5 Steps to Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Success

A multidisciplinary team of surgeons, nurses, dietitians, exercise coaches, mental health providers and a bariatric coordinator partners with patients before and after surgery to guide them toward better health.

  1. Pave the Way
    Before undergoing bariatric weight loss surgery, you need to lay the physical and emotional groundwork for postoperative success. That might include six months of following a healthful eating and exercise regimen that your medical team, including your surgeon, primary care doctor, dietitian and exercise coach, will devise. The team will closely monitor your progress with the program to ensure you lose an appropriate amount of weight prior to surgery, which will make for a safer operation and faster recovery.
  2. Going to Class
    The more you know about bariatric weight loss surgery, the better prepared you’ll be to tackle each step of the process with confidence. Your weight loss team will provide you with a lot of materials about every step of the program. It is very important to read everything provided so you will understand the many discussions you'll be having. During the program, members of the bariatric weight loss surgery team discuss surgical weight loss options and benefits and answer patients’ questions.
  3. Getting Personal
    Naturally, the materials you read won't cover every nuance of your situation, and you'll have some questions about what lies ahead. Your preoperative screening is a great time to ask them. You'll meet with a team that may include a bariatric coordinator, surgeon, and nutritionist to discuss which bariatric weight loss surgery technique is most appropriate for you in the context of your health and lifestyle. You will also learn about issues to address prior to surgery, such as sleep apnea.
  4. Continuing Care
    After surgery comes the most important part of the weight loss process: learning new ways to approach food and physical activity. Exercise and healthful eating based on your stomach’s new, smaller capacity will become central components of your life. Don't worry — your bariatric weight loss team will be your guide as you adjust to a new way of living.
  5. Making New Friends
    Sometimes, the most helpful advice comes from individuals who have walked or are still walking the same path you’re on. Consider joining a bariatric surgery patients' support group, where you’ll meet other bariatric weight loss surgery patients and share encouragement, eating and exercise tips, and stories of success that illustrate the healthy future you can achieve.