While bariatric surgery has become safer and provides more options for the obese person, there are steps that must be taken in order to qualify for the surgery. It is important to find a doctor who you can trust, and one that is board certified. A Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence is one that has met the strict criteria established by the nonprofit Surgical Review Corporation and delivers the highest standards of bariatric surgical care. Speaking with a competent physician is the first step toward obtaining the necessary physical, psychological and insurance clearances you will need before you can schedule your surgery.

Contraindications for bariatric surgery include a history of substance abuse, emotional health issues or chronic pancreatitis, and severe heart or lung disease. In qualifying for bariatric surgery you will also be asked to follow specific guidelines for diet and exercise that are important to maximize the health benefits of the surgery.

All surgeries carry some risk, and bariatric surgery is no exception. Although it has been around for decades, it is only recently that bariatric surgery has become a viable and safer alternative for morbidly obese patients. Mortality and complication rates have fallen as doctors continue to perfect the procedure and as patients commit to better health before and after.