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Home > IA Providers > Bariatric Surgeons

Dr. Mark Smolik, MD

Accepting New Patients

(37 Ratings)

Specializes in: Bariatric Surgery and General Surgery

Professional interests include: weight management, robotic surgery, weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery)

411 Laurel Street Suite 2100
Des Moines, IA 50314

(515) 247-3266

Dr. Mark Smolik, MD is a bariatric surgeon in West Des Moines, IA specializing in bariatric surgery and general surgery. Dr. Mark Smolik, MD is affiliated with MercyOne.

Office Locations

MercyOne

1755 59th Place
West Des Moines, IA 50266

(515) 358-8000

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411 Laurel Street Suite 2100
Des Moines, IA 50314

(515) 247-3266

(515) 643-8688

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MercyOne

5901 Westown Parkway Suite 240
West Des Moines, IA 50266

(515) 358-9300

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Some issues Dr. Mark Smolik, MD can help you with:

Robotic Surgery

Robotic surgery is a type of minimally invasive surgery, using a tiny opening to get inside the body instead of making a large cut. It uses small tools attached to a thin robotic arm, which is controlled by the surgeon. Robotic surgery may be referred to by the specific kind of robot that is used. The most advanced robot currently in use is called the da Vinci, and surgery using it is sometimes called da Vinci surgery.

There are many benefits to robotic surgery, both for the patient and the surgeon. Robotic surgery allows for more precise movements and increased control during very delicate surgical procedures. This makes performing surgery accurately much easier for surgeons and reduces fatigue. The smaller 'hand' of the robot can enter the body via a much smaller opening, which reduces the risk of infection and scarring and leads to a faster recovery. The robotic hands also contain tiny moveable cameras among their tools, giving surgeons a much closer view of the procedure than would be possible with traditional surgery.

Weight Loss Surgery (Bariatric Surgery)

Bariatric or weight-loss surgery is a surgical procedure performed to help significantly obese patients lose weight when more traditional methods, such as dieting and exercise, have not helped. Depending on the type, these surgeries change the gastrointestinal tract to limit how much food can be eaten and also change how food is absorbed by the body. Of the various bariatric surgeries available, the most common is gastric bypass.

By far the most common of the gastric bypass surgeries is called Roux-en-Y. During this surgery, part of the stomach and small intestine are detached from the gastrointestinal tract, in order to make the tract smaller. The surgeon divides the stomach into two parts. The working stomach, at the end of the esophagus, is now tiny - only the size of a walnut. This makes patients feel full after eating a small amount of food. Then the small intestine is also divided, and after bypassing a section of the small intestine to reduce food absorption, the intestine is attached to the small stomach pouch. The patient now has a working stomach and intestine like before, only much smaller.

Because gastric bypass is used to treat extreme obesity, it can reduce the risk of some of the problems associated with obesity. Gastric bypass can help treat or reduce the risk for such conditions as heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and type 2 diabetes. However, it is a major surgery and also carries risks itself. Any surgery can lead to infection, bleeding, or blood clots, and weight loss surgery in particular carries risks of leaks in the gastrointestinal system, malnutrition, bowel obstructions, and vomiting.

Typically patients are considered candidates for gastric bypass surgery if they have a BMI greater than 40, or sometimes if they have a BMI between 35 and 40 but are suffering from obesity-related illnesses such as diabetes. The outlook is generally good, with most patients losing between 50-75% of their excess weight in 1-2 years. However, patients must follow strict diet guidelines so that the stomach can heal, starting with no food at all, then followed by a liquid diet for some time. For many severely obese patients who have tried strict diets before without success, gastric bypass surgery is the tool that allows them to finally achieve their weight loss and health goals.

Noteworthy Medicare Patient Procedures Performed by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD in 2023

Click on any procedure below to see further details on volume and pricing among Medicare patients.

Top 5%

By Volume:

laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair

By Affordability:

abdominal hernia surgery

inguinal hernia repair

laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair

In 2023, among providers in related specialties within Iowa, Dr. Mark Smolik, MD performed more laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair procedures for Medicare patients than 95% of them and he also had a list price for abdominal hernia surgery, inguinal hernia repair, and laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair that was lower than the list prices billed to Medicare by 95% of them. Actual amounts paid by patients can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including insurance coverage. A lower list price, however, might mean lower fees when paying without insurance.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Mark Smolik, MD treated as a bariatric surgeon in West Des Moines, IA during 2012 were hospital care, inpatient care, open surgery and abdominal surgery.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD for Medicare patients.

abdominal surgery	19
doctor visit	204
gastrointestinal procedures	19
hospital care	133
inpatient care	133
open surgery	19

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Mark Smolik, MD treated as a bariatric surgeon in West Des Moines, IA during 2013 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	208
hospital care	86
inpatient care	86

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD.

**Gender**
Male	89
Female	117

**Age**
From 65 to 74	78
From 75 to 84	45
85 and over	18
Less than 65	65

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD in 2013

Hypertension	74
High Cholesterol	59
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	37
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	28
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	6
Atrial Fibrilation	13
Heart Failure	19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	40
Dementia	11
Cancer	8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Mark Smolik, MD treated as a bariatric surgeon in West Des Moines, IA during 2014 were hospital care, inpatient care, removal of lesion (e.g. growth) and minimally invasive procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD for Medicare patients.

diagnostic procedures	14
doctor visit	183
gastrointestinal procedures	14
hospital care	72
inpatient care	72
minimally invasive procedures	14
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	14

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD.

**Gender**
Male	72
Female	106

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	165
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	83
From 75 to 84	32
85 and over	11
Less than 65	52

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD in 2014

Hypertension	70
High Cholesterol	57
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	40
Depression	37
Chronic Kidney Disease	34
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	16
Heart Failure	26
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	49
Dementia	0
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Mark Smolik, MD treated as a bariatric surgeon in West Des Moines, IA during 2015 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	103
hospital care	44
inpatient care	44

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD.

**Gender**
Male	136
Female	134

**Age**
From 65 to 74	118
From 75 to 84	42
85 and over	22
Less than 65	88

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD in 2015

Hypertension	73
High Cholesterol	55
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	35
Depression	39
Chronic Kidney Disease	30
Asthma	16
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	20
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	28
Diabetes	39
Dementia	0
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Mark Smolik, MD treated as a bariatric surgeon in West Des Moines, IA during 2016 were hospital care, inpatient care, removal of lesion (e.g. growth) and minimally invasive procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD for Medicare patients.

diagnostic procedures	12
doctor visit	95
gastrointestinal procedures	12
hospital care	49
inpatient care	49
minimally invasive procedures	12
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	12

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD.

**Gender**
Male	47
Female	70

**Age**
From 65 to 74	53
From 75 to 84	18
85 and over	17
Less than 65	29

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD in 2016

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	62
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	31
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	30
Asthma	23
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	21
Heart Failure	26
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	21
Diabetes	36
Dementia	13
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Mark Smolik, MD treated as a bariatric surgeon in West Des Moines, IA during 2017 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	60
hospital care	48
inpatient care	48

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD.

**Gender**
Male	63
Female	65

**Age**
From 65 to 74	69
From 75 to 84	27
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD in 2017

Hypertension	72
High Cholesterol	63
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	32
Depression	37
Chronic Kidney Disease	32
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	18
Diabetes	36
Dementia	9
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Mark Smolik, MD treated as a bariatric surgeon in West Des Moines, IA during 2018 were hospital care, inpatient care, open surgery and abdominal surgery.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD for Medicare patients.

abdominal surgery	12
doctor visit	52
gastrointestinal procedures	12
hospital care	54
inpatient care	54
open surgery	12

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD.

**Gender**
Male	54
Female	61

**Age**
From 65 to 74	43
From 75 to 84	30
85 and over	16
Less than 65	26

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD in 2018

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	68
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	31
Depression	35
Chronic Kidney Disease	36
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	18
Heart Failure	23
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	22
Diabetes	39
Dementia	0
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Mark Smolik, MD treated as a bariatric surgeon in West Des Moines, IA during 2019 were hospital care, inpatient care, minimally invasive procedures and weight management.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	49
gastrointestinal procedures	12
hospital care	48
inpatient care	48
minimally invasive procedures	12
weight management	12

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD.

**Gender**
Male	61
Female	61

**Age**
From 65 to 74	67
From 75 to 84	26
85 and over	12
Less than 65	17

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD in 2019

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	74
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	31
Depression	42
Chronic Kidney Disease	36
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	13
Heart Failure	18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	15
Diabetes	34
Dementia	10
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	58

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD.

**Gender**
Male	55
Female	54

**Age**
From 65 to 74	56
From 75 to 84	30
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD in 2020

Hypertension	66
High Cholesterol	64
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	30
Depression	32
Chronic Kidney Disease	37
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	17
Heart Failure	17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	29
Dementia	0
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Mark Smolik, MD treated as a bariatric surgeon in West Des Moines, IA during 2021 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	77
hospital care	64
inpatient care	64

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD.

**Gender**
Male	71
Female	77

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	137
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	84
From 75 to 84	22
85 and over	21
Less than 65	21

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD in 2021

Hypertension	70
High Cholesterol	68
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	32
Chronic Kidney Disease	37
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	20
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	16
Diabetes	29
Dementia	8
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Mark Smolik, MD treated as a bariatric surgeon in West Des Moines, IA during 2022 were hospital care, inpatient care, minimally invasive procedures and abdominal surgery.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD for Medicare patients.

abdominal surgery	12
doctor visit	88
gastrointestinal procedures	12
hospital care	62
inpatient care	62
minimally invasive procedures	12

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD.

**Gender**
Male	66
Female	49

**Age**
From 65 to 74	56
From 75 to 84	34
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD in 2022

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	28
Depression	22
Chronic Kidney Disease	22
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	23
Heart Failure	17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	18
Diabetes	29
Dementia	0
Cancer	18

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Mark Smolik, MD treated as a bariatric surgeon in West Des Moines, IA were hospital care, inpatient care, open surgery and abdominal surgery.

abdominal surgery	14
diagnostic procedures	13
doctor visit	107
gastrointestinal procedures	13
hospital care	66
inpatient care	66
minimally invasive procedures	12
open surgery	15
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	13
weight management	12

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD.

**Gender**
Female	72
Male	64

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	27
Hispanic	0
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Other	0

**Age**
85 and over	10
75 to 84	27
Less than 65	27
65 to 74	64

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD From 2012 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Mark Smolik, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and depression.

Hypertension	65
High Cholesterol	58
Stroke	2
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	29
Asthma	8
Osteoporosis	4
Heart Failure	18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	17
Diabetes	32
Atrial Fibrillation	14
Dementia	4
Cancer	10

Education & Training

He has a state license in Iowa.

Licensed In: Iowa

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Mark Smolik, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

MercyOne

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Mark Smolik, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.82 out of 5 stars based on 37 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Mark Smolik, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in West Des Moines, IA.

4.82

Overall Rating

(37 Ratings)

Leave a Review

General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Mark Smolik, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.	$24,530 Da Vinci Surgical System $24,030	DA VINCI SP $500
Ethicon US, LLC	$422 Echelon Flex $322	Biosurgicals $95	ECHELON ENDOPATH $6
Medtronic, Inc.	$386 Signia $386
Stryker Corporation	$296 THORACO-LUMBAR $231	ACCESS PRODUCTS $65
CONMED Corporation	$285 AirSeal $285
Other	$399 SURGICAL $80	Vessel Sealing $71	Phasix Mesh $56	OviTex Reinforced Bioscaffold With Permanent Polymer (OviTex) $43	BARHEMSYS $41	Other $109

**Types of Payments**
Education	$18,000
Travel and Lodging	$4,405
Food and Beverage	$3,391
Compensation for services other than consulting, including serving as faculty or as a speaker at a venue other than a continuing education program	$500
Gift	$23

Biography

Dr. Mark Smolik specializes in general surgery and bariatric surgery. Dr. Smolik's areas of expertise include the following: robotic surgery, general surgery, and weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery). He is professionally affiliated with MercyOne. He attended medical school at the University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine. Patient reviews placed Dr. Smolik at an average of 5.0 stars (out of 5). He welcomes new patients at his office inWest Des Moines, IA as reported by MercyOne.