Weight Loss (Bariatric) Surgery
It’s important to understand that obesity is a disease. It’s a life-long, progressive condition marked by excess body fat, which can significantly reduce life expectancy. Anyone weighing 20 percent or more than their healthy weight is considered obese. Those who are 100 pounds or more over their healthy weight are considered morbidly obese.
Four of the ten leading causes of death in the United States are related to obesity, including coronary artery disease, type II diabetes, stroke and some cancers. Many people who suffer from obesity struggle daily with related conditions like high blood pressure, sleep apnea and depression.
With bariatric surgery at Cone Health, patients have a partner—inspiring new hope for long-term success.
Nationally Recognized Weight Loss Surgery Program
When you choose Cone Health for your surgery, you can be confident you’ll receive the highest-quality bariatric care because we’re accredited as a Comprehensive Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP).
Cone Health's bariatrics program also holds the following recognitions from the top four health plans in North Carolina:
Aetna Institute of Quality (IOQ) for Bariatric Surgery- BlueCross BlueShield Blue Distinction Center Plus (+) for Bariatric Surgery
- Cigna Designated Facility for Bariatric Surgery
- UnitedHealthcare Center of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery
Together with our surgical partners, we’ve helped thousands of North Carolinians lose excess weight and improve their health. Trust Cone Health for safe, effective bariatric surgery and follow-up care that helps you conquer obesity.
Coordinated, Supportive Care
Depend on your team at Cone Health to help you through every stage of surgical weight management—from deciding whether bariatric surgery’s right for you to making healthy choices after surgery so you can reach your long-term goals.
Bariatric Procedures Offered at Cone Health
Depending on the procedure, bariatric surgery changes the size and shape of your stomach and may reduce the length of your small intestine. The goal Is to limit the amount of food you can eat or absorb. There are there three laparoscopic procedures currently performed by Central Carolina Surgery bariatrics surgeons: adjustable gastric band, roux-en-y bypass and sleeve gastrectomy.
Gastric sleeve
Gastric sleeve surgery is a relatively new type of bariatric surgery that can also be performed laparoscopically. The operation permanently removes 75 to 85 percent of the stomach, leaving a small cylinder of stomach that restricts the amount of food that can be eaten. Removal of a large portion of the stomach may affect hunger by changing stomach hormones and by causing food to reach the last loop of the small intestine more quickly, where signals of hunger are mediated. Early weight loss outcome studies are promising.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
Considered the “gold standard” in weight loss surgery, the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (pronounced roo-in-why) or RYGB, is the most common bariatric surgery procedure performed in the United States. Long-term studies demonstrate substantial sustained weight loss after the Roux-en-Y procedure. Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass changes the size and shape of the stomach. The surgeon applies staples across the stomach to create a small pouch at the top of the stomach to receive food. The remainder of the stomach is not removed, but is bypassed.
A segment of the small intestine is attached to the pouch, so that food bypasses the rest of the stomach as well as the first part of the small intestine. This decreases the amount of calories you absorb. Based on certain criteria, many medical insurance plans cover RYGB surgery.
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass results average about 60 percent loss of excess body weight. The average hospital stay after a Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass is 1-2 days.
LAP-BAND® adjustable gastric banding
The Lap-Band® method involves the placement of an inflatable, adjustable silicone band around the upper part of the stomach to create a small pouch that can hold only a small amount of food. The lower, larger part of the stomach is below the band. The amount of restriction is controlled by adding or removing saline from the band. Food will pass from the upper stomach pouch to the lower part more slowly, causing you to feel “full” longer. Lap-Band® procedures are minimally invasive, so patients experience reduced surgical trauma, less pain and minimal scarring, as well as a shorter recovery time. Most patients spend one night in the hospital.
Whenever possible, your bariatric surgeon will perform your bariatric surgery using laparoscopic, or minimally invasive, techniques. That means you benefit from a lower risk of complications, less pain and scarring, and a faster recovery.
Steps to Weight Loss Surgery
Take your first steps toward bariatric surgery by registering for an in-person or online weight loss seminar. During this seminar, you’ll learn about the health risks associated with obesity, discover how bariatric surgery can help, review pre-surgery requirements, and more.
Following the seminar, you can make an appointment for a personal consultation.
Throughout your journey, you’ll enjoy coordinated care from experienced bariatric surgeons, nurses, behavioral health specialists, dietitians and other providers.
Paying for Your Procedure
Our costs and insurance guidelines are designed to make surgical weight loss as convenient as possible for our patients. We will do everything we can to make you fully aware of the financial obligations of the surgery. Contact your insurance carrier to ask about coverage for bariatric surgery and the co-pay amounts you’ll be responsible for. We recommend you get written confirmation that specifically states you have the coverage for your records.
Your co-pay, coinsurance and deductible, if applicable, must be paid two weeks prior to surgery. If your actual charges exceed this amount, you will be billed for the balance after surgery. If your actual charges are less than the estimated amount, you will receive a refund. Any delinquent account balances with Cone Health must be paid in full before having surgery.
We are committed to helping as many patients as possible. You’ll find that our bariatric surgery prices are competitive within the region.
All your Cone Health accounts must be paid in full before your surgery. Learn about our patient financial services.
