Mayo Clinic's approach

Teamwork

A team of medical experts, including endocrinologists, surgeons, dietitians and psychologists, helps identify candidates who could most benefit from surgery and works intensively with you before and after surgery to help achieve a long-lasting result. In some cases, follow-up care can be conducted by your hometown healthcare team, working closely with the Mayo team.

Bariatric expertise

The Mayo Clinic team has a combined experience of more than 75 years of caring for people undergoing bariatric surgery.

Minimally invasive approach

Mayo Clinic uses minimally invasive techniques for sleeve gastrectomy whenever possible. This approach offers smaller cuts, less pain, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery than traditional open surgery.

Comprehensive, holistic care

In addition to sleeve gastrectomy, you may receive treatment from other Mayo Clinic specialists, including nutrition therapy, behavior modification and pharmacotherapy. For out-of-state patients, Mayo Clinic offers efficient, condensed scheduling. Mayo Clinic will work with providers in your area to meet your needs.

Expertise and rankings

Experience

Surgeons at all three Mayo Clinic locations perform nearly 500 sleeve gastrectomies each year.

Complex cases

Mayo Clinic specializes in repairing problems resulting from previous bariatric surgery, and performing bariatric surgery in patients with complicated medical histories who may not qualify for surgery at other institutions.

Nationally recognized expertise

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, continues to be accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program as a comprehensive center with adolescent qualifications — the highest level of accreditation in bariatric surgery. Because of this accreditation, Mayo Clinic also has met Medicare's facility standards for bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery accreditation promotes standard benchmarks and supports continuous quality improvement.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, ranks No. 1 for digestive disorders in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, are ranked among the Best Hospitals for digestive disorders by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic Children's Center in Rochester is ranked the No. 1 hospital in Minnesota, and the five-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2024–2025 "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings.

Locations, travel and lodging

Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.

For more information on visiting Mayo Clinic, choose your location below:

Costs and insurance

Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people.

In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.

Learn more about appointments at Mayo Clinic.

Please contact your insurance company to verify medical coverage and to obtain any needed authorization prior to your visit. Often, your insurer's customer service number is printed on the back of your insurance card.

More information about billing and insurance:

Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota

Mayo Clinic Health System

Aug. 02, 2024
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  6. Bariatric surgery procedures. American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. https://asmbs.org/patients/bariatric-surgery-procedures. Accessed June 8, 2020.
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  8. Office of Patient Education. Nutrition guidelines after your bariatric surgery or endoscopic procedure. Mayo Clinic; 2019.
  9. Office of Patient Education. Bariatric surgery. Mayo Clinic; 2017.
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