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Bariatric Surgery Basics

Getting Ready For Bariatric Surgery

When diet and exercise have failed, many individuals have found the option of bariatric surgery to be the only way of reducing their health risks. This is not a cosmetic operation. You should be prepared for major surgery requiring post-operative dedication to changes in eating habits.

Questions To Ask Your Doctor

Evaluating your health risks and the risks of surgery is not something you should have to do alone. Your doctor can help you better understand the possible benefits of bariatric surgery as they relate to your individual case. Asking the right questions and supplying your doctor with important information about your physical health and diet can help prepare your expectations of surgery and recovery.

• Am I candidate for this surgery? (candidates have a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40 or 35 and life threatening diseases such as diabetes and sleep apnea)
• What realistic results should I expect?
• What are the types of surgery and technology available?
• What are the benefits and disadvantages of each?
• Is the surgery reversible? (if this important to you)
• What time frame should I expect for full recovery?
• What dietary expectations should I have after surgery?
• What are the possible complications of surgery?
• What can I do to avoid these complications?
• Is your surgeon familiar with cases where complications have occurred and how they can be corrected?
• Has your surgeon performed a large number of this type of surgery with a low percentage of complications?
• What costs of surgery, if any, can be covered by insurance and what are my payment options?

Things To Remember

Your hospital stay after surgery may be as short as a few days, but could last much longer based on the success of the surgery and recovery rate. Don't try to rush the recovery process and overexert your body. Carefully follow your doctor's instructions.

Based on your location, there may be support groups to help you adapt to your new life after surgery.

Expectations

Though actual results of this surgery vary greatly, weight loss should be expected. Reversal of type II diabetes, sleep apnea, and other cardiopulmonary diseases have been successful in most patients. These successes should be taken in consideration with complications. After surgery your stomach will be reduced to about the size of a shot glass, requiring that you eat small portions and chew your food repeatedly.

Since age and health risks are large contributing factors in success of the surgery and recovery time, you should consult your doctor for individual expectations.

Choosing Your Surgeon

Finding a surgeon that is right for you should involve direct, one-on-one consultation and inquiries about the doctor's surgical background and success rate. Ultimately, he or she should be someone you are comfortable with, as well as someone your friends and family are comfortable going to with questions about the surgery and how to offer support after the operation.

• Make a list of things that are important to you and choose a surgeon that fits that criterion.
• Ask your family physician for recommendations.
• Visit online list serves for qualified surgeons in your area
• Choose a surgeon who has experience doing hundreds of surgeries instead of 15 or 20.

Choose The Clinic

Like any surgical operation, most bariatric surgeries are performed at local hospitals. The particular hospital at which the surgery is performed may depend on the surgeon. Remember, your hospital stay could last in upwards of five days or more. Be sure to ask your surgeon about visiting hours and anything else that may be important to you.

Though rare, there are treatment centers that perform only bariatric surgeries. These centers offer such amenities as private hospital facilities, a toll-free phone number, an exclusive patient website, and a trained staff of surgeons and nurses who work solely with bariatric patients.

Consultation

During the consultation with the surgeon be sure to ask any specific questions you have about the procedure, and make inquiries into his or her surgical history and success rate. Many doctors encourage patients to bring friends or family to the consultation, and some have patient counselors, who have had the surgery themselves, available to answer questions.

Communicate

Repeated communication with your doctor, nurses, and others on staff is essential both before and after surgery to ensure successful operation and a speedy recovery. It is also important to make the people close to you aware of the procedure you are about to undergo and what expect after surgery.

Support groups, where available, are helpful communicative tools.

Know The Risks

Some of the risks associated with bariatric surgery include:

• A mortality rate estimated from 0.1% to 1 to 2%
• Bleeding
• Staple leakage
• Respiratory complications
• Stomach obstruction

There are also possible risks after surgery:

• Vomiting
• Abdominal hernia
• Nutritional/Vitamin deficiencies

Surgery Costs

The average cost of surgery is $25,000, but can range from $20,000 to $50,000.

Quality Over Cost

Bariatric surgery is a rapidly growing field. Researchers and analysts are still learning more about safety and the technology used during the procedure. You should consider the experience of the surgeon, the care of the clinic, and the availability of after care programs before making your final decision.

In many cases insurance will cover a portion of the surgery, especially if there are health risks involved. Ask your doctor about payment plans. Most of them are willing to work with you where cost is involved.

Take Your Time

Choosing bariatric surgery is a life altering decision. Be aware of the risks. Make a commitment to follow your doctor's instructions about eating habits after surgery. Find a surgeon and location that is right for you.

Anesthetics

General anesthesia is used to perform bariatric. As pain lingers for a few weeks, you should consult your doctor for appropriate pain relief for your personal health.

More Risks To Consider

Besides surgical risks and possible aftereffects such as vomiting, there is also the possibility of abdominal pain and scarring after surgery.

Afterwards

Your doctor will instruct you how to adapt to your new life and how to adjust your eating habits. Many doctors require periodic post-surgical meetings up to twelve weeks, and some require annual meetings thereafter.

Some patients may consider cosmetic surgery to remove unsightly skin after weight loss. This option can be discussed with your doctor during post-op checkups.

Recovery

Full recovery from surgery takes time. Your hospital stay will last three days or more and you could be out of work for upwards of six weeks. Do not overexert your body during recovery. Allow your body to gradually adjust to the surgery and your new diet.

When diet and exercise have failed to produce results, an increasing percent of the population has turned to bariatric surgery, dramatically reducing their stomach volume. Though this procedure can offer benefits such as weight loss and reversal of life threatening diseases like type II diabetes, there are also associated risks that patients should be aware of. Choosing your surgeon carefully and being dedicated to post-operative changes in eating habits are steps to successful surgery.

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