Approaching your doctor about gastric band surgery is intimidating but not impossible.
The Centers for Disease Control reports that nearly one-third of people in the United States are obese. These are startling numbers. If you're one of the 33 percent of Americans who are considered obese, it's important that you take action to improve your overall health. One option is to undergo gastric band surgery to help you lose a large amount of weight. However, you must have the help of a bariatric specialist who specializes in this procedure. This isn't always easy, but the right approach is necessary to make sure you're getting the help you need.
Exhaust All Other Options
Gastric band surgery isn't a quick-fix to your weight-loss problem; it's a drastic measure that should only be used when you've tried other methods to lose weight, and those methods have failed. First try losing weight by maintaining a low-calorie, low-fat diet and exercising at least three times per week for at least 30 minutes. If you aren't sure do this on your own, enlist the help of a nutritionist and personal trainer or use a popular weight-loss program like Weight Watchers or SparkPeople.com.
It's important to note that losing weight the "old-fashioned" way takes a lot of time, so be patient with your weight loss and don't give up after a week.
Research, Research, Research
If you've tried losing weight with diet and exercise and have been unsuccessful, then your next step is to understand what gastric band surgery is all about. Take the time to learn as much as you can about the procedure and expectations. You can find resources online as well as through books at your local library.
Some things you'll want to thoroughly understand before approaching your doctor include who is the ideal surgery candidate, the procedure itself, and the risks and complications that go along with the procedure. Understanding all of this will help you know if this is right for you, and it'll make your conversation with your doctor that much easier.
Maintain a Relationship
In order to bring up gastric band surgery to your doctor, you must first have a good working relationship with that doctor. Be sure to have a few visits before approaching this doctor about gastric band surgery. Also, you must be honest about your medical history so your doctor will know your overall health picture before recommending you for gastric band surgery.
Be Direct
When it's finally time to talk to your doctor, make an appointment and tell the doctor's staff that you wish to discuss gastric band surgery. That way your doctor will understand the intention of your visit.
In your actual visit, be prepared to talk a lot. Discuss your past weight-loss efforts (if your doctor doesn't already know), and explain that you've thoroughly researched the topic and understand what goes along with the procedure. Doing all the preparation before your visit will show how serious you are, so your doctor will be more likely to help you go ahead with the procedure.
