Life-changing weight loss

Watch our on-demand webinar to see if weight loss surgery is right for you.

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Call us at 844-909-7768 or complete the form to schedule your consultation.

Bariatric Wellness Center

Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center
501 S Buena Vista St, North Tower, 1st Floor, Burbank, CA 91505
7822.7 miles away
844-909-7768
844-909-7768
Mon - Fri: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Bariatric Wellness Center

Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center
Mon - Fri: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Start Your Journey Services Am I A Candidate? Support Groups
Start Your Journey

More energy. Better health. Greater well-being. There’s so much to gain from losing the weight. We can help you achieve it.

The Bariatric Wellness Center at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center offers a comprehensive surgical weight loss program tailored specifically to you. Through our holistic approach to care, you’ll receive physical, nutritional, emotional and spiritual support before, during and after your weight loss surgery to help you realize the health gains you deserve. 

Our compassionate team of caregivers works diligently to provide high-quality care that earns your respect and trust. Your journey to weight loss is important to us.

Ready to take the next step?
  1. Register for our on-demand webinar to learn what you can expect from weight loss surgery.
  2. After you watch the webinar, check your insurance plan to ensure your policy covers weight loss surgery at Providence hospitals. While many insurance plans cover weight loss surgery, it’s important to understand your benefits – and how to receive them. 
  3. Call us at 844-909-7768 or complete the form to schedule your consultation today.

The Bariatric Wellness Center offers several surgical options, as well as ongoing education and support for every patient. Our services include:

  • Minimally invasive surgery
  • Gastric banding
  • Vertical sleeve gastrectomy
  • Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
  • Extensive gastric bypass (biliopancreatic diversion)
  • Body contouring
  • Specialized psychological care
  • Customized exercise programs
  • Counseling with registered dietitians
  • Patient and family resources
  • Preparing for surgery guidelines

According to guidelines established by the National Institutes of Health, you may be a candidate for bariatric surgery if at least one of these applies to you:

  • You weigh 100 or more pounds over ideal body weight
  • Your body mass index (BMI) is greater than 40, or greater than 35 if you also have a serious weight-related health condition such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea or hypertension
  • You have weight-related problems and restrictions in mobility related to work and performance of family responsibilities
  • Calculate BMI

Whether you’ve had weight loss surgery or you’re preparing for surgery, you are invited to attend any of our three support groups:

  • General Bariatric Support Group – twice monthly
  • Mindful Eating, Mindful Living – monthly
  • One Year Post-Operative and Beyond – monthly

Registration is not required, and attendance is free. You are always welcome to bring a friend or family member. 

All groups meet at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Jaromir Strizka Conference Room 1. Please check with the information desk in case the meeting room has changed. 

If you have questions about support groups, call our office at 818-848-8311.

View All Support Groups

Find a Doctor

At Providence, you'll have access to a vast network of dedicated and compassionate providers who offer personalized care by focusing on treatment, prevention and health education.

Female doctor wearing mask, doctors in background

Recognition

American College of Surgeons - Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) Accredited Bariatric Surgery Center

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Blue Distinction Center - Bariatric Surgery

Weight Loss Surgery at Providence

When it comes to weight loss surgery, you have choices. Providence can help with a program tailored to your weight loss goals. Register for our on-demand webinar to learn more about your options.

Once you’ve watched the webinar, our staff will work with you to evaluate whether surgery is right for you.

Access Webinar

Learn about Injectable Weight Loss Medications

GLP-1 medications are a new, innovative class of injectable weight loss drugs. Explore how their criteria and results compare to the benefits of bariatric surgery.

This will help you start a conversation about medical weight loss with your primary care doctor. They can refer you to a medical weight loss expert – like a bariatrician or bariatric surgeon – for guidance on which option might be the best choice for you.

Woman exercising

You could be eligible for GLP-1s if you meet one of the following criteria:

  • Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is 30 or higher.
  • Your BMI is 27 or higher and you have other medical conditions like arthritis, asthma, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and/or sleep apnea.

By comparison, you qualify for bariatric surgery if:

  • Your BMI is 40 or higher.
  • Or your BMI is 35 or higher and you have other medical conditions like arthritis, asthma, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and/or sleep apnea.

GLP-1s can be more accessible to patients who don’t qualify for bariatric surgery but still want a substantial weight loss solution.

However, on average, GLP-1s were tested on a population with lower BMIs. For example, they haven’t been tested on those with a BMI of over 45. So, if your BMI is 40 or higher, and you’re potentially considering the use of a GLP-1, it might not lower your risk of certain conditions – like heart disease or cancer – the same way as bariatric surgery.

GLP-1s help you lose weight gradually over time. You can expect moderate weight loss of 5-15% of your overall body weight. Once you reach your goal weight, you must keep taking the medication to maintain it.

With bariatric surgery, you’ll see weight loss more quickly in a larger amount. On average, patients may lose an average of 30% of their overall body weight.

Keep in mind that other factors, like lifestyle changes and eating habits, can affect how quickly you lose weight – no matter which weight loss option you choose.

If you’re considering medical weight loss, keep in mind that it could be a lifelong commitment.

Once you reach your goal weight with a GLP-1 medication, you need to keep taking it to maintain that weight. You also need regular monitoring from your physician.

It’s important to note that GLP-1s haven't been evaluated for long-term use. All studies have been for short-term use, so doctors don't currently know how long a patient is able to stay on a GLP-1.

Bariatric surgery is the only medical weight loss treatment that has been evaluated for long-term use and is proven to help sustain weight loss. The results of bariatric surgery are long-lasting, especially if you make the necessary lifestyle changes. This surgery also requires pre- and post-surgical care.

You’ll need to check with your insurance company. Some plans might cover GLP-1 medications but require prior authorization.

Bariatric surgery is generally covered by insurance if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Success Story

Jessica knew that her health had been heading in the wrong direction. Lap Band surgery, combined with a healthy lifestyle, helped her lose 75 pounds. She couldn’t run a mile before surgery, but now she clocks a few miles several times a week.

Frequently Asked Questions

In addition to improving the overall quality of your health, losing excess weight could help you sleep better, have more energy and a more positive outlook.

It may also prevent or improve some obesity-related conditions, including:

  • Asthma
  • Cancer
  • Depression
  • Heart and lung disease
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Liver disease
  • Migraines
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Joint pain
  • Type 2 diabetes

Requirements may differ based on your health condition and insurance rules.

You might be a candidate for weight loss surgery if:

  • You have a body mass index (BMI) over 40 or a BMI of 35-40 with obesity-related conditions like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea or high cholesterol.
  • You have no endocrine causes of obesity.
  • Your risk for surgery is acceptable.
  • You understand the surgery and its risks.
  • You have no drug or alcohol problems.
  • You have no uncontrolled psychological conditions.
  • You have been unsuccessful with other attempts at medical weight loss through diets or other lifestyle options.

You might not be a candidate if:

  • You have a current drug or alcohol problem.
  • You use tobacco or nicotine products.
  • You have uncontrolled psychological conditions.
  • You plan to become pregnant in the next 18 months.
  • Your surgeon determines that you’re not healthy enough for surgery.

After surgery, you’ll spend one or two nights in the hospital. You’ll meet for regular check-ins with your care team at least every 12 weeks for the first year.

Then, we recommend following up with the team each year, or more often if needed.

After you watch the weight loss surgery webinar, it’s best to reach out to your insurance provider and see if you’re covered.

Access the webinar.

After you verify your weight loss surgery benefits, call our clinic at the number above to discuss your next steps. If you’re ready to move forward, we can schedule your initial visits to determine if surgery is right for you.

If you don’t have weight loss surgery insurance benefits, you do have the option to self-finance your procedure and pay for treatment with cash or a credit card.

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