Preparing for Weight Loss Surgery

Having weight loss surgery is a big step and something you will want to give a lot of thought to before deciding it is for you. There are things in your life that will not ever be the same after weight loss surgery, especially if you opt for a Roux-en-Y. There are things that are going to change for the better, but there are going to be things that will present a challenge.

Once you have decided that weight loss surgery is for you then you will begin the preop paperwork and testing that is required. Much of this will be determined by your insurance company. Since Medicare has started paying for weight loss surgery, most insurance companies have followed suit and are now paying for weight loss surgery.

My insurance company required the following:

5 years of dieting history

3 years of medical history

several blood tests

a complete physical

a psychological evaluation

a meeting with a dietitian

6 months of weight loss and exercise classes

6 weeks of classes dealing with what to expect and how to eat after surgery

I also bought some fitness equipment and tried using sweat suits to drop weight.

After my insurance company had all this information, they preapproved me for surgery and then I had a preop meeting with my surgeon at which time I was given a surgery date.

My preparation for weight loss surgery lasted about a year and I am glad it did. It gave me enough time to realize that is what I really wanted. I had the Roux-en-Y and not the lap band, but the preop preparation was the same for both surgeries.

I see preop preparation changing as weight loss surgery becomes more common and lap band surgery becomes more popular. With lap band surgery being mildly invasive with a short recovery period, I see less preop paperwork and counseling being required. I foresee the medical profession considering the health risks of obesity being greater than the health risks of lap band surgery and it will be easier and quicker to be preapproved for weight loss surgery.