the optimal health, wellbeing, safety, and quality of life.

As you know, Bariatric Surgery is NOT for everyone. Surgery can result in serious and potentially life-threatening complications, especially in individuals for whom surgery is not recommended. To ENSURE YOUR SAFETY, the multidisciplinary team makes a concerted effort to ensure each and every candidate is suitable and optimized for surgery.

If for some reason you have not been selected for surgery, please note that this decision has been made with your health and safety as the most important factor.

Keep Positive, Keep Smiling, and KEEP MOVING!