Bariatric surgery is a life-changing decision, and preparation is essential for the best outcome. Knowing what questions to ask a bariatric surgeon helps you make informed choices, understand your options, and set realistic expectations. Asking these questions ensures you’re fully aware of the procedure, risks, and what to expect before, during, and after surgery.
Bariatric surgery helps individuals with severe obesity achieve lasting weight loss by altering the digestive system when other methods have failed. These procedures can improve conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Evansville Surgical Associates offers expert, compassionate bariatric care tailored to your needs.
What Is Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric surgery is designed to help patients achieve significant weight loss by altering the digestive system. This surgical procedure most often works by reducing the size of the stomach or modifying the digestive tract.
The primary goal is to improve health and quality of life for patients with severe obesity. This is especially true when excess weight leads to serious health problems such as:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Sleep apnea
Bariatric surgery is typically considered when other weight loss methods like diet and exercise have not been successful. Bariatric procedures can result in substantial, long-term weight loss and often lead to the improvement or resolution of obesity-related conditions.
Questions To Ask a Bariatric Surgeon
When considering questions to ask a bariatric surgeon, be sure to ask about the various surgery types available to you, recovery times, and outcomes. Discuss which procedure suits your health, goals, and medical history. Understand the risks, benefits, and long-term effects, including nutritional needs and follow-up care, to ensure lasting weight loss and improved health.
- Does everyone qualify for weight loss surgery?
Not everyone qualifies for weight loss surgery.
Eligibility is based on strict medical criteria, such as having a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher, or a BMI of 35 or more with serious obesity-related health conditions like diabetes or heart disease. You must also show you have tried and been unsuccessful with non-surgical weight loss methods and be ready to commit to significant lifestyle changes after surgery.
Our process requires patients to be accepted into either the weight loss program at St Vincent’s or Deaconess. This typically starts with attending a weight-loss seminar and undergoing a thorough evaluation.
- When will I undergo surgery?
When you begin a medically supervised weight loss program, you can expect to spend about 6 to 12 months in the program before you meet with a surgeon.
This period includes:
- Medical evaluations
- Dietary counseling
- Psychological assessments
- Fulfilling insurance requirements
Only after successfully completing these steps will you be scheduled for a surgical consultation. The extended timeline ensures you are fully prepared for the lifestyle changes required after surgery and helps maximize your long-term success.
- What are the different types of bariatric surgery?
There are several main types of bariatric surgery, each with distinct surgical methods, recovery times, and outcomes.
Sleeve gastrectomy removes a large portion of the stomach, creating a tube-shaped pouch that limits food intake and reduces hunger. Recovery typically takes a few weeks, with significant weight loss expected.
Gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y) creates a small stomach pouch and reroutes the small intestine to restrict food intake and nutrient absorption. This method offers substantial, long-term weight loss but involves a longer recovery and a higher risk of nutritional deficiencies.
Adjustable gastric banding places a silicone band around the upper stomach to limit intake. It’s less invasive and reversible, but weight loss is generally slower and less dramatic. We don’t offer this treatment at Evansville Surgical Associates.
The biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS) combines a sleeve gastrectomy with a significant bypass of the small intestine. This leads to the greatest weight loss but also the highest risk of complications and nutritional deficiencies. Like gastric banding, this treatment is not available at Evansville Surgical Associates.
- Which procedure is right for me?
Which procedure is right for you is an important question to ask a bariatric surgeon. Each type of surgery has different risks, benefits, and outcomes.
The one they recommend will be based on your:
- Personal health history
- Weight loss goals
- Prior medical conditions
This means that your surgeon’s recommendation will be tailored to your unique needs. This includes taking other factors into consideration, such as your BMI and previous weight loss attempts.
- What are the risks and benefits of each procedure?
When discussing the risks and benefits of bariatric procedures, you want a clear explanation of both short-term and long-term complications. For example, all surgeries carry risks such as infection, bleeding, and blood clots. However, weight loss procedures come with their own unique risks.
Procedures such as gastric bypass and BPD-DS increase the chances of:
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Rapid emptying of food into the small intestine (dumping syndrome)
- Malabsorption
In these cases, lifelong supplements may be required. Adjustable gastric banding has fewer complications but offers less weight loss and may require reoperation.
In terms of benefits, gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy typically result in the most substantial and sustained weight loss. This includes dramatic improvements in obesity-related conditions like diabetes and sleep apnea.
- What is the success rate of bariatric surgery?
When considering questions to ask a bariatric surgeon, make sure to include the success rate of bariatric surgery before your procedure. This includes average weight loss and the percentage of patients who maintain their results. Understanding long-term success rates helps set realistic expectations and guides your decision-making.
Ask your surgeon how success is measured, such as:
- Sustained weight loss
- Improvement in weight-related conditions
- Enhanced quality of life
This discussion ensures that you’re fully informed about what to expect as well as how the procedure may impact your long-term health and well-being.
- What are the long-term effects of bariatric surgery?
As a patient, you need to understand the long-term effects of bariatric surgery. For example, you should be aware of the possible nutritional deficiencies, the need for lifelong vitamin and mineral supplements, the risk of weight regain over time, and possible bone loss.
To counteract this, you need to be aware of ongoing support and follow-up care, such as regular lab work and appointments. This makes knowing the ongoing support and follow-up care that you’ll need all the more important. Doing so is essential for maintaining your health and weight loss results in the years following surgery.
Choose Evansville Surgical Associates for Your Weight Loss Procedure
Evansville Surgical Associates stands out as the top choice for weight loss procedures in the Tri-State area. Our team of board-certified surgeons includes those with specialized training in bariatric surgery, ensuring you receive expert care tailored to your needs.
We offer minimally invasive laparoscopic options for both gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy. We opt for these procedures since they often mean:
- Less discomfort
- Shorter hospital stays
- Faster recovery times
We follow a holistic approach, collaborating with primary care and rehabilitation specialists to support you through every step of your weight loss journey. With over 50 years of experience providing comprehensive and compassionate surgical care, you can trust their commitment to your long-term health and success.
Are you considering bariatric surgery in Evansville, Indiana? Contact us today to learn more.
Bariatric surgery, such as gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy, helps people with severe obesity lose weight when other methods fail. These procedures can improve conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. Evansville Surgical Associates provides expert, minimally invasive bariatric care tailored to each patient’s needs in the Tri-State area.
Evansville Surgical Associates has been providing comprehensive and compassionate surgical care for over 50 years. Call us at (812) 424-8231 or (800) 264-8231 to contact us or schedule an appointment. We are available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time.
