What is a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence?

Bariatric surgery is a serious undertaking, as with any other form of surgery. So as a potential patient, it only makes sense to try and find the most qualified and experienced bariatric surgeon in your area.

But how do you go about it?

One way to find a qualified surgeon is through the Bariatric Surgery Centers of Excellence program, managed by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS). To earn the Center of Excellence designation, a surgery center has to maintain a track record of success as outlined by the ASBS.

To learn about the criteria a bariatric surgery center must meet for this recognition, or to find a Center of Excellence near you, use the links provided below.

Criteria for Bariatric Surgery Centers of Excellence:

• Freestanding outpatient centers
• Hospital-based programs

To find a center near you:

• Surgery center map

What’s the benefit of choosing a designated Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence? First off, we are not recommending for or against such centers. That would violate our often-stated neutrality policy. But the thing to consider here is that a surgery center with a designation like this is more of a “known quantity.” You know they have been reviewed a professional organization against a defined (and rigorous) set of criteria.