Where in Alberta can I have bariatric surgery?
There are 5 Alberta Health Services bariatric clinics that offer bariatric surgery:
- Grande Prairie Adult Bariatric Specialty Clinic
- Edmonton Adult Bariatric Specialty Clinic
- Red Deer Bariatric Specialty Clinic
- Calgary Adult Bariatric Surgery Clinic
- Medicine Hat Bariatric Specialty Clinic
These clinics will help you decide if bariatric surgery is a treatment option for you. Being a patient at one of these clinics does not mean that bariatric surgery is the best treatment option for you.
What happens at a bariatric clinic?
At an Alberta Health Services bariatric clinic, you may meet with the following healthcare providers:
- doctor or nurse practitioner
- bariatric surgeon
- nurse
- dietitian
- social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist
- occupational therapist
- physiotherapist
Your healthcare providers will talk to you about bariatric surgery and help you decide if it’s the right treatment for you.
How do I get an appointment at a bariatric clinic?
You’ll need a referral from your healthcare provider before you can go to an Alberta Health Services bariatric clinic.
Even if you get an appointment at a bariatric clinic, it doesn’t mean that you’ll have bariatric surgery. The healthcare team will help you decide if bariatric surgery is a good option for you.
How long will I have to wait before I get bariatric surgery?
If surgery is the best treatment option for you, how long you wait for surgery depends on many things. Your healthcare team will let you know how long you have to wait for bariatric surgery.
Is there anywhere else to get bariatric surgery outside of Alberta Health Services?
Bariatric surgery is offered in private clinics across Canada. It’s also offered in many places all over the world. Travelling out of country for some types of medical procedures is called medical tourism.
You’ll need to pay to have bariatric surgery at a private clinic. If you have bariatric surgery at a private clinic away from home, it may not be easy to have follow-up care with them after surgery. This could put you at risk for problems after your surgery (complications) or have an impact on your surgery outcome.
If you’re thinking about having bariatric surgery at a private clinic, talk to your healthcare provider.
More information
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bariatric surgery in Alberta.
