Preparing for Surgery

Bariatric surgery requires a serious commitment to losing weight and becoming healthier. Preparing for bariatric surgery is a thorough process that ensures the best outcome, and we will work with you every step of the way.

Pre-Surgery Evaluation Process

Our education and evaluation process helps you decide if surgery is the best course of action for your weight loss plan. You'll learn what will be expected so that, together, we can decide if this is the right step.  

Part of our evaluation process is to assess your state of health to determine if you can withstand surgery. Required patient health evaluations include:

• A psychological review to assess your mental and emotional preparedness for such a life-changing procedure
• Consulting with a dietitian to review your current eating habits and any issues you may have in following the pre- and post-surgical dietary regimen
• Examination by a cardiologist to ensure your heart is able to withstand surgery

You will also meet with a gastroenterologist, pulmonologist, sleep specialist and vascular surgeon, among other specialists as determined by your surgeon. They'll help with:

• Testing to provide a better view of your digestive system and ensure that you don’t have a gastric bleed
• Determining whether you have any vascular diseases that must be managed
• Determining whether you suffer from COPD or have severe asthma
• Testing for sleep apnea or other sleep disorders that may affect the surgery
• Seeing other specialists as dictated by any medical conditions you may have 

We will monitor your progress throughout the education and evaluation process. There are multiple points during the process when you can decide to go forward with surgery or not. If we decide together that bariatric surgery is right for you, we will schedule your surgery.

Pre-Surgery Weight Loss Requirement

All patients will start their weight loss journey before the surgery by following a medically supervised program to lose some weight before surgery.

This pre-surgical weight loss regimen has several purposes:  

• Introducing reduced portion sizes and healthy nutrition. After your surgery, you will only be able to eat very small portions of food and will have to maintain those small portions for the rest of your life. By initiating reduced portion sizes prior to surgery and learning about proper nutrition, you will have an easier time adjusting to the strict diet you will need to maintain post-surgery. 
• Introducing moderate exercise. This is also a lifelong requirement to losing and maintaining your weight. You will start with simple walking before advancing to longer walks and light hand weights. Exercise builds muscle which burns more calories than fat, which in turn speeds weight loss. 
• Reducing the size of your liver. Your liver has increased in size as you have gained weight and will become smaller as you lose weight. Because it is the organ that sits on top of your stomach, shrinking your liver prior to surgery gives the surgeon better access to your stomach during surgery. 
• Minimizing risks of surgical complications. Having any surgical procedure is inherently risky; having medical co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension or heart disease adds additional risks. When you lose weight before the bariatric procedure, you begin to lessen the risks of the surgery itself. 

You'll be required to meet with our registered dietitian who will work with you to create a customized meal plan and will monitor your progress throughout the pre-surgical weight loss phase. 

Lifestyle Changes for Bariatric Surgery

In addition to weight loss, you must stop smoking six months prior to the surgery and commit to not smoking again. 

If you consume alcohol, you must commit to stopping. 

These steps are in your best interest to assess your overall health, your ability to withstand the procedure and your psychological commitment to a lifetime of change.