Getting Started
Not sure where to begin? Start here with the basics of bariatric surgery, how it works, and which type might be right for you.
14 guides
Bariatric surgery, explained step by step.
149 plain-English guides across 18 topics, from your first question through life years after surgery. Start with the first guide, or choose the stage that fits you.
Start at guide 1: What is bariatric surgery?Written in plain EnglishNo jargon to decode first.
Reviewed and datedEvery guide carries its review line and last update.
Sources on every pageCited so you can check them yourself.
Everything in the Information Center
14 numbered tabs and 4 for reference · 149 guides
What the surgery is, who qualifies, what it costs, and how to weigh the risks.
Procedure Guides
The operations performed today, how each one works, what the results actually look like, and how to tell which one fits your situation.
8 guides
GLP-1 Medications
Semaglutide, tirzepatide and the new oral options, and how they fit alongside bariatric surgery. What the evidence shows, what they cost, and what to tell your surgical team.
11 guides
Insurance and Cost
What surgery costs, how to find out whether your plan covers it, how to get approved, and what to do when a claim is denied.
8 guides
Choosing a surgeon, the pre-op diet, and what to pack.
Preparing for Surgery
Everything you need to know before surgery, from pre-op diets and packing lists to how to choose the right surgeon.
7 guides
Recovery, eating again, supplements, complications, and the years that follow.
Surgery Day and Recovery
What to expect on surgery day and in the days and weeks after. Recovery tips, pain management, and healing timelines.
11 guides
Complications and Warning Signs
What can go wrong, how often it actually happens, the symptoms that mean you should call your surgeon, and the follow-up that catches problems early.
8 guides
Post-Op Diet and Nutrition
Learn how to eat after surgery with step-by-step diet stages, sample menus, and protein tips to support healing and weight loss.
15 guides
Vitamins and Supplements
Understand what supplements you need after surgery, how to take them, and how to avoid common deficiencies.
6 guides
Fitness and Exercise
When you can move again after surgery, how to protect lean mass while you lose weight, and how to start when exercise has never been part of your life.
4 guides
Weight Maintenance and Regain
Tips and strategies to maintain your weight loss and handle regain if it happens. Includes sample menus and pouch reset info.
4 guides
Mental Health and Behavior
The psychological evaluation, alcohol, binge eating, body image and what the evidence really says about transfer addiction.
5 guides
Plastic Surgery and Skin
Loose skin, the rashes and infections it causes, what the body contouring operations involve, and what it takes to get skin removal covered.
3 guides
Life After Bariatric Surgery
Understand what changes after surgery, including physical recovery, emotional shifts, lifestyle habits, and long term support to help you stay on track.
14 guides
For people weighing a second operation or travelling for care.
Revision Surgery
Considering a second surgery? Explore your options, learn when revision makes sense, and what recovery looks like.
6 guides
Surgery in Mexico
Learn about having surgery in Mexico, what’s typically included in the cost, and how to find a safe, reliable provider.
5 guides
Short answers, plus the things that help you keep track.
Frequently Asked Questions
Straightforward answers to your most common questions about life before and after bariatric surgery.
14 guides
Tools and Resources
Your go-to section for vitamins, support groups, trusted products, tracking tools, and more.
6 guides
Most opened guides
All topicsThe guides other members opened most.
01
Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories: Real Patients, Real Results
Getting Started
02
Understanding Food Addiction and Cross-Addictions After WLS
Getting Started
03
How to Choose a Bariatric Surgeon
Preparing for Surgery
04
Mindset and Motivation for Long-Term Weight Loss Success
Life After Bariatric Surgery
05
What Happens on the Day of Surgery
Surgery Day and Recovery
06
Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery
Post-Op Diet and Nutrition
07
The Lap Band: What Happened, and What To Do If You Still Have One
Procedure Guides
08
Post Op Diet Stages Explained
Post-Op Diet and Nutrition
09
How Your Relationship with Food May Change
Life After Bariatric Surgery
10
Body Image After Weight Loss Surgery
Mental Health and Behavior
11
When Weight Regain Happens and What to Do About It
Weight Maintenance and Regain
12
Pre Op Diet Overview
Preparing for Surgery