Having surgery is the most effective way to lose weight and to maintain that for the rest of your life. The success rate for weight loss surgery can be as high as 90%, but that really depends on the patient and how well they continue following this lifestyle change. The most important thing for the patient to remember is to remain engaged with either their physician or the weight loss surgeon that performed their operation. By that we mean that the patient should continue to come to the office for support groups and nutritional groups and for routine follow ups with their weight loss surgeon. Patients that remain engaged with the practice that performed their operation are definitely the most successful in terms of long term weight loss.