Bariatric (weight-loss) surgery

Bariatric surgery is designed to help people lose and keep off large amounts of weight to improve health and quality of life.

Being severely overweight increases the risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, sleep apnea, cancer, and depression. If attempts at serious weight reduction have failed, you may be a candidate for bariatric surgery.

Is bariatric surgery right for you?

Bariatric surgery at Community Hospital begins with a free informational meeting for anyone interested in weight-loss surgery. Prospective patients then:

Are evaluated individually by a surgeon
Receive dietary and psychological counseling
Undergo medical testing to assess overall health and fitness for surgery

Prospective patients are also encouraged to attend a support group meeting before surgery to hear from people who have undergone bariatric surgery.

Weight-loss success

Delia Edeza's decision to have weight-loss surgery didn't come easily.

Bariatric surgery is life-changing

Debbie Tracy lost weight and was able to give up 11 medications, including insulin as a result of her bariatric surgery.

A lot to lose

Learn how Vivian Duffy, a single mother of three lost 134 pounds and the threats of diabetes and high blood pressure have subsided.

More About Our Program

Our bariatric program started in 2001 and since then more than 2,000 weight-loss surgeries have been done. The program is accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP).

We provide safe procedures performed by experienced surgeons, as well as comprehensive nutritional counseling and psychological support - critical in maintaining weight loss and good health. The most frequently performed bariatric operations at Community Hospital are:

laparoscopic gastric bypass
sleeve gastrectomy

We also perform revisional weight-loss surgery when necessary and we have a special interest and expertise in caring for seriously overweight people who need non-weight-loss surgery, as well.

The bariatric program is directed by Dr. Steven S. Chang, who completed a fellowship in minimally invasive/bariatric surgery at University of California, San Francisco and Fresno and is board-certified in general surgery. Dr. Chang is a member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

Mark Vierra, MD, has performed bariatric surgery since 1991, when he established the bariatric surgery program at Stanford University Medical Center. In 2001, he moved his practice to Monterey, and has performed more than 3,350 bariatric procedures.

In additional to surgical expertise, our comprehensive program includes dietitians, psychologists and psychiatrists, physical therapists, and multiple support groups, enabling us to care for all of the needs of people undergoing weight-loss surgery.