Weight Loss Surgery Checklist: Steps to Prepare

So you’re considering weight loss surgery, you may have already consulted with a surgeon and confirmed you meet the requirements and discussed the pros and cons of surgery. What next? Before having surgery, you’ll need to take some time to prepare. Weight loss surgery can be very impactful and help patients achieve a healthier BMI when diet and lifestyle changes haven’t worked. Most importantly, it can significantly improve their overall health and overall quality of life. Chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, arthritis, metabolic syndrome, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease can become easier to manage or resolve completely. Weight loss surgery is life-changing, but patients must to do their part to have the best outcomes. Bariatric surgery is a lifetime commitment and there are many steps that must be taken before the procedure can happen. Let’s take a look at some of the prep steps to get to surgery:

1. Learn about proper nutrition and eating habitsBalanced eating habits are the key to making weight loss surgery work. Meeting with our registered dietitians gives you the chance to learn about the changes you’ll need to make before and after surgery. Some of these changes include decreasing portion sizes, slowing down and chewing foods well before swallowing, drinking plenty of water, and tracking daily intake in our app.Vitamin and mineral supplements will be needed after surgery. If blood sugar isn’t currently well managed, you’ll work with your primary care physician or endocrinologist to get it under control before surgery.After surgery, you’ll work through a staged diet, starting with liquids and slowly transition into eating soft foods. After about 6 weeks, you can slowly start to introduce regular foods. This gradual transition is essential to allow enough healing time for your digestive system.  
2. Creating a Your Bariatric Surgery PlanWith the help of your team, you’ll determine your goals for health and weight loss, and how to meet them. Having a plan in place makes your more likely to succeed. Understanding specific guidelines and putting them into practice before surgery will make the new habits second nature after the procedure. Along with changes to your eating habits, another important part of your plan will be regular physical activity. Exercise is important to success after surgery, and it’s strongly encouraged before surgery as well. We recommend working up to at least 30 minutes of both walking and strength training 4-5 days per week. If you don’t usually exercise, getting started can be intimidating, but walking and doing beginner workouts using online videos or free workout apps are both good options. Even getting more non-exercise activity through the day can be beneficial: taking the stairs, parking at the far end of the lot, etc. 
3. Complete a Psychological Clearance for SurgeryPreparing your mind both before and after surgery holds equal significance in ensuring a smooth recovery, alongside physical readiness.Bariatric surgery requires making significant lifestyle changes to be successful. Losing weight after surgery can cause changes to social life, relationship dynamics, and emotions. Part of our job is to determine if you’re mentally ready to go through these changes needed to support your overall health.Before your surgical procedure, a comprehensive pre-surgical assessment will furnish your medical provider with insights into your psychological well-being and your level of readiness for the upcoming surgery. The psychologist will discuss your mental health history including if you’ve ever experienced depression, anxiety, or eating disorders, and how you’ve managed any previous attempts at weight loss. You’ll be asked about social factors that could impact your ability to lose weight (employment or housing). Substance use, including alcohol, will be discussed to prepare patients for life after surgery, since some patients may be at a higher risk for alcohol use disorder after surgery.Psychological and behavioral factors become pivotal in assessing your preparedness for surgery. Factors such as stress, anxiety, depression, or a lack of mental readiness for the post-surgical phase can have adverse effects on your recovery process.A psychological evaluation serves to uncover your strengths and weaknesses, as well as your underlying motivation for pursuing surgery. It can also pinpoint areas where you may require additional support or assistance.We are invested in you long term and want to ensure you have the best chances for success.
4. Get Medical Clearance for SurgeryHaving excess weight can increase risks when having surgery, so it’s important that your total health is assessed before being approved for bariatric surgery. You may be asked to complete evaluations to examine your heart and lung health to make sure your body is strong enough to ensure the stress of surgery. You’ll also have lab work done to assess your health and nutritional status. Other tests may be needed based on your health history and the type of surgery you’re having: endoscopy or upper GI, sleep apnea testing, x-rays, or ultrasounds may be needed.
5. Adopt Positive Habits and Behaviors Prior to Bariatric SurgeryDon’t wait until after surgery to start making changes to your habits to support your goals. The more you do ahead of time, the easier life after surgery will be. We encourage you to:
   • Focus on better sleep habits
   • Find ways to manage stress without relying on food as a coping mechanism
   • Find a team of support from family, friends, or our Pivot Support Groups
   • Slow down eating
   • Drink plenty of water
   • Make it fun - gamify your goals
   • Use a calorie counter
   For patients who use nicotine, you must stop at least 6 weeks before surgery. It’s also important to avoid smoking forever after surgery to avoid serious complications.
6. Confirm Insurance Benefits and Payment OptionsMost insurance plans offer full or partial coverage for bariatric surgery. Our team of experts will verify your insurance coverage as you start the program, but it’s important that you also understand your plan benefits. Insurance plans may also have requirements for tests, education, and documentation you’ll have to complete before being improved for surgery.Read more about our fees and financing.
7. Prepare for Weight Loss SurgeryWeight loss surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Since risk factors associated with excess weight can affect anesthesia, it’s important to plan for these ahead of time. Your surgery team may discuss airway management plans if you have sleep apnea because this can make a breathing tube harder to place. We will also confirm that there is easy access to your veins for placing an IV for surgery.
8. Do Your ResearchPatients will learn a lot about surgery from our Pivot Weight Loss team, but we also encourage you to attend educational classes, support groups, and if possible, speak with others who have actually undergone bariatric procedures. There are many videos and resources available through the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). The more information you have ahead of time, the more prepared you’ll feel going into surgery.
9. Ensure you Have the Best Bariatric Surgery Team in Your CornerAt Pivot, we are proud to offer support from our multidisciplinary team to help our patients achieve the best possible results. From preparing for surgery, recovery, and adjusting to life afterwards, you’ll be guided by your surgeons, registered dietitian, and other coordinators. Together we deliver personalized care you need to reach your goals and stay there.  
10. Learn more about the journeyCall our office at any time to ask questions and discuss your journey.