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The popularity of weight loss surgery has exploded in recent years. In fact, the number of Americans undergoing surgery for weight loss has quadrupled since the late 90's. As more and more people turn to surgery as the solution for their obesity, the need for consumer information becomes increasingly important.

In the spirit of consumer information, the Bariatric Learning Center has assembled this list of the top twenty questions a person should ask when considering bariatric weight-loss surgery.

1. Do I really need surgery for weight loss success?

Is weight loss surgery the only answer for you, or is there a better path to losing weight? This should be the first question you answer before considering any other question on this list. After all, this is surgery we are talking about here. So before you can decide if surgery for weight loss is right for you, it's wise to ask yourself the next question on this list...

2. Have I exhausted my non-surgical weight-loss options?

Only in very rare cases is surgery the only option for weight loss. For most people, surgery for weight loss is one option of many. Most physicians agree, for example, that good nutrition and exercise are a better and safer alternative to surgery. The question is ... have you exhausted these other non-surgical options for weight loss?

3. Have I really exhausted those other options?

I've repeated this question to stress an important point about non-surgical alternatives to weight loss success -- they are almost always better than the surgical option. Some people will make a half-hearted attempt to lose weight through proper nutrition and exercise, and then give up in frustration. Don't make this same mistake. Before turning to surgery for weight loss you should make a serious effort to lose weight naturally (through better nutrition and exercise). It takes time and effort, but it should always be your first attempt.

4. Do I know the basic concept of weight loss surgery procedures?

There are several types of surgery for weight loss, but they all seek to alter the gastrointestinal / digestive process in some way. Basically, these types of surgeries reduce the stomach's capacity for food, which has a weight-reduction effect over time. For now, it's just important to realize that this is real surgery with physically altering effects. So it should be considered carefully.

5. Do I qualify for bariatric surgery?

Most bariatric surgeons use certain criteria to determine whether or not a person is a good candidate for weight loss surgery. Though these criteria will vary from one surgeon to another, certain standards have emerged over time. Generally, a person will qualify for bariatric surgery when the following conditions have been met:

• The candidate is severely obese with a body mass index over 40.
• The candidate's daily life is hampered by their obesity.
• The candidate has tried but failed to lose weight through non-surgical means.
• The candidate understands the risks associated with surgery for weight loss.

6. Do I understand the risks of weight loss surgery?

Every type of surgery has certain risks associated with it, and that includes surgery for weight loss purposes. Even the laparoscopic techniques, which are considered minimally invasive, have potential risks and complications. When considering surgery as a weight-loss option, you have to look at the big picture and factor in the potential risks.

7. Do I understand the life-changing effects I will face after surgery?

Many people view surgery as a "quick-fix" approach to weight loss. But if you speak to somebody who has had such surgery in the past, they will likely point out that this is not the case. Surgery for weight loss is a life-changing event. After all, you are altering your stomach's capacity and, in some cases, your entire digestive process. Such changes will follow you for life.

8. Have I researched the different types of weight loss surgery?

As medical science advances, the diversity of surgery options will increase as well. This is true of any type of surgery, including those for weight loss. Over the past few years, for example, new types of surgery for weight loss have emerged, giving potential patients more options that ever before.

But this is not car shopping we are talking about here. This is surgery. So while it's always good to have options, it also means you have more homework to do. Each type of bariatric surgery has its pros and cons. So in order to understand them all, you have to do plenty of research.

9. Do I understand minimally invasive versus "open" surgery?

These days, many types of surgery have both a laparoscopic method and an "open surgery" method. Laparoscopic surgery is often referred to as "minimally invasive" surgery because it allows for smaller incisions than an open surgery. Here is the primary difference between these two methods, as they apply to surgery for weight loss...

• Open surgery -- The surgeon gains access through a long incision made in the stomach.
• Laparoscopic surgery -- The surgeon gains access through one or more small incisions in the stomach. A tiny camera is inserted into one of the other incisions so the surgeon can see to perform the surgery.

10. Do I understand restrictive surgery versus malabsorptive surgery?

All forms of bariatric surgery can be classified as either malabsorptive, restrictive, or a combination of the two. It's important to understand these terms, because they will have an impact on your lifestyle and long-term health after your weight loss surgery.

• Malabsorptive weight loss surgery -- This type of surgical procedure alters your digestion process. As a result, it can lead to the incomplete absorption of certain vitamins and minerals from your food.
• Restrictive weight loss surgery -- This type of procedure decreases food consumption by reducing the size of the stomach, usually by dividing the stomach into a small upper pouch (the usable part) and a larger lower portion.
• Combination surgery -- Certain types of surgery for weight loss (such as the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass) are both restrictive and malabsorptive. The Roux-en-Y segments the stomach while also reshaping the intestines, thus it combines both concepts into one surgery.

Malabsorptive and restrictive surgeries both have their advantages and disadvantages, and that they will affect your long-term health in different ways. When considering surgery for weight loss, be sure to consider these two concepts and the effects associated with them.

11. Do I know the cost of weight loss surgery and can I afford it?

Depending on the type of procedure you choose, surgery for weight loss can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000 ... probably more by the time I finish writing this tutorial. So in addition to the health-related considerations you must make, there are financial ones as well. Any discussion about the cost of weight loss surgery will inevitably lead to a discussion about insurance coverage. Thus, it is the next question on our list.

12. Will my insurance cover the cost of surgery (or part of it)?

Due to the ever-increasing popularity of weight loss surgery, more insurance companies are beginning to offer coverage for these surgeries. With that being said, there are still plenty of insurance providers who won't cover surgery for weight loss (or else they make it difficult to obtain such coverage by imposing various restrictions). Fortunately, this is an easy question to answer. You simply have to ask your insurance provider if they would cover the type of procedure you are considering.

13. Have I found a qualified weight loss surgeon?

So, let's assume that (A) you have exhausted your non-surgical options for weight loss, (B) you have researched the various types of surgery and chosen the one that's best for you, and (C) you have determined that your insurance company will cover the cost of surgery.

Now you must ask the question: "Who is going to perform my surgery?" When screening your potential surgeon, find out how much experience he or she has performing the type of surgery for weight loss that you've selected. Choosing the best surgeon may very well mean you'll pay more for the surgery, but isn't your health and wellbeing worth it?

14. Does the surgeon make me feel comfortable?

In many regards, choosing a surgeon for your weight loss procedure is like choosing a surgeon for any other purpose. You want to find a surgeon who is experienced in the field, as well as one who makes you comfortable.

Some weight loss surgeons are highly skilled from a technical standpoint, but lack a pleasant "bedside manner." While other weight loss surgeons are great with people but less experienced in bariatric surgery. You want to find a surgeon with a combination of these qualities, one who is both highly skilled and easy to talk to.

15. How many weight loss surgeries has the doctor performed?

One of the best ways to pre-qualify a potential surgeon is to consider how many surgeries he or she has performed. If your potential surgeon performs surgery for weight loss on a regular basis, he or she will be well versed in the latest techniques and technology (not to mention well-practiced in the actual process of surgery). Obviously, this is something you want in a surgeon.

16. Will my surgeon create a good follow-up plan for me?

When choosing surgery as a weight loss option, it's important to realize that the actual surgery is only the first step of a long path. You will also need to alter your eating habits and, ideally, increase your level of exercise. A weight loss surgeon should establish a post-surgery follow-up plan to help you through all of this, and to monitor your success.

17. What should I do before weight loss surgery to prepare for it?

It's important to realize that your pre-surgery preparations should be mental as well as physical. The physical part of your preparation should be straightforward, because your surgeon should provide you with a pre-surgery checklist to follow. But the mental side of preparation is something that a surgeon may not be able to help you with.

Here are some tips for mental / emotional preparation prior to surgery:

• Learn everything you can about the weight loss surgical procedure you have chosen, especially the steps you should take after surgery. By being a "quasi-expert" on the subject, you will put your mind more at ease.
• Try to establish a relationship with somebody who has undergone surgery for weight loss in the past. This person can offer emotional support as well as firsthand insight into what you can expect afterward.
• Journals are popular among weight loss surgery patients. Many people use them to chronicle their journey, record their reasons for having the surgery, etc. Consider starting one of your own.

18. What happens after weight loss surgery?

Life after surgery will be dramatically different for you, for several reasons. For one thing, your diet and food consumption will change -- often dramatically. That's the whole point of weight loss surgery. Dietary changes are an important consideration after surgery, but there are others as well. You should also learn all you can about the average recovery process for your chosen type of surgery, so you will know what to expect (keeping in mind that different people recover in different ways).

19. What foods should I eat (and avoid) after my weight loss surgery procedure?

Your food intake after bariatric surgery will be dramatically different than it was before surgery. For one thing, you will be eating smaller meals / smaller portions, due to the reduction in stomach capacity. Dietary considerations are also important for another reason. If you undergo a malabsorptive type of weight loss surgery (see question 10 above), you may have to take vitamin or mineral supplements due to a lack of natural absorption.

20. Do I have a post-surgery exercise plan to improve my overall health?

When researching and planning for weight loss surgery, many patients overlook a critical aspect of life after surgery -- exercise. Surgery for weight loss can help you with the gastrointestinal / digestive aspects of weight loss, but it cannot change the lifestyle that led to the weight condition in the first place. You will have to do that yourself, and exercise is a big part of it. Only with a good exercise program can you get the most out of your weight loss surgery experience.

21. Have I committed myself to further learning on this subject?

If you've answered all of the questions above, you will have learned one thing above all else. Bariatric surgery is not a quick fix, but a life-changing event with far-reaching effects. It is therefore important to dedicate yourself to ongoing education on such topics as nutrition and exercise. Remember, surgery for weight loss only addresses the gastrointestinal / digestive aspects of losing weight. It's up to you to address the lifestyle factors that led to the excess weight in the first place.

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Brandon Cornett is the publisher of Bariatric Learning Center, an informative website with news, articles and resources related to weight loss surgery. To learn more about surgery for weight loss and related topics, visit http://www.bariatriclearningcenter.com