Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery

North Memorial Health offers a surgical weight loss solution for patients through a fully accredited, integrated bariatric surgery program. With a comprehensive care team providing support before, during, and after the procedure, you can be confident you’re receiving the highest standards of care for patient safety and quality.

What is Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric surgery offers two types of minimally invasive procedures that reduce the size of the stomach, leading to weight loss and improved health.

Why choose North Memorial Health?

Our dedicated team is here to guide and support you while making sure you receive the individualized care you need and deserve throughout the entire journey.

Bariatric Surgery Patients

“The quality of life I have now as compared to how I was feeling and how I was living – bariatric surgery gave me a new lease on life.”

Weight Loss Surgery Guide

This guide aims to answer many of your questions around surgery as you look to begin your weight loss journey.

Topics in the guide include:

  • Checklist to surgery
  • Considerations and requirements for surgery
  • Pre-surgery goals
  • Types of surgeries performed in our program
  • Understanding your insurance coverage
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Start Your Journey

Interested in beginning your weight loss journey? Start here.

Begin your weight loss surgery journey by watching this 30-minute video. The video will give you a clear understanding of the Bariatric and Metabolic weight loss surgery program offered at North Memorial Health, including the types of procedures available, the process leading up to the surgery and the lifestyle changes after the surgery.

To move to the next step in your weight loss surgery journey, you must view this video in its entirety. Once the video is complete, you will be asked to fill out a brief form notifying our care team to contact you to discuss next steps.

Bariatric & metabolic weight loss surgery at North Memorial Health

30 minutes

We ask that you call your health insurance company to find out if weight loss surgery is covered and any requirements you will need to complete prior to your procedure.

Call the telephone number on your membership card and use the following as a guide to help you get a clear idea of your coverage. Take note of the date and time of your call, representative spoken to, and reference number of representative. Here is a list of questions to ask your insurance provider before surgery:

  • Is bariatric (weight loss) surgery covered under my insurance plan if I meet all the criteria needed to have surgery?
  • Is North Memorial Health – Robbinsdale Hospital in network and covered under my insurance plan?
  • Is laparoscopic __________(insert name of surgery) covered? Choose from: Roux-en-y gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy
  • Is nutrition counseling a covered service?
  • What is my maximum out-of-pocket?
  • What is my deductible?

The person you speak with may need the following information:

Diagnosis code: E66.01

CPT codes:
–  Roux-en-y gastric bypass: 43644
–  Sleeve gastrectomy: 43775

Nutrition Counseling
–  97802
–  97803

The average patient may lose about 60 percent of their excess body weight with sleeve gastrectomy surgery and about 65 percent with gastric bypass. Your surgery is considered a success if you lose more than 50 percent of your excess body weight and keep it off.

Most people are successful, as they lose more than 50 percent of their excess body weight and keep it off. The key in your success is dedication to a new lifestyle and follow-up with the bariatric program.

  1. Weight loss improves the quality of a person’s life and can also lengthen it by improving their health in many ways by improving, and sometimes eliminating, weight-related health problems. Besides weight loss and being able to keep a healthy body weight, an additional benefit of weight loss surgery is the ability to control one’s appetite.
  2. Learn more about the guidelines and goals of bariatric weight loss surgery

Any weight loss is difficult, whether it is diet and exercise alone, or undergoing bariatric surgery to help you lose weight. Obesity is a disease that makes losing weight difficult and can make weight-related conditions worse. Obesity is a chronic, progressive disease with genetic and environmental components. Surgery is the most durable and proven way to lose significant amounts of weight and keep it off.

Steps throughout preoperative bariatric surgery program

  1. Online Video
    View online informational video and complete brief form to notify care team to contact you to discuss next steps.
  2. Insurance Verification
    Insurance information will be obtained and verification of benefits completed.
  3. Initial Consult
    Initial consult with surgery team to determine plan of care throughout preoperative program. Insurance guidelines, required appointments, and habits/lifestyle changes reviewed.
  4. Preoperative Preparation
    Preparing for surgery with completion of required appointments and developing habits/lifestyle changes. Clearance to proceed with surgery from all providers obtained throughout required appointments.
  5. Surgeon Visit
    Meet with surgeon for final visit prior to surgery.
  6. Insurance Prior Authorization Approval
    Submission of documents throughout preoperative preparation program to insurance to obtain prior authorization. Once prior authorization is obtained surgery date is schedule.
Graphic depicting the patient roadmap to bariatric surgery. Step 1: Online Video. Step 2: Insurance Verification. Step 3: Initial Consult. Step 4: Preoperative Preparation. Step 5: Surgeon Visit. Step 6: Insurance Prior Authorization Approval. Step 7: Surgery.

Care Team

Our highly trained experts empower you with the knowledge and the support you need to get the healthcare you want.

Kelly Leier

Kelly Leier, RN, BSN

Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery
My passion is to help our patients achieve their best health through education and support.
View Full Bioof Leier, Kelly
Jonathan Gipson headshot

Jonathan Gipson, MD, FACS

Trauma, Acute Care, General Surgery and Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery
I aim to step in and intervene in my patients’ moments of greatest need to restore their health.
View Full Bioof Gipson, Jonathan
Erin Worden

Erin Worden, MD

General Surgery and Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery
I believe in treating the patient as whole, rather than just their disease.
View Full Bioof Worden, Erin
Rachel Miller headshot

Rachel D. Miller, PA-C

Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery
My goal is to provide a quality experience that meets all of the patient’s surgical needs.
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Elizabeth Becker headshot

Elizabeth Becker, APRN/AGNP-C

Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery
I aim to help patients maintain or regain their health.
View Full Bioof Becker, Elizabeth
Vishal Kudav

Vishal Kudav, MD

General Surgery and Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery
My patients are like family; their health and well-being are of utmost importance to me.
View Full Bioof Kudav, Vishal
Munyaradzi Chimukangara headshot

Munyaradzi Chimukangara, MD, FACS

General Surgery and Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery
I care for my patients and their medical concerns with compassion and integrity.
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Ryan Lehmann

Ryan Lehmann, RDN, LD

Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery
Everything in balance.
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Lucian Panait

Lucian Panait, MD

General Surgery and Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery
The most powerful thing patients tell me is: I only wish I did this sooner.
View Full Bioof Panait, Lucian
Sarah Lippert headshot

Sarah Lippert, MD, FACS

General Surgery, Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery, Trauma
I enjoy being able to help people every day.
View Full Bioof Lippert, Sarah

Partnership Practices

Logo for Minnesota Bariatric Center

Minnesota Bariatric Center

Minnesota Bariatric Center provides state-of-the-art comprehensive obesity treatments, ranging from weight loss medication to advanced surgical procedures.

Logo for Specialists in General Surgery (SGS)

Specialists in General Surgery (SGS)

We provide the tools to help you be successful with surgical weight loss and guide you through the process before and after surgery. Providing bariatric surgery at North Memorial Health since 2014.

Logo for Bhatti Weight Loss

Bhatti Weight Loss

Bhatti Weight Loss is a comprehensive weight loss practice offering medical, endoscopic and surgical solutions for patients who suffer from obesity and related illnesses.