Obesity doesn't just affect the way you look; it also compromises your quality of life. Because of excess weight, you may find yourself avoiding things you used to enjoy such as exercising or spending time with your family and friends. Excess weight can also impair your health, take away your confidence and rob you of the life you deserve. But there is hope.

The decision to undergo weight-loss (bariatric) surgery can be a difficult one. However, if you have been unable to achieve sustained weight loss with diet and exercise, surgery may be your best option. The Bariatric Center at CMC-Mercy will work with you to determine if this life-changing procedure is right for you. We offer a comprehensive multi-disciplinary bariatric program with experts dedicated to guiding you through the entire weight loss surgical process.

Bariatric Center promises hope for obesity Losing weight takes a lifelong commitment to making permanent lifestyle changes, but for those who are severely obese, metabolic factors can make this an impossible task. More than just a cosmetic concern, obesity now is at near-epidemic levels and obesity-related diseases are a leading contributor of death nationwide. Here, Dr. Keith Gersin, director of the Bariatric Center at CMC-Mercy, discusses various options available through the Center. Listen now

Life-changing results
Thanks to the Bariatric Center, more patients are losing more weight than they ever thought possible with diet and exercise alone. Patients who undergo weight loss surgery typically lose 70 percent of their excess weight in the first eight months post-surgery. Our patients often see health benefits such as lowered cholesterol, lowered blood pressure and lowered incidence of diabetes, and enjoy other benefits as well such as better self-esteem, more self-confidence and increased satisfaction with life. Indeed, for many of our patients who suffer from such weight-related diseases such as heart disease, high cholesterol, degenerative arthritis and sleep apnea, our patients report improvements  in their overall health and well-being.

Quality care matters 
Deciding to undergo surgical weight loss is a big decision, but deciding where to have doesn't have to be. The Bariatric Center at CMC-Mercy is among many in Charlotte designated as a Center of Excellence by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. This designation comes as a result of The Bariatric Center’s comprehensive pre-operative patient evaluation, excellent surgical outcomes, careful and long term post-operative patient support and follow-up and continuous improvement of care, outcomes and patient satisfaction. Our comprehensive team of bariatric specialists are honored to hold this designation.  

With this designation as an Obesity Center of Excellence, the Bariatric Center at ensures that our services meet the guidelines from the National Institute of Health and the American Society of Bariatric Surgery.

Key components of the guidelines include:

• A thorough and comprehensive assessment by the physician of the patient's readiness for surgery and ability to follow through with required lifestyle changes.
• Significant experience in performing the surgery with quality outcomes.
• The facility's ability to manage bariatric patients.
• Comprehensive and long-term post surgery follow up.
• Willingness to report surgical results, weight loss and medical outcomes, and to participate in the BCBSNC peer review and quality improvement programs.

Contact Us
We look forward to hearing from you and thank you for your interest.

The Bariatric Center at CMC-Mercy
Carolinas Weight Management & Wellness Center
2001 Vail Ave.
Charlotte, NC 28207
704-355-9484 (phone)
704-446-4060 (fax)