Gastric bypass surgery is a procedure designed to effectively bypass most of your stomach, leaving you with a very small, but functional, stomach. This, in turn, allows you to eat less, reduce your caloric intake and lose a significant amount of weight. According to GastricBypassSurgery.com, patients lose an average of 50 to 60% of their goal weight within the first 2 years following the procedure. However, as with any surgery, there are risks and potential complications. Bariatric surgeons who perform the operation have specific criteria that must be met in order for patients to be accepted for surgery.
Instructions
Getting Qualified
1. Check your insurance policy. Depending on your individual plan, you may or may not have insurance coverage for the surgery. This is important to know ahead of time, since it may narrow your list of available surgeons. It will also give you a clearer vision of the financial obligations you are facing.
2. Find a bariatric surgeon near you and make an appointment for a consultation. If you have insurance coverage, make sure that they are participating with your plan. The consultation is pivotal for determining if you are or are not eligible for the surgery.
3. Familiarize yourself with the criteria for acceptance and bring any necessary documentation with you. For example, one of the requirements of being accepted is showing proof that you have attempted diet and exercise to lose weight and tried medically-supervised weight loss plans, but failed. Also, any weight-related medical issues such as sleep apnea, hypertension (high blood pressure) or diabetes will be taken into consideration along with your age, weight and body mass index.
4. Be prepared for the road ahead. You are facing major changes and a lifelong commitment. Many bariatric surgeons will require a consultation with a staff therapist or nutritionist to make sure that you are ready to commit to making some major lifestyle changes. You will be required to adopt a healthy exercise program and make permanent dietary changes. For example, for the first few days after surgery you will be on a liquid diet, followed by several weeks of pureed food. Your long-term diet will include several small meals daily, focusing on highly nutritious foods.
