Preparation Bariatric Surgery

The first step in your bariatric surgery journey is determining your eligibility and selecting a specific procedure. Your healthcare provider will consider bariatric surgery requirements including your BMI and medical history to confirm eligibility, and will go over surgical options based on your health goals and individual situation.  

Once you and your medical team have decided that bariatric surgery is right for you, it’s important to take time to prepare before your procedure. Weight loss surgery comes with significant lifestyle adjustments, and understanding their impact on everyday life is key to setting yourself up for long-term success. 

Tips for Bariatric Surgery Preparation 

Bariatric surgery changes how your digestive system functions and how your body processes food. This is a major adjustment that will significantly impact your daily life. Preparing for the surgery, recovery, and lifestyle changes is essential to make sure you’re ready for each step of your bariatric journey. These tips can help you get started: 

Create a Pre-Surgery Checklist 

Preparing for your bariatric procedure can be overwhelming. It can be helpful to start with putting together a pre-surgery checklist to help you take care of all of the important details. Examples of key tasks to include are: 

• Get Insurance Approval – Make sure you check with your insurance provider to verify that your preferred surgeon is in-network and find out about coverage for your specific procedure. You should also inquire about coverage for follow-up appointments with your surgeon as well as other clinic staff such as nutritionists and therapists.  
• Complete Testing – Before you have any surgical procedure, you will often have to complete certain required testing. For bariatric surgeries, this often includes bloodwork, an EKG, and a physical. Your provider will let you know what specific tests are required. 
• Finalize Logistics – Secure a support system to help you with your recovery. You will need someone to drive you home and stay with you for at least a week after your procedure. You should also plan to take at least 4-6 weeks off from work. If you have children, additional help will likely be needed to care for them. 
• Follow Preoperative Guidelines – Plan to follow the specific preoperative guidelines laid out by your surgeon. This may include avoiding certain medications like aspirin or ibuprofen in the week leading up to your procedure, and avoiding any food or drink for 12 hours or more before your surgery. 

Outline Your Recovery 

Once your procedure has been completed, there will be a long road to recovery. The best way to prepare for this is to break it up into different phases and note what changes you can expect during each portion of your recovery. For example, your post-surgery diet will typically begin with a clear liquid diet for the first two weeks before eventually progressing to pureed or soft foods weeks and months down the line. Your surgeon and healthcare team can let you know what to expect based on your particular procedure and medical situation. 

Plan a Fitness Routine 

Bariatric patients who see the most success are those who pair the procedure with comprehensive lifestyle adjustments. This includes maintaining a regular exercise routine. Planning out a fitness regimen beforehand is a great way to be prepared for your exercise efforts post-recovery. Experts often recommend getting started with regular workouts before your procedure to kickstart your fitness journey and to get yourself in the habit of exercising.  

Consult with Your Bariatric Team 

Whether you have questions about specific bariatric surgery guidelines, nutritional requirements, or when you can start exercising after surgery, it’s a good idea to ask them before your procedure. Come up with a list of all of your questions and concerns and bring it with you to your pre-surgery consultations. The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be for recovery. Reach out to the experts at Wellstar Bariatrics to set up an appointment for a consultation today.