Begin the Process - Getting Started
We encourage our gastric band patients, as well as those who are undecided, to attend one of our seminars as early in the process as possible. The seminars are entitled "Surgical Weight Loss Options" and discuss the surgical alternatives for weight loss as well as the philosophical and behavioral components to successful surgical weight loss. They are not sales pitches but rather informational resources for any patient considering weight loss surgery, regardless of what procedure they are considering or where they are considering having their surgery.
Choosing to pursue weight loss surgery is a major decision and should be made with careful thought and plenty of information. It is vital that you understand all the risks as well as the benefits and that you enter into this journey with as much support as possible and with accurate expectations.
Where do I start?
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If you’ve made attempts at losing weight through exercise and diet and feel you’re at the point where you need more help, or if you have not been able to reach your goal, then a surgical option is a reasonable step. Learn as much as you can from the internet and any reading material you can find. This website will help by suggesting other useful websites to visit for more information. Go to a weight loss surgery seminar and ask questions! Don’t be hesitant to ask.
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Contact your primary care doctor and discuss options with them. One of your best allies will be your doctor and it’s important that they work with you before and after surgery in maintaining your health. If you don’t have a primary care doctor we can help you find one.
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Find out what requirements there might be given your height, weight, and BMI “body mass index” (go to the body mass index calculator on this website) from your insurance company. These vary tremendously so take notes or ask for a copy of the requirements. If you won’t be covered by your insurance company the guidelines for surgery are very similar.
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Fill out the patient information form and submit it to us through the internet. We’ll respond by e-mail and invite you to call for an appointment. Before your appointment with us you may choose to complete some of the preliminary workup material or you may choose to wait until you have visited with us first.
The list of necessary workup items usually includes: clearance from your primary care doctor, an upper G.I. x-ray showing your stomach anatomy or endoscopy (a telescope looking directly into your esophagus and stomach), a psychological clearance from a psychologist or psychiatrist, a visit with our nutritionists, and laboratory evaluation that includes blood tests. Seeing our nutritionists has been particularly helpful because it incorporates a weight management program. Our nurses have many years of experience addressing the nutritional issues surrounding obesity.
If you have specific medical issues that you see a specialist for it will be important to be cleared by them as well.
After the initial office appointment and a physical exam, the patient will be guided through the steps necessary to complete the pre-op evaluation (if not completed already) and arrangements for this evaluation will be made for the patient depending upon the patient’s preferences. When you come for your visit you should bring a copy of any medical records that give details about any particular health issues you have. We suggest that you bring a support person with you for your appointment. Going through this process will be made dramatically easier by having a close friend, relative or mate help you through the recovery period. Your family or significant other must understand what you are undergoing. They must accompany you on either your first or second visit. You should have a solid idea regarding an exercise plan to begin (if you haven’t already begun) that we can discuss at your first appointment. Remember that this process requires a change in lifestyle to achieve the goals you’ve set for yourself and regular exercise is a necessity.
When the pre-operative evaluation has been completed, a second appointment is made and completion of the pre-operative orders are carried out. At that time the surgical date is scheduled and any outstanding issues are resolved, including the questions that may have arisen since the last visit. Consent for the operation is obtained by initialing and signing a pamphlet explaining many of the risks involved in the surgery. Further information is offered through a computer assisted course explaining the surgery in detail and offering the opportunity for further questioning. There are pre-operative medications and preparations that are reviewed during this visit as well.
On the day of surgery the patient is asked to arrive with a support person and in most cases the operating time is approximately 45 minutes to 2 hours depending upon the procedure. The normal hospital stay is two days for the bypass and outpatient for the Adjustable Gastric Bands. On the evening of surgery, bypass patients are assisted in walking and in the morning following the surgery liquids are begun. (Liquids can begin immediately post-op for Adjustable Gastric band patients.) In some cases patients can be discharged on this first post-operative day depending upon their comfort level and the circumstances surrounding their surgery. Most patients elect to remain until the following day at which time they are discharged. Bypass patients who live more than 1 hour traveling time away from the hospital are required to remain in the area for the following five post-operative days. It is very important that the patient does not come to the hospital alone as a support person is tremendously important during this period. In the immediate period after discharge, support remains vitally important and the patient should not expect to be entirely independent in the first post-operative week, although there is very little actual physical limitation.
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