Bariatric Surgery
 Mercy Weight Loss & Nutrition Center has been designated a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
“Center of Excellence” distinguished features include:
- Safe bariatric surgical care with excellent short- and long-term outcomes;
- Low rates of complications from surgery;
- Highly experienced minimally-invasive (laparoscopic) physicians, Dr. Mark Smolik and Dr. Steve Cahalan;
- Top quality facilities and technology ;
- Recognition as a “Top Performing Center.”
According to the National Institutes of Health, bariatric surgery is the only long-term effective treatment for morbid obesity. Diets, pills and exercise are not effective for 98% of those patients classified as morbidly obese, which is defined as being 100 pounds over one’s ideal weight and causing such health problems as heart disease, diabetes and depression.
Mercy offers two bariatric surgical procedures, gastric bypass and LAP-BAND®.
Mercy Surgical Affiliates surgeons, Dr. Mark Smolik and
Dr. Steve Cahalan, are highly experienced and advanced minimally-invasive (laparoscopic) surgeons. Together, both surgeons perform over 95 percent of their bariatric surgeries using this minimally-invasive technique, which patients benefit from:
- less scarring;
- shorter hospital stays;
- less blood loss;
- less risk of infection.
Mercy's bariatric surgery program has a team approach to weight loss. Patients meet with physicians, dietitians and psychologists, among other health care specialists, who help evaluate co-morbidities (illnesses or conditions associated with obesity) such as hypertension, heart disease, pulmonary disease, sleep apnea and diabetes. Our bariatric surgery procedures are performed at Mercy Medical Center–West Lakes located in West Des Moines.
Mercy Weight Loss & Nutrition Center has a registered dietitian on staff dedicated to the health and dietary needs of all bariatric surgery patients before and after surgery. .
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