Southern Surgical Associates

Qualifying for Gastric Band Surgery

How can weight loss surgery help you?

If you've been thinking about weight loss surgery as a tool in losing and your excess weight and maintaining your ongoing health goals, you can use the guideline below to determine if adjustable gastric banding is the right option for you.
To determine if your weight and physical attributes meet the criteria for gastric banding, slide the controls below to your approximate weight and height.

Current Criteria for Weight Loss Surgery:
The National Institutes of Health sets minimum requirements for recommending bariatric surgery as a treatment option:
100 pounds or more above ideal body weight or a BMI of 40 or greater, or a BMI of 35 or greater with one or more obesity-related health condition

Other qualifying factors may include:
History of documented dietary weight loss attempts
Lifelong commitment to dietary, exercise, and medical guidelines and follow-up care
Psychological evaluation

Together, you and your bariatric surgeon take steps to determine:
If surgery is the right treatment for you
Which type of procedure is right for you
If you are mentally and emotionally prepared to make lifelong lifestyle changes
That you have, or will have, the necessary support system around you

Expect the prequalification process to include a series of tests. You also will meet with a nutritionist, psychologist, and other support staff members in sessions leading up to surgery. Each healthcare professional will help you prepare for the changes and challenges that lie ahead.
If you believe bariatric surgery would improve your health and well-being, contact a bariatric surgeon to begin a conversation and start the prequalification process.