What To Expect At Your First Appointment To Discuss Bariatric Surgery

So you have decided to make a huge change in your life by going under the knife and pursuing bariatric weight loss surgery. You know that this will improve your life in an immeasurable amount of ways but you are still nervous about your first appointment with your physician. At our center for weight loss surgery Houston, we are dedicated to easing this tension that you might have before the appointment. In this guide, we’ll go over what you can expect when you meet with your surgeon.

1. Understand The Impact This Surgery Will Have On Your Life

Before even setting foot out the door on the way to meet with your surgeon, it will be important to understand the impact that bariatric weight loss surgery will have on your life. This includes how you begin to live your life in relation to your diet and what you consume. While this might seem like we are just looking at what you consume from a purely caloric intake point of view, it is necessary to understand that this surgery will affect your entire lifestyle. Note what you are doing today that will be affected by how the results of the surgery pan out. Also understanding risks and complications of the surgery can be useful so you know what questions to ask your physician once you are in the office.

2. Prepare To Know And Talk About Your Medical History

Understanding your past history when it comes to your diet and weight will be extremely valuable and important once you are sitting down for the initial checkup. Communicating any kind of weight fluctuations or inconsistent diet pathways you may have taken in the past with your surgeon will give him or her a better idea of what kind of surgery you should prepare for. Were you successful with one kind of diet and not with another? How were you successful? How long did you carry the diet out for and what caused you to stop it? Knowing the answers these questions and communicating them effectively can put your mind at ease before you and your surgeon make any long term decisions. Knowing your medication history and what health issues you have had in the past can also be something to bring with you on the day of your first appointment.

3. Looking At Surgical Options

By taking note of your previous medical and psychological history as well as your health insurance, your physician will be able to provide you with a list of options you can move forward with. Once an option has been selected, you’ll move forward with a dietary evaluation and clearance. Sometimes there is a weight loss requirement to consider before going through with the surgery.

With these three ideas in mind, you can go into your next appointment with the confidence of knowing exactly what to expect when you meet with your surgeon. If you have any other questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to us today.

Clare Louise