St. John’s Bariatric Surgery Program is the region’s only comprehensive program that addresses all phases of your transformation.

Our highly trained multidisciplinary team is here to support you before, during and after your surgery date. We understand that weight loss surgery is not just a procedure, it’s a process that takes time and effort, and we work with you to help you achieve your weight loss goals.

Our commitment to you is to help you fulfill your commitment − to yourself, to your family, to your health and happiness.

Seminars

This free, educational session answers questions about weight-loss surgery and the options available to you at St. John’s. It also introduces you to our preoperative program components and the professionals who will assist you on your journey toward a healthy weight. Call 417-820-3800 to register.

Initial Consultation

Risks, benefits of surgery, and alternatives will be discussed with you in light of your personal health status and medical conditions during your initial one-on-one consultation with the surgeon. Together you will determine if you are a surgical candidate and, if so, which procedure will best meet your personal lifestyle and weight loss goals.

Next Steps

Once your surgeon has determined that you are an appropriate candidate for weight loss surgery, you’ll meet the team members who will play important roles in your preparation for and recovery from surgery. They will help equip you for the physical, emotional and nutritional challenges you’ll face as you take the first steps toward a new, healthier, happier you:

¢ Nutritional consult

A registered dietitian will help you examine your current nutritional intake and will educate you on incorporating necessary changes into your lifestyle depending upon your surgical procedure and your daily nutritional needs. Post-surgery diet stages and guidelines, supplement guidelines for protein and vitamins, and sample meal plans will be discussed.
u Click here to download the Nutrition Guide

¢ Exercise Rehab consult

An exercise physiologist will review the four basic principles of an exercise program – frequency, intensity, time, and type of exercise, and will answer any questions you may have.  A six-minute walk test will be performed during which your heart rhythm, heart rate and oxygen saturation will be monitored. The results of this test are used to create an exercise program best suited to your current individual health conditions and abilities. You’ll also receive education on 1) how to optimize your cardiovascular health before surgery to decrease surgical risks; 2) how to build and maintain your lean body mass to assist in weight loss after surgery.

¢ Psychological consult

Our behavioral health specialists will assess your current support systems and resources, assisting you as you develop a whole new way of living and learn to put new, healthier habits into practice. 

Our behavioral health class will help you identify your individual strengths and areas of concern.  We’ll show you how to use those strengths to break down barriers to weight loss success.  During this class you will have the opportunity to meet patients who have had weight loss surgery, listen as they share their personal experiences with you, and ask questions about their journeys.

Prior to surgery, you and your surgeon will meet again to discuss your progress through this process and answer any final questions you may have.

After Your Surgery

Our post-surgery services include follow-up appointments for nutritional, exercise and psychological support. We also offer a post-surgery support group.