Getting Started on Your Weight Loss Surgery Journey

Learning About Your Options

Okay, so you want weight loss surgery. Which kind? There is no single right answer for everyone. It is an individual decision that you should make using good information. Don’t rely on just one source of information when learning about the different types of weight loss surgery. Instead, gather information from many sources, such as the following.

• Your primary care physician or another doctor who is recommending weight loss surgery for you.
  
• Surgeons at bariatric centers in your area.
  
• Trustworthy online sources, such as university hospitals and bariatric centers.
  
• People you know who have had the surgery.
  
• Weight loss surgery seminars sponsored by a surgeon or medical group.
  

Should you get lap-band, gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, gastric plication, or another type of surgery? As you are researching, consider the following.

• Do you want the procedure to be adjustable? The lap-band is, which can be helpful if you get sick or if you are planning to have a baby in the future.
  
• Do you want the procedure to be reversible if necessary? Weight loss surgery is intended to be permanent, but the lap-band and gastric bypass are reversible if necessary.
  
• Do you fear having a foreign object in your body? The gastric sleeve, bypass, and gastric plication do not involve implanted objects, but the adjustable gastric band stays in your body.
  
• Which dietary restrictions sound most appropriate for you? Gastric bypass patients need to stay away from sweets to avoid dumping syndrome, gastric sleeve patients need to eat multiple times a day because of the tiny sleeve, and lap-band patients need to be careful about stringy, sticky, and doughy foods that could get caught in the band or cause an obstruction.
  
• How much weight do you have to lose? The vertical sleeve gastrectomy is a more common choice for high-BMI patients, while the lap-band is suitable for lower-BMI bariatric patients.
  
• Which complications are likely with each type of surgery? Gastric bypass can lead to dumping syndrome and nutritional deficiencies, the gastric sleeve can lead to leakage from staple lines, constipation, and diarrhea, and the lap-band can cause leakages, obstructions, and gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD).
  

Choosing a Weight Loss Surgeon

Your surgeon will be an important person in your life! The surgeon gives you pre-surgery instructions, performs the surgery, and continues to provide follow-up care for months or years. If you get the lap-band, you’ll be going back to your surgeon every time you need a fill or unfill.

When choosing a surgeon, look at the following aspects of the surgeon and the bariatric center she works in.

• Experience performing your specific type of weight loss surgery. The more experience, the lower your risk of complications. Ask how long the surgeon has been performing your type of surgeries, and how many surgeries per week she performs currently.
  
• Board certification by the American Board of Surgery, which shows that the surgeon has passed exams and completed training. Recent certification demonstrates ongoing dedication to maintaining knowledge in the field.
  
• Membership in the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery to help stay current in the field.
  
• Requires extensive follow up. Your success largely depends on post-surgery care. A complete aftercare program includes mandatory office visits and support group meetings for at least a year, and the availability of nutritional counseling.
  
• Medical facilities. The anesthesiologist and nurses should be experienced in managing obesity and morbid obesity. The bariatric center should have larger sized toilets, beds, chairs, gowns, and other facilities so you will be comfortable.
  

Preparing Yourself for What’s Ahead

Once you settle on a type of surgery and a surgeon, it’s time to get ready for what’s to come. The BariatricPal forums can be of great help here as other members share their own experiences. You’ll need to go through a battery of tests and follow a special diet before surgery.

• Psychological evaluation to make sure you are mentally and emotionally ready for surgery.
  
• Pre-op testing, including blood-work and other labs, and possible tests of your heart and lung function to make sure you can withstand the procedure.
  
• A pre-surgery diet. This may include several weeks of a weight loss diet similar to The last few days before surgery, you will likely be on a liquid diet to shrink the liver and further reduce body fat.
  

Support and information from BariatricPal can be especially helpful as you try to imagine what the future will be like. You can learn about the post-surgery diet progression and get recipe ideas. You can find out how other members try to prevent complications and plateaus – and how they deal with them when they come.

Building relationships on BariatricPal near the beginning of your weight loss surgery journey make your journey easier. You’ll have a place to go 24/7 where you can ask questions and get encouragement. Support is a major factor in weight loss surgery success, and you’ll be doing yourself good by taking advantage of every opportunity you can to strengthen your support system.