Considering Sleeve Surgery? Understand Your Role

Posted by Dr. Nick Nicholson on September 21st, 2014

You make an appointment with a bariatric surgeon, jump through a few pre-surgical hoops, undergo the procedure and viola, your body is down to a healthy, normal weight in no time at all. If that’s your understanding of how sleeve surgery procedures and other bariatric options work, it’s time to back up, take a few breaths and arm yourself with some vital information.

The first thing you need to know is that weight loss surgery isn’t a magic cure all. Yes, it can provide the impetus for dramatic and lasting weight loss, but it doesn’t come quite as easily as going under the knife and waking up skinny.

If you’re considering gastric sleeve surgery or any other form of bariatric surgery, you need to understand the role you’ll play in the success before the procedure and after it. While your doctor will very likely go into detail about what you’ll need to commit to, here are a few things to expect as far as your role goes:

• A keen understanding of your motivations – Your doctor is very likely going to discuss your reasons for wanting to undergo a pretty serious procedure to shed pounds. This is simply to determine what your thoughts are on the subject and what you might think the surgery can do for you. If, for example, you need to lose weight to control diabetes and get your health in check, this type of surgery can very much help. If you’re considering the option because you think shedding pounds will make everything better in your life, it’s probably time for greater self-evaluation. Surgery cannot fix everything, but it can help you lose weight.
• A strong commitment to adopting a healthier lifestyle – Bariatric surgery can help you eat less, but that doesn’t mean you’ll shed all the pounds desired if you don’t eat right and start exercising. Chances are your doctor is going to want you to commit to a solid plan for healthier living both before and after the surgery to increase your chance for real weight loss success.

Gastric Sleeve surgeons can help their patients on their quest to lose weight, but they can’t do it all on their own. For lasting success, you have to be willing to enact lasting changes, too.

About Author:-

One of the most experienced weight loss surgeons in the country – Dr. Nick Nicholson – along with a full staff of surgeons, nurses and other experienced clinicians, help patients reverse obesity with LAP-BAND, Gastric Bypass, Sleeve Gastrectomy and Revisions.