Preparing for Your Consultation

Your initial consultation with your bariatric surgeons can be a very nerve racking but also gratifying experience. This is your chance to explore and understand bariatric surgery more in –depth and it will offer you piece of mind as you and an experienced bariatric professional assess your wants and needs in preparation for your surgery.

When you call to schedule your appointment, ask the surgeons office if they have an orientation packet that they could send you in the mail. Also request any medical history forms that they will want you to fill out upon your arrival. Gather up all previous medical records if they are available. If you have them in your hand when you arrive, it could speed the process.

Don’t be shy to write a list of all of your dieting attempts, medically supervised or not. Be sure and notate how long you were on the diet, how much weight you lost and how long you kept it off. Also, be sure to completely any forms that the surgeon’s office may send you.

As mentioned earlier, your initial consult is your chance to fully understand the bariatric procedures that will be offered to you, based on your medical history and current medical condition.

Some suggested questions you may want to ask are:

• Where will the surgery be performed?
• What type of surgery will you be having? Open incision, laparoscopic, Proximal, Distal, etc..
• How long can you expect to stay in the hospital?
• How long will your recovery take?
• What types of restrictions will you have after surgery?
• What type of diet will you be on after surgery?
• Will there be any nutritional supplements?
• What types of special things will you need when you return home? ie...foods, vitamins, painkillers, etc..

The object of the initial consult is to help both you and your surgeon fully understand your personal condition, the advantages and disadvantages of the surgery, and to help you become more at ease with a surgery that has proven to be one of the most effective alternatives to weight loss for the severely obese for the past several years.

Keep in mind that this entire experience is for your own well-being and every bit of knowledge you can gain before, during and after the operation will ensure that you have a successful surgery and an even more successful recovery that will bring you a life of happiness and fulfillment.