Surgical Weight Loss

Bariatric, or weight loss, surgery is an effective tool for those who want to lose weight and live healthier lives.

At the Digestive Health Institute’s Medical & Surgical Weight Loss Program, our team of surgeons has shifted the focus from what patients lose through surgery — although they do lose! — to what they can gain afterward. We’ve seen how surgical weight loss success is not only life-changing but life-extending for our patients. You lose the extra weight and gain a renewed life that is as active and full as you wish.

Why Choose Hartford HealthCare?

We know you have options when it comes to weight loss surgery, but here are the benefits from choosing Hartford HealthCare:

• Our surgical weight loss specialists are experienced with all the latest, most advanced techniques. They collaborate daily with others on your care team to ensure you are supported at every step of your journey. 
• We offer the full range of surgical options, and work with you to determine the one that best meets your needs and goals. 
• Surgery can be booked at four of our acute care hospitals or 14 Surgical Weight Loss Centers to make having the procedure easy and convenient for you.

While obesity is a national health issue, it’s much more personal for those battling the scale, sometimes for all their lives. Our focus, at the Digestive Health Institute’s Surgical Weight Loss Program, is providing a solution to help you lose the excess weight and regain your life. We offer surgical options - backed by ongoing support, nutrition and exercise guidance - so you can change your life for the better.

How Do I Know if Weight Loss Surgery is for Me?

Our multidisciplinary team will work with you to determine the best option for you. You might be a candidate for weight loss surgery if you:

• Have a BMI of 35 or more.
• Have a BMI of 30 or more with diabetes.
• Are of Asian descent with a BMI >27.5.
• Are 40 or more pounds overweight.
• Cannot perform everyday activities because of your weight.
• Worry about a family history of obesity.
• Have common obesity related health issues like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol or obstructed sleep apnea.

What Will I Gain from Weight Loss Surgery?

There’s a wide range of things our patients report they enjoy or “gain” after weight loss surgery. Medically, we can tell you the procedure helps:

• Lower your risk of dying from a stroke, heart attack, lung disease, blood clots and some cancers.
• Reduce arthritis, joint and back pain due to the reduced weight and its impact on your joints and muscles.
• Control or cure weight-related health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, infertility, breathing trouble and sleep apnea.
• Extend your life.

Our patients report a higher quality of life after they lose weight with bariatric surgery. You will be able to move and perform most functions with less effort. This, in turn, improves your outlook on life, renews your energy and boosts your confidence.

You might also experience smaller victories our patients have reported, including:

• Being able to tie your shoes.
• Picking out new clothes.
• Starting a family.
• Trying more adventurous activities like skiing, sailing and hiking.
• Flying without needing a seatbelt extender.
• Participating in sports with your kids instead of just watching them play.

What Procedure is Right for Me?

You will first hear about the different surgical procedures for weight loss in the information session all our patients attend. Your bariatric surgeon will then discuss how each could work for you when you meet privately, and help you make the choice that’s best for you.

To choose the best procedure for you, we consider:

• How much weight you want to lose.
• Where your weight is distributed on your body.
• Whether you have gastrointestinal reflux (GERD), previous abdominal surgeries or other health problems.
• Any lifestyle concerns that may make one procedure better for you than another.