Bariatric Surgery at UChicago Medicine

Key Takeaways

Bariatric surgery, also called metabolic bariatric surgery, is a safe, durable and minimally invasive tool to help you lose weight, keep it off and improve your overall health and function.
Our team of expert surgeons, nurses and dietitians provides coordinated, personalized care that is lifelong and tailored to your goals and medical needs, including complex cases.
Telemedicine and flexible appointment options make it easier to take the next step in your weight loss journey.

In addition to helping you lose weight, bariatric surgery can improve health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, joint pain, heart disease and sleep apnea. It may also reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer.

Our team provides personalized care and advanced surgical and medical options to support long-term weight loss and overall health.

Meet Our Bariatric Surgery Team

How Do I Know if Bariatric Surgery Is Right for Me?

Bariatric surgery may be a good option for you if you have not been able to lose enough weight or keep it off with diet, exercise or weight loss medications, especially if weight-related health conditions are affecting your daily life.

It can also be an alternative to weight loss medications if you prefer to avoid injections, do not want long-term medication use or if your insurance does not cover them and prefer not to pay out of pocket.

For patients looking to lose 50 pounds or more, bariatric surgery may also be considered since nonsurgical approaches, including weight loss medications, may not be enough to achieve and maintain this level of weight loss.

You do not have to figure this out on your own. Our team will take time to understand your goals, answer your questions and help you decide whether surgery is right for you.

We work with you to build a care plan that fits your needs and supports long-term success.

Explore Weight Loss Surgery Options

Minimally Invasive Bariatric Surgery

Our surgeons use minimally invasive techniques that involve incisions less than half an inch in size. This often means:

Less pain
Faster recovery
Fewer complications

UChicago Medicine has been a leader in bariatric surgery for more than 30 years. Our surgeons have introduced advanced procedures in the Chicago area and continue to care for patients with complex needs, including organ transplant candidates and patients who need significant weight loss before additional treatments such as joint replacement or abdominal wall hernia repair.

No matter your starting point, our team will guide you every step of the way.

National Leaders in Bariatric Care

UChicago Medicine is known for its team-based, personalized approach to bariatric care. We treat obesity as a chronic condition and create a plan tailored to each patient.

Our program is also a destination for complex cases. Doctors from across the country refer patients to us for specialized care for their most difficult cases.

Care for Patients with Complex Medical Needs

If you have other health conditions, you can still be a candidate for bariatric surgery.

You will have access to specialists across many areas, including:

Our teams work together to make sure your care is safe, coordinated and focused on your overall health.

Recognized for Quality and Safety

Our bariatric surgery program meets or exceeds high national standards for safety and outcomes. We have been recognized by leading organizations since 2006, including:

Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery
Aetna Institute of Quality Designation
Cigna Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence
American College of Surgeons

These recognitions reflect our dedicated focus on quality care and long-term results.

Bariatric Surgery and Telemedicine

We offer virtual visits so you can meet with your care team from home. You can connect by phone or secure video using your smartphone, tablet or computer.

Telemedicine makes it easier to get answers, stay on track and receive expert care without traveling.

Schedule a Virtual or In-Person Visit

Frequently Asked Questions About Bariatric Surgery

What does bariatric surgery do?

Is bariatric surgery safe?

How much weight can I lose?

Will I need to change my lifestyle?

Can I have surgery if I have other health conditions?

Take the First Step

Choosing bariatric surgery is a big decision, but you do not have to make it alone. Our team is here to support you with clear guidance, expert care and a plan built around your goals.

Call Us: 773-702-1618

Request an Appointment

Thank you for your interest in bariatric surgery. Please complete this form, and one of our Bariatric Intake Coordinators will contact you shortly. You may also reach us directly at 773-702-1618. Please allow up to two business days for a member of our team to get in touch with you.

If you have symptoms of an urgent nature, please call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.

By submitting this form you acknowledge the risk of sending this information by email and agree not to hold the University of Chicago or University of Chicago Medical Center liable for any damages you may incur as a result of the transfer or use of this information. The use or transmittal of this form does not create a physician-contact relationship. More information regarding the confidentiality of this request can be found in our Privacy Policy.

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Locations for Bariatric Surgery

Controlling Diabetes and Weight

Gastric bypass surgery helps woman achieve health goals after decades of struggle.

Video Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING] And that has drastically changed my life. I mean, not to have to take insulin shots. I feel significantly better. Lynn Yanow was taking four insulin shots a day. It was the only way she could control her diabetes. I feel better emotionally, physically, and I'm just I'm very, very pleased. Now Lynn is much lighter and off most of her medications including those four insulin shots. As of today, I've lost and I'm very excited about that. I would maybe like to lose another 10, but everyone tells me that I should leave it be. Lynn chose the bariatric program at the University of Chicago Medicine, one of the leading programs in the country. She had the gastric bypass procedure and is very happy with the results. The reason that I chose University of Chicago Medicine is because they had a program-- Dr. Hussain had a program to go along with the bypass. You had to go to classes. You had to follow up. I mean, there was the whole plan. What differentiates us from everybody else is, I think, our experience, our judgment, and our comprehensive evaluation of patients. UChicago Medicine offers many options for weight loss. Some of those options include surgery, there's sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, and a procedure for extremely heavy patients that is only done at about 1% of the centers in the country that's called the duodenal switch. As an institution, we are providing a wide array of options for patients who are trying to lose weight, whether it's that to lose after Christmas or it's that 200 pounds that you know you've accumulated over years. Each of these procedures requires a team approach. The patient will work with several caregivers to assess their challenges and provide solutions. There is also follow up after the procedure to make sure the patient has the right support to keep the weight off. So at a single hospital visit, they will see the surgical team. They will see our bariatric dietitians, as well as our psychologists. And so it's a one-stop-shop, if you will. Weight loss isn't easy. And the patients who participate in the surgical program have struggled with their situations for years prior. But the positive news is there is hope. And it can be a lasting change. Despite all of our biases, we don't know why people are overweight. It's easy to say they eat more food than they actually burn off. And while that may be true, we don't understand why some patients are more efficient at burning off food than others. Obesity is a complex issue. It has to do with your genes, what you're eating, what your habits are, what your social behavior is, what your psychological situation is. So it's a complex issue. So it doesn't have just one solution. Surgery happens to be the most effective way to help people lose weight. But we realize it doesn't function in a vacuum. Lynn's family is happy with her outcome, as well. It has changed her life and helped her to a healthier existence. Since I did the surgery, I feel much better about myself. I am much more confident. I do a lot more things. I do double-takes in the mirror every time I walk by a window-- every time. I absolutely do not believe that I look like this. And I feel very, very good about it. [MUSIC PLAYING]