Bariatric Surgery: Overview of Procedures and Outcomes

Bariatric surgery has been demonstrated to be the single most effective weight loss therapy available. These therapies are now very well standardized and the evidence demonstrating their efficacy is overwhelming. Advancements in minimally invasive surgery and overall surgical experience have led to a significant decrease in perioperative mortality, and the benefits of bariatric surgery on life expectancy are therefore likely to be even more positive today. Bariatric surgery has been shown to have comparable morbidity and mortality risks to other commonly performed procedures like cholecystectomy, hernia repairs, appendectomy, and hip arthroplasty.