Mercy Bariatric Surgery approaches weight loss by surrounding its patients with a medical and support team. Patients meet with physicians, dietitians and behaviorists, among other health care specialists, who help evaluate co-morbidities (illnesses or conditions associated with obesity) such as hypertension, heart disease, pulmonary disease, sleep apnea and diabetes. Our bariatric surgery procedures are performed at Mercy Medical Center–West Lakes, an MBSAQIP Accredited – Comprehensive Center, located in West Des Moines. Mercy offers three minimally-invasive bariatric surgery procedures: -gastric bypass -gastric banding -gastric sleeve Mercy Surgical Affiliates surgeon, Dr. Mark Smolik is a highly experienced and advanced minimally-invasive (laparoscopic) surgeon. He performs over 99 percent of the bariatric surgeries using this minimally-invasive technique, the benefits of which include: -less scarring; -shorter hospital stays; -less blood loss; -less risk of infection.