Live your best (and healthiest) life
Bariatric surgery at Geisinger
Geisinger’s weight-loss specialists can help you through your weight-loss journey so you can live your fullest life.
What you should know about bariatric surgery
Bariatric surgery requires an ongoing commitment to lifestyle changes, both before and after surgery. At Geisinger, you are the center of your program — and you’re backed by an entire team. Our approach means you get a personalized program supported by obesity medicine physicians, dietitians and specially-trained nurses. Consider us your weight-loss partners for life.
Surgery is just one of the tools we offer as part of your treatment plan — we’ll also help you lose weight over the course of your lifetime through nutrition and education. If bariatric surgery is a part of your treatment plan, your care team will review your options to determine the procedure that will best meet your needs and goals.
Bariatric surgery may be right for you if:
- You’re 80 to 100 pounds overweight
- Your body mass index (BMI) is 35 or higher
- Your BMI is 35 or higher with at least one obesity-related health condition such as sleep apnea, high blood pressure or diabetes
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In recognition of our patient outcomes, we’ve been named a Blue Distinction® bariatric surgery center of excellence by Highmark Blue Shield.
What types of bariatric surgeries are available to me?
Our bariatric surgical team specializes in minimally invasive surgery, which involves small incisions using tiny instruments and a camera to guide the procedure. Smaller incisions mean you’ll have less scarring, reduced pain, fewer complications and a quicker recovery.
We offer the following bariatric surgeries:
- Gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass):
- In a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, a surgeon creates a stomach pouch that causes the food to go straight from the pouch to the small intestine.
- Sleeve gastrectomy:
- Also known as a gastric sleeve, this procedure involves the removal of most of the stomach, leaving only a narrow portion of the upper section of the stomach.
- BPD-DS (Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch):
- This procedure reduces the size of the stomach and allows food to bypass part of the small intestine so fewer calories are absorbed.
- Minimally invasive revisional bariatric surgery:
- Our surgeons can usually treat problems associated with previous bariatric procedures using minimally invasive techniques.
- Management of laparoscopic adjustable gastric bands
- Laparoscopic adjustable gastric bands involve a band that is placed around the upper part of your stomach by your surgeon. This creates a small pouch to hold food and limits the amount of food you can eat, so you’ll feel full faster.
- Adolescent bariatric surgery
- Some teenagers with severe medical problems associated with obesity may be candidates for bariatric surgery. We have a team of providers with expertise in both pediatrics and obesity to care for adolescents
Bariatric surgery at Geisinger
Our bariatric care team consults research and top specialists to develop the safest, most effective ways to perform procedures. Geisinger’s bariatric program is nationally accredited through the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). This designation means we meet strict standards for high quality bariatric care.
Our team approach makes all the difference when you’re trying to lose weight, and we provide personalized education and support to help you progress toward your weight-loss goals. We offer support groups, nutritional counseling and medical care to help you succeed in your weight-loss journey.
Geisinger’s weight-loss surgery program is built around ProvenCare®. This program is designed to help patients recover faster and return home sooner after surgery — all without the use of opioids.
