Your surgical weight loss journey starts with determining if you are eligible for bariatric surgery according to NIH criteria. You must know your BMI. Next, you need to determine if you medical insurance provides coverage for bariatric surgery in general or consider option of financing it yourself. If you have questions call my office to get answers, schedule a private consultation and request a "patients packet" (You can also print forms below that are marked with "*"). You will be asked to attend educational seminar at the St. Agnes or St. Joseph Hospital or do that on this website. In the latter case, please wright down all you questions so we can discuss them during your consultation.

During consultation we shall jointly decide what is the best surgical procedure for you. If needed additional testing will be ordered. While preparing for surgery it is advisable that you personally meet our patients who had similar procedure and attending Group Support Meetings at the St. Agnes Hospital gives you this opportunity. If process takes more than three month or you have Medicare we will need to meet again before surgery can be scheduled so I can be up to date on your health issues.

By actively participating in preparation for surgery you can reduce risks and improve your chances to succeed with surgical weight loss. That involves learning about procedure, carefully listening to our dietician Arlene Swantko, RD, LD and trying to implement her recommendation before surgery, trying recommended supplements, loosing weight with liquid protein diet if requested, quitting smoking and conditioning your body with regular physical activity.

Within 7-10 days prior to surgery you will have to be cleared for it by your primary care physician and attend preop teaching class with our Nurse-Coordinator Cathy Carr-Dadin. Please review carefully ahead of time consent for your surgery below so that all your questions can be discussed before surgery date. You can call the office, send an email or ask them during teaching class. Logistics of perioperative process will be presented to you in detail during this preop class.

Surgery itself depending on procedure takes 1-2 hours and in 99% of cases performed laparoscopically. If I have any concerns you will be advised on possibility of conversion to open surgery ahead of time. Laparoscopic bariatric surgery usually performed through 5-6 small incisions. Additional incisions may be needed for additional simultaneous procedures (gall bladder rmoval, variety of hernias, lysis of intraabdominal scar and etc.).

Your expected hospital stay is 1/2 to1 day with Lap Band and 2-3 days with Gastric Bypass or Sleeve Gastrectomy. Overall recovery period does not last more than 1 month and depends on procedure, your pain tolerance (majority of patients experience little pain with laparoscopic incisions) and medical issues. Usually you can return to light duty/desk work in 2-3 weeks and full duty depending on your occupation in 3-4 weeks.

After surgery we will be meeting at frequent predetermined intervals during first year and then at least once a year for the rest of your life. During first month after surgery comes the most crucial for your success with bariatric surgery time - implementing needed changes in you eating habits and lifestyle. We understand that these first months following your bariatric surgery are an important period of adjustment - both physically and mentally. Adherance to recommended high protein low calorie diet is essential for your safety and effective weight loss. Your contact with dietician should be frequent, you need to keep a food diary and bring it with you for every office visit. Regular, preferably daily, exercise is absolutely important. By attending Group Support meetings you can use collective wisdom of many patients to address issues that arise.

Surgical weight loss is not a magic bullet. Successful surgery is just the beginning. Crucial, decisive factor is your commitment to instituting daily good eating habits and physical activity. Desired weight loss should occur gradually over the course of 1-2 years depending on procedure and we will be there to help you along the way and monitor your health and progress ready to interveen if necessary. But it is you and only you and nobody but you can to make these chages in your life permanent. Regular follow-up is the way to assure good health and help you maintain this high level of commitment.

Your initial steps

* Patient Information Form

* Medical History Form

* Dietician Form

Preoperative Liquid Protein Diet Guidlines

* Psychological Evaluation Form

* Pre-appointment Checklist

Verification of 6-month diet Form

Informed Consent for Laparoscopic Gastric Roux-en-Y Bypass

Informed Consent for Laparoscopic Gastric Banding 

Informed Consent for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Bariatric Society Consensus Statement on Sleeve Gastrectomy