What to Expect Before Surgery
Before your bariatric surgery, you’ll go through a process to ensure you’re ready. The first step will be to attend our informational seminars, which take place every Wednesday from 9:30-11 a.m. on Zoom.
You will learn more about:
- Our program
- Obesity
- The procedures we offer
- Insurance requirements for bariatric surgery
- And more
Bariatric surgery is not the only treatment for obesity disease. Your doctor might want you to try other treatments first. These could include working with a dietitian or using a weight loss medicine.
Your care team will only do bariatric surgery if it will provide health benefits for you. For the surgery to be a success, you will need to make lifelong changes to your diet and lifestyle. Your care team will want to know you are ready for the life changes that go with surgery.
The Approval Process
Meet with the Surgeon
You will need to go through an in-depth process to be approved for bariatric surgery. After attending our informational seminar, you’ll have a consultation appointment with your surgeon. At your consultation, your surgeon will determine if you are a candidate for bariatric surgery based on your:
- Body mass index (BMI)
- Age
- And health history
Meet with a Care Coordinator
If you decide that you would like to start the process for bariatric surgery, you will then meet with one of our patient care coordinators. During that meeting, the coordinator will:
- Review your insurance and surgeon pre-operation requirements.
- Create an individual checklist, or roadmap, to weight loss surgery for you.
Meet other Requirements
Your will also need to have:
- A nutrition consultation
- A physician-supervised weight management program
- A psychological evaluation to review your lifestyle history, support system, and mental and emotional readiness for bariatric surgery
- An EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy)
- A colonoscopy if you are 46 years or older and have not had one
- Specialty clearances based on surgeon or insurance requirements
All of the members of your care team must agree that weight loss surgery is safe for you. You will also need to:
- Stop smoking, vaping and using marijuana
- Work with your care team to treat medical or emotional problems
A Big Decision
Weight loss surgery is a big step. It will change your eating habits.
You will need to commit to following our bariatric diet phases for the rest of your life. Make sure you fully understand the risks and benefits of gastric surgery options. Ask for support from your partner, family and friends.
Tests Before Bariatric Surgery
You will need some exams to make sure you are healthy enough for the surgery and recovery. These might include:
- Blood tests to check for anemia, infection, hormone levels, kidney function and nutrient deficiencies
- Chest X-rays to make sure your lungs are healthy
- An electrocardiogram to look at your heart rhythm
Long-Term Expectations
Regardless of the pounds you shed, being at a healthy weight can improve or cure health conditions you have at a heavier weight.
Learn More
Realistic Goals Are Key
Before your journey starts and throughout it, it’s important to have a realistic weight loss goal for your surgery. You may not lose all of your extra weight after a weight loss surgery. Most people don’t. You may lose one-half to two-thirds of your excess body weight.
You and your surgeon will determine a good weight loss goal based on your individual health history. Be sure to ask your care team about what you can expect. Having realistic goals can help keep you motivated. It can help keep you on track with your good eating habits.
Regardless of the pounds you shed, being at a healthy weight can improve or cure health conditions you have at a heavier weight. You may even be able to reduce or stop some of the medicines you take. Plus, your energy levels will increase and so will your confidence.
