Around 95% of all insurance plans provide coverage for Bariatric Surgery. After your first visit with Dr. Weiner, we will review your insurance policy to confirm that you do have coverage. We accept most insurance plans, including ACCCHS. For those that do not have insurance coverage for Bariatric Surgery, we have very fairly priced self-pay options.

There are many steps to obtaining insurance authorization for Bariatric Surgery and it can seem complicated at first. Our team is extremely knowledgeable and will get you through the process smoothly.

Dr. Weiner offers gastric bypass surgery and Sleeve Gastrectomy procedures as well as revision (reoperative) surgery (procedures that correct or improve your prior surgery). He also performs laparoscopic surgery and hernia repair. For all surgeries, Dr. Weiner and his team offer pre, during, and post -operative care. To find out if you’re a candidate, please fill out our form here >

Dr. Weiner recommends taking two weeks off after sleeve gastrectomy and three weeks off after gastric bypass surgery to ensure a smooth transition back to work. Many patients are eager to get back to work sooner and this is often possible. To discuss your scheduling needs, please contact our team here >

In the lead-up to surgery, all patients are required to follow a one-week liquid diet to help shrink the liver and make the surgery safer.

Our postoperative support program is truly exceptional. In addition to regular follow up with Dr. Weiner and his team, we offer unlimited group nutritional sessions over zoom, grocery store tours for our local patients, and automatic enrollment into our non-surgical weight loss program with Bether after you are one year out from surgery. We are in this with you for the long haul!

Around 25% of all Sleeve Gastrectomy patients and 10% of all Gastric Bypass patients will regain half of the weight that they lost after surgery. The reasons for this are complicated and not just a simple matter of someone “stretching out” their pouch because they ate too much.

First, weight regain after Bariatric Surgery is far less common than what we see when the weight is lost through strict diet and exercising. Second, our program is very aggressive in treating weight regain and we offer a comprehensive program that is very effective in minimizing weight regain, and helping you lose weight again. Unfortunately, Bariatric Surgery doesn’t allow you to never have to struggle with your weight again, it just makes your struggles much more successful.

Every case is different since our bodies and medical histories are different. There is no way to safely guarantee that you are a candidate for bariatric surgery without a proper exam from a bariatric surgeon. There are, however, guidelines and clues that can aid in determining whether you should seek an exam. They are as follows:

• Established effort to lose weight with proper diet and exercise has been unsuccessful.
• A Body Mass Index, (or BMI) of 40 or higher.
• A BMI of 35 to 40 associated with a medical condition, or comorbidity such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea or a family history of obesity.

Visit our surgery page to learn more about next steps >

Laparoscopic or “minimally invasive” surgery is a specialized technique for performing surgery. Rather than opening a large portion of the abdomen, a Laparoscopic surgeon makes several very small incisions in the abdominal wall, usually ½-1cm in length. Thin hollow tubes are then inserted into the incisions and carbon dioxide is used to expand the belly from the inside. A tiny camera is also inserted into one of the tubes and projects a picture of the inside of the abdomen to a television monitor. The surgeon uses that camera image to perform the surgery without needing to be physically inside the abdomen.

The smaller incisions means the procedure is less invasive to patients. It allows for a faster recovery, less scar tissue, less pain, quicker return to normal activities, fewer organ complications, and a better operative experience.

The sleeve gastrectomy involves removing about 80% of the stomach and reshaping the remaining 20% into something that looks like a shirt sleeve. What remains of the stomach is a narrow tube or sleeve, which connects to the intestines.

While most people look at the sleeve gastrectomy as a surgery that works primarily by reducing your ability to eat large portions, its primary effectiveness is through hormonal changes.  Those hormonal changes are the driving force of weight loss.

Because the stomach is removed completely, this surgery is irreversible. Many patients have downplayed the sleeve as a minor surgery, but the removal of 80% of your stomach should not be taken lightly. Even though a sleeve gastrectomy can be performed extremely safely with only a 1-2% serious complication rate, it is not a minor surgery.

The gastric bypass operation divides the stomach into two parts and reroutes the intestines from a straight line into a “Y” shape. Of the two upper limbs of the “Y,” one contains the food that you eat while the other houses the digestive enzymes.

The first part of the stomach, (referred to as the pouch) is approximately the size of a thumb and connects to the top part of one limb of the “Y.”  The second part, (referred to as the gastric remnant) connects to the other limb of the “Y” and sits inside your abdomen continuing to make acid and digestive hormones. At the crotch of the “Y,” the two limbs come together and the food mixes with the enzymes.

This delay in mixing the food with enzymes changes the way food is broken down in your intestines and induces a very favorable change in your body’s hormonal state that triggers your brain into burning off your fat stores.

Serious surgical complications is very uncommon and is only a major concern for patients who are at high risk for surgery due to advanced age, a heart condition, severe diabetes or limited mobility. The risk of serious complications runs between 1-3% for most patients. These complications are typically straightforward problems that can be very frightening, but is rarely life threatening. Complications can include:

• Heartburn/ Gerd
• Vomiting
• Iron Deficiency
• Bowel Obstruction/ Internal Hernia
• Marginal Ulcers
• Hair Loss
• Taste Changes
• Gallstones
• Alcoholism

The vast majority of patients undergoing bariatric surgery will spend one night in the hospital.

Most patients undergoing bariatric surgery will experience minor pain but not enough to require them to take pain medication. Those who require medication say they use it for an average of 3-4 days.

Most patients feel ready to return to normal activities, including work, within one week.

Depending on insurance coverage, the process typically takes between 3-6 months.

Your diet will change before bariatric surgery and continue to change after the surgery. Before the surgery you will be required to participate in a pre-op diet that will help prepare your body and organs for surgery. Immediately after surgery you will be placed on a liquid diet. That is followed by soft foods and eventually you will transition to regular whole foods again.

Absolutely! Whether you are interested in revision or our non-surgical weight loss program, we welcome you.

Yes! In fact, your fertility can increase due to the weight loss after surgery.

Yes! Which vitamins you take and for how long you take them is determined by the surgery you elect to have and your nutritional progress after surgery. At Tucson Weight Loss Surgery, we recommend Bariatric Advantage to our patients.

Yes! In addition to the sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass our practice also offers the following surgeries:

• Gallbladder
• Hernia (ventral, inguinal, hiatal, and umbilical)
• Nissen Fundoplication