Getting Ready For Your Weight Loss Surgery

Preparing for weight loss surgery begins months before the actual procedure. There are a number of factors you need to consider and work through with your surgeon beforehand, to ensure you get the maximum benefit from the surgery and avoid “rebound” weight gain. Establishing your post-surgical routine beforehand can help you lose weight faster, keep it off and create a more healthy lifestyle overall. In Part 2 of United Medical Credit’s series on bariatric surgery, we will give you tips and strategies for preparing for your surgery, as well as what to expect from your physician and what is expected from you.What questions should I ask? The first question you should ask is whether your surgeon is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery. This helps ensure that you are receiving quality care from a trained professional who scrupulously adheres to rigid standards of performance and patient care. Next, you should ask about the surgeon’s background. How many procedures has this surgeon performed during his or her career and in the past year, and what the incidence of side effects or complications amongst the surgeon’s patients is. Finally, you should inquire as to the success rate of the procedures the surgeon has performed. These questions will help you determine whether you are getting the best possible care before, during and after the procedure. In addition, asking these questions is an excellent way to help you find a surgeon with good experience and with whom you can expect to establish a solid professional rapport. If you are having difficulty finding a surgeon who meets your criteria, or if you need assistance with referrals, United Medical Credit is happy to help you find a surgeon with the skills and experience you expect to make your weight loss surgery as successful as it can possibly be. What lifestyle changes should I expect? Once you have found a surgeon, there will be certain expectations you have to follow. Many surgeons expect patients to try to lose at least 15 pounds prior to surgery. This not only makes the actual procedure easier and reduces the risk of complications but also demonstrates that you are fully committed to the surgery and the lifestyle changes that come with it. Your surgeon and insurance provider may have specific requirements for pre-operative preparation, but some of the most common are: Stop smoking: If you smoke, your surgeon will expect you to make a genuine effort to quit. This can help prevent post-operative complications and help you feel better overall. Stop drinking alcohol: Alcohol consumption leads to dehydration and over time may irritate the stomach, liver and digestive system. In addition, alcohol will affect you very differently after the surgery, so it is best to stop drinking altogether. Increase your protein intake: Protein makes you feel fuller for longer, and helps you retain muscle mass after the surgery while giving long-lasting energy. Change your diet: Adding healthy foods such as vegetables and low-fat proteins to your diet before surgery can help you adjust to the diet your surgeon requires after surgery. If you can adopt this diet in its entirety beforehand, that would be even better. Drink more water: Hydration is important at all times, but especially in preparation for bariatric surgery. Water can help you feel fuller, help detoxify your system and prevent kidney stones, which may occur during rapid weight loss. Exercise: Even walking just 20-30 minutes a day can help you get healthier and lose weight, especially in combination with a healthy diet. In addition, adopting a regular pre-surgery exercise regimen can help you set a routine and stick to it after the surgery, when exercise will become even more important to maintaining your rate of weight loss.   Some surgeons and insurance providers may also require you to undergo psychological evaluation and even a period of counseling, to prepare you for the very rapid shifts in your body. These can affect your moods and thoughts in unexpected ways. Also, you may be expected to attend educational seminars on a number of topics regarding the surgery, possible side effects and what to expect at various stages of post-operative recovery. Conclusion Doing your due diligence and trying to get yourself in the best possible condition before your surgery can help you achieve better results with less risk of side effects afterward. However, your attitude about the surgery and having reasonable expectations about the anticipated results after surgery is just as important. For this reason, education is frequently considered as crucial as the physical aspects of pre-operative preparation. For more information about what to expect from your bariatric surgery and how to get ready, United Medical Credit and your surgeon can help you find the answers to your questions. For more information about financing your weight loss surgery please call (855) 503-1800. Follow us on social: Linkedin-in Facebook-f Instagram Twitter

What are my weight loss surgery options?

Financing your bariatric surgery shouldn’t be difficult to obtain and manage. Fortunately, United Credit offers several financing options for those seeking weight loss surgery. June is Bariatric month at UMC. In our 3 part series, we explore the different types of weight loss surgeries, how to prepare your life before and after your surgery, and much more. Most people aren’t obese because they choose to be, or because of lifestyle factors, but because of genetic factors that influence whether their bodies are more or less efficient at converting carbs and fats into energy. Others may be obese because of an enforced, rather than chosen, lifestyle such as a long period of medically-necessary bed rest during pregnancy or while recovering from an accident. For many of these people, life used to be an endless treadmill of being shamed for their weight by doctors, friends, family, and thoughtless strangers on the street. Bariatric surgery has changed this picture, giving hope to millions of people who cannot lose weight any other way. As bariatric surgical procedures have advanced and criteria for eligibility and post-treatment protocols have become better defined, people who need to lose weight for serious medical reasons have found they have more options with less risk than ever before. However, surgical weight-loss procedures are never undertaken simply for vanity’s sake. These are done when a patient is at risk of severe medical complications or even death from being obese. The popularity of bariatric surgery peaked in 2008-2009, and then dropped, possibly owing to the economic uncertainty of the Great Recession. In 2008 and 2009, roughly 200,000 people underwent lap-band, sleeve gastrectomy, or gastric bypass surgery. In 2010, only about 150,000-160,000 people had these surgeries or about 1% of the people who would be considered viable candidates. However, bariatric procedures are rebounding in popularity, and are more affordable than ever. United Medical Credit is proud to help make bariatric surgery even more accessible and give more people a chance at a long and healthy life. What Are The Choices? The most popular kinds of bariatric surgery are: Lap Band: Laparoscopic stomach banding involves placing an adjustable silicone band filled with saline around the stomach, dividing it into two pouches that restrict how much food can be taken in at one time. This surgery is intended for people with a Body Mass Index of over 40, a BMI of 35 with at least one life-threatening complication involved, or who are at least 100 pounds over their ideal healthy weight. Gastric Sleeve: Gastric sleeving or sleeve gastrectomy involves altering the structure of the stomach itself by removing a portion of the stomach. This transforms the stomach from a bag into a sleeve, much like Lap Band surgery. However, gastric sleeving is a relatively new procedure carrying more risks than Lap Band surgery but less than gastric bypass. This procedure is not reversible. Gastric Bypass: By far the more invasive and risky procedure, gastric bypass surgery requires that the stomach be stapled to form a small food pouch. The lower bowel is divided and a portion of the bowel is attached to the pouch, bypassing the lower stomach and part of the small intestine. This surgery does feature a higher success rate than reversible bariatric procedures but also requires committed lifestyle changes on the part of the patient. Mini Gastric Bypass: Unlike regular gastric bypass, this procedure relies on a small loop of intestinal material to transmit digested food to the remainder of the digestive system, effectively bypassing six feet of the digestive tract. How Do I Know Which Surgery Is Right For Me? Only your doctors can say for sure which bariatric surgery will give you optimum results because every case is different. However, once you and your healthcare provider have determined which choice best meets your needs, United Credit is ready and waiting to help you find your way back to the healthy body you’ve been missing. Remember to check back for Part 2 of our Bariatric Surgery Series, including everything you need to know about what lifestyle changes you should prepare for before your surgery to reduce complication risk and get the maximum benefits from your procedure! Follow us on social: Linkedin-in Facebook-f Instagram Twitter