Surgical Treatment of Obesity

Once an obese patient has failed attempts at diet modification, physical activity, pharmacologic treatment, and possibly even complementary and alternative therapies, the next step is to consider surgical management. Treatment plans must be customized for individual patients and should involve evaluation by the primary care provider, a dietician, psychologist, and surgeon. Then depending on the individual's needs, comorbidities, and candidacy, a specific surgical intervention may be necessary. These procedures are restrictive, malabsorptive, and a combination of both. Each procedure has its own short-term and long-term complications and must be monitored for the rest of the individual's life.