The objective of the present chapter is to understand the gamut meanings for patients when undergoing bariatric surgery, the impact that this represents in their lives, the psychosocial complications and to offer some recommendations for a better psychological evolution of patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery is a procedure that results in a complex network of emotional experiences. The main emotional experiences in the post-operative procedures are: social re-insertion, personal acceptance, risk of disillusion, recovery of self esteem, improvement in quality of life and body image. Body contouring following a significant weight loss can re-establish a good psychosocial functioning, but it must be stated with well-established criteria. Some practical considerations to deal with the operated patients are proposed. © 2012 Bentham Science Publishers. All rights reserved. 2938Van Hout, G.C.M., Fortuin, F.A.M., Pelle, A.J.M., Psychosocial functioning, personality, and body image following vertical banded gastroplasty (2008) Obes Surg, 18, pp. 115-120Dziurowicz-kozlowska, A.H., Wierzbicki, Z., Lisik, W., The objective of psychological evaluation in the process of qualifying candidates for bariatric surgery (2006) Obes Surg, 16, pp. 196-202Wadden, T., Sarwer, D.B., Behavioral assessment of candidates for bariatric surgery: a patient-oriented approach (2006) Obesity, 14 (SUPPL. 2), pp. 53S-62SPapageorgiou, G.M., Papakonstantinou, A., Mamplekou, E., Pre- and postoperative psychological characteristics in morbidly obese patients (2002) Obes Surg, 12, pp. 534-539Bocchieri, L.E., Meana, M., Fischer, B.L., A review of psychosocial outcomes of surgery for morbid obesity (2002) J Psychosom Res, 52, pp. 155-165Kalarchian, M.A., Marcus, M.D., Levine, M.D., Psychiatric disorders among bariatric surgery candidates: relationship to obesity and functional health status (2007) Am J Psychiatry, 164, pp. 328-334Puhl, R.M., Moss-racusin, C.A., Schwartz, M.B., Internalization of weight bias: implications for binge eating and emotional well-being (2007) Obesity, 15, pp. 19-23Organização Mundial da Saúde. Obesity and overweight (2009), http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/publications/facts/obesity/en, accessed August 28Bauchowitz, A.U., Gonder-frederick, L.A., Olbrisch, M.E., Psychosocial evaluation of bariatric surgery candidates: A survey of present practices (2005) Psychosomatic Medicine, 67, pp. 825-832Pareja, J.C., Pilla, V.F., Callejas-neto, F., Gastroplastia redutora com bypass gastrojejunal em Y-de-Roux: conversão para bypass gastrintestinal distal por perda insuficiente de peso - experiência em 41 pacientes [Gastric bypass Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy - conversion to distal gastrojejunoileostomy for weight loss failure - experience in 41 patients] (2005) Arq Gastroenterol, 42, pp. 196-200Db, S., Cohn, N.I., Gibbons, L.M., Psychiatric diagnoses and psychiatric treatment among bariatric surgery candidates (2004) Obes Surg, 14, pp. 1148-1156Garrido Junior, A.B., Cirurgia em obesos mórbidos - experiência pessoal (2000) Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab, 44, pp. 106-110Segal, A., Fandiño, J., Indicações e contra-indicações para realização das operações bariátricas [Bariatric surgery indications and contraindications] (2002) Rev Bras Psiquiatria, 24 (SUPPL. 3), pp. S68-S72de Zwaam, M., Lancaster, K.L., Mitchell, J.E., Health-related quality of life in morbidly obese patients: effect of gastric bypass surgery (2002) Obes Surg, 12, pp. 773-780Dymek, M.P., Le, GrangeD., Neven, K., Quality of life after gastric bypass surgery: a cross-sectional study (2002) Obes Res, 10, pp. 1135-1142Dymek, M.P., le Grange, D., Neven, K., Quality of life and psychosocial adjustment in patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a brief report (2001) Obes Surg, 11, pp. 32-39Maddi, S.R., Ross Fox, S., Khoshaba, D.M., Reduction in psychopathology following bariatric surgery for morbid obesity (2001) Obes Surg, 11, pp. 680-185Sawrer, D.B., Wadden, T.A., Fabricatore, A.N., Psychosocial and behavioral aspects of bariatric surgery (2005) Obes Res, 13, pp. 639-648Van Hout, G.C.M., Boekestein, P., Fortuin, F.A., Psychosocial functioning following bariatric surgery (2006) Obes Surg, 16, pp. 787-794Delin, C.R., Watts, J., Bassett, D.L., An exploration of outcomes of gastric bypass surgery for morbid obesity: patient characteristics and indices of success (1995) Obes Surg, 5, pp. 159-170Buchwald, H., Consensus Conference Statement Bariatric surgery for morbid obesity: health implications for patients, health professionals, and third-party payers (2005) J Am Coll Surg, 200, pp. 593-604Hsu, L.K., Benotti, P.N., Dwyer, J., Non-surgical factors that influence the outcome of bariatric surgery: a review (1998) Psychosom Med, 60, pp. 338-346Godfrey, J.R., Brownell, K., Toward optimal health: The influence of the environment on obesity (2008) J Women's Health, 17, pp. 325-330Van Hout, G.C.M., Vreeswijk, C.M.J.M., van Heck, G.L., Bariatric Surgery and bariatric psychology: evaluation of Dutch approach (2008) Obes Surg, 18, pp. 321-325Van Hout, G.C.M., Van Oudeheusden, I., Krasuska, A.T., Psychological profile of candidates for vertical banded gastroplasty (2006) Obes Surg, 16, pp. 67-74Herpertz, S., Kielmann, R., Wolf, A.M., Do psychological variables predict weight loss or mental health after obesity surgery? (2004) A systematic review. Obes Res, 12, pp. 1554-1569Larsen, F., Psychosocial function before and after gastric banding surgery for morbid obesity (1990) Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl, 359, pp. 1-57Vallis, M.T., Ross, M.A., The role of psychological factors in bariatric surgery for morbid obesity: identification of psychological predictors of success (1993) Obes Surg, 3, pp. 346-359Fandiño, J., Benchimol, A.K., Coutinho, W.F., Cirurgia bariátrica: aspectos clínico-cirúrgicos e psiquiátricos (2004) Rev Psiquiatr Rio Gd Sul, 26, pp. 47-51DeMaria, E.J., Bariatric surgery for morbid obesity (2007) N Engl J Med, 356, pp. 2176-2183Magdaleno Jr, R., Chaim, E.A., Turato, E.R., Understanding the life experiences of Brazilian women after bariatric surgery A qualitative study. Obes Surg 2008 Oct 2, , [Epub ahead of print], PMID: 18830785Mitchell, J.E., Lancaster, K.L., Burgard, M.A., Long-term follow-up of patients' status after gastric bypass (2001) Obes Surg, 11, pp. 464-468Dixon, J.B., Dixon, M.E., O'Brien, P.E., Depression in association with severe obesity (2003) Arch Intern Med, 163, pp. 2058-2065Roberts, R.E., Kaplan, G.A., Shema, S.J., Are the obese at greater risk for depression? (2000) Am J Epidemiol, 152, pp. 163-170Glinsky, J., Wetzler, S., Goodman, E., The psychology of gastric bypass surgery (2001) Obes Surg, 11, pp. 581-588Magdaleno Jr, R., Chaim, E.A., Pareja, J.C., The psychology of bariatric patient: what replaces obesity? A qualitative research with Brazilian women (2009) Obes Surg., , Mar 21. [Epub ahead of print], PMID: 19306052Kinzl, J.F., Schrattenecker, M., Traweger, C., Quality of life in morbidly obese patients after surgical weight loss (2007) Obes Surg, 17, pp. 229-235Dixon, J.B., Dixon, M.E., O'Brien, P.E., Quality of life after Lap-Band placement: Influence of time, weigth loss, and comorbidities (2001) Obes Res, 9, pp. 713-721Kolotkin, R.L., Head, S., Hamilton, M., Assessing impact of weight on quality of life (1995) Obes Res, 3, pp. 49-56Friedman, K.E., Reichmann, S.K., Costanzo, P.R., Body image partially mediates the relationship between obesity and psychological distress (2002) Obes Res, 10, pp. 33-41