6 Ways to Get Ready for Weight Loss Surgery

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6 Ways to Get Ready for Weight Loss Surgery

The decision to have bariatric weight loss surgery doesn’t happen overnight. The process leading up to surgery may begin more than a year before your surgery date, and there are essential steps you must take to prepare for the procedure. This includes trying to lose weight through an established diet and exercise program and undergoing both physical and mental health evaluations to ensure you’re a candidate for bariatric surgery. You should also talk to your primary care doctor about having weight loss surgery.

In order to achieve and maintain significant weight loss, you’ll need to commit to lifestyle changes after surgery as well. That means learning new ways to approach food and physical activity. Remember, surgery is really just the first step in your weight loss journey.

If you are seriously considering weight loss surgery, the best thing you can do is contact our weight loss team. We’ll provide you with information about surgery options, including the pros and cons of the procedures your surgeon offers. We can also help determine if surgery is right for you and explain the commitment and costs involved. Attending a weight loss seminar is a great first step.

In the meantime, here are six ways you can prepare for bariatric surgery.

Ensure Surgery is Right for You – Educate yourself about the diet and lifestyle changes you’ll need to make before and after surgery. Leading up to your procedure, your care team will recommend a nutrition plan and help you make any modifications needed to properly prepare your body for surgery. For example, if you smoke, you may be asked to quit to reduce the chance of post-surgical complications, like pneumonia.
Explore Costs – Understand your surgical costs and payment options. Not all insurance plans cover weight loss surgery and the clinic visits required before and after the procedure. Also, many plans have requirements for body mass index, age, obesity-related health conditions and proof of participation in a medically-supervised diet program before you qualify for surgery. Talk with your insurance provider about your options, or ask our team about available self-pay and financing options. We are available to assist you in answering questions about insurance coverage and payment options.
Start Exercising – Establish an exercise routine. If you are not currently exercising, begin to create a consistent physical activity plan that fits your ability. Start small with short walks, chair exercises or small increases in daily activities. Find something you enjoy doing, and focus on increasing frequency rather than intensity by gradually adding a few minutes of activity every day.
Study Your Procedure – Research the different options, risks and lifestyle changes related to your surgery. Talk with others about their surgical experiences. Discuss your long-term goals with your surgeon to find the procedure that will best match your specific situation.
Assemble Your Support Team – Identify a support team that will help you before and after surgery. This could be family or friends. You’ll need someone to bring you to the hospital for surgery, to follow-up appointments and to support group meetings. Trying to take care of everything yourself will be difficult. You need people who will be there for you as you recover over the few weeks following surgery.
Ask Questions – Take full advantage of the resources your care team provides. Every patient is unique, and your providers have a wealth of information, education and support options to help. During consultation and pre-operative clinic appointments, bring a list of specific health concerns and questions so you are connected to the right resources.