Bariatrics

The journey to weight loss success is an individual one, beginning with a one-on-one consultation with your destination medicine navigator. They’ll explain the different surgical options available, explain insurance coverage and payment plans, and answer any questions you may have. From there, you’ll begin working with your weight loss patient advocate, who will calculate your body mass index (BMI) to assess your health risk and determine your eligibility for surgery. And finally, they will develop a personalized weight loss plan and talk with you about next steps in your journey.

Many chronic conditions can be improved or eliminated through surgical weight loss, including:

• Morbid obesity
• Arthritis
• Sleep apnea
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Type 2 diabetes

Am I a good candidate for weight loss surgery?

If you’re ready to reclaim an active, healthy lifestyle, our highly skilled surgical weight loss team is here to help. Strong candidates for bariatric surgery typically:

• Are more than 75 pounds over their ideal weight
• Have a BMI of 35 or more
• Have tried multiple weight loss programs without lasting success
• Would like to lose weight for health reasons
• Are prepared to make a lifelong commitment to the dietary, exercise, and behavioral changes necessary for success

What types of weight loss surgical options are available?

Our physicians and team will work with you to select the bariatric procedure option that is best for you. St. Joseph’s Westgate Medical Center offers sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and revision surgery with robotic-assisted da Vinci® technology. What’s more, St. Joseph’s Westgate has received accreditation from the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) and the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program which set national standards for advancing safe, high-quality care for patients.

What can I expect from this process?

Your journey begins with a meeting with your destination medicine navigator and a weight-loss professional to understand your personal goals. Together we’ll carefully select the appropriate weight-loss procedure for your individual needs. We have developed a holistic, evidence-based approach to help you lose the weight—and keep it off. Our team will be with you every step of pre-surgery, through the surgery itself, and on through post-surgery recovery and throughout your weight-loss journey.

Why bariatric surgery at Dignity Health in Arizona?

You have options and can consider multiple locations for your weight loss surgery, including bariatric surgery in Mexico. But Dignity Health in Arizona is the bariatric surgery destination you are looking for. That’s because St. Joseph’s Westgate Medical Center is an accredited Center of Excellence by American College of Surgeons (ACS) Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), in partnership with the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). These are meaningful credentials that bring patients to Dignity Health’s Destination Medicine program in Arizona.