If you’ve been unable to lose weight, you may be wondering if weight-loss surgery is right for you.

Weight-loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, refers to procedures such as gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy. These procedures change your digestive system to promote weight loss.

“The ultimate goal of any weight-loss surgery is to reduce health risks related with obesity,” says Dr. Sara Shields Tarwater, a bariatric surgeon at Tidelands Health.

Weight-loss surgery may reduce a patient’s risk of premature death by up to 50 percent, according to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. And the success rate of weight-loss surgery — meaning a patient loses and keeps off 50 percent of their excess weight — is 90 percent.

But it’s not an easy fix. Like all procedures, weight-loss surgery carries risks and side effects, and patients must be committed to making permanent lifestyle changes.

The care team at Tidelands Health can help you determine if you’re a good candidate for weight-loss surgery. Considering weight-loss surgery? Think about how you’d answer these questions.

Generally, providers consider weight-loss surgery for patients with a body mass index, or BMI, of 40 or more, or patients with a BMI of 35 or more who also have a serious health problem linked to obesity, such as diabetes, heart disease or sleep apnea. In some cases, patients with lower BMIs can be considered.

“It can be harder for obese patients to lose weight, even if they’re eating healthy and exercising regularly,” Dr. Shields Tarwater says. “Weight-loss surgery changes certain hormones to help you lose weight and helps your body sustain the benefits of healthy habits.”

Weight-loss surgery isn’t a quick fix. Patients who have surgery will follow a specific diet immediately after the procedure and commit to long-term healthy habits to be successful. Patients may also need regular follow-up visits and to take extra vitamins or minerals.

Most patients have sustained weight loss and improved quality of life.

“It can seem daunting, but the risks of obesity typically outweigh the risks of the surgery,” says Dr. Shields Tarwater.

Learn more at tidelandshealth.org or 1-866-TIDELANDS.