5 Questions To Ask Before Bariatric Surgery

If you have repeatedly tried and failed to lose weight, bariatric surgery is probably on your radar. While the physical benefits are obvious, you should ask yourself – and talk to your doctor about -- some important questions, such as:

Have You Exhausted Non-Surgery Options?

Bariatric surgery is not the first line of defense against obesity. Diet changes under the supervision of a dietitian, exercise options endorsed by your healthcare provider and even temporary weight-loss medications prescribed by a physician can go a long way toward healthy weight management. Testing for hormonal imbalances, such as thyroid issues, is also essential to understanding and treating obesity. If you have tried these options and they have not yielded the results needed to achieve health, bariatric surgery may be the next logical step.

Are There More Benefits Than Risks?

As with any procedure, bariatric surgery comes with risks that vary based on each individual. However, the benefits of bariatric surgery can potentially have a more significant positive impact on your health than if the surgery did not take place. Obesity is one of the leading causes of health problems globally, and addressing it often can improve your overall health.

Bariatric surgery can prevent or improve conditions such as:

• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Unhealthy cholesterol levels
• Sleep apnea
• Urinary incontinence
• Joint or other body pain

Discuss the potential risks and benefits with your healthcare provider to make the most informed decision for yourself.

Can You Commit to Lifestyle Change?

You must understand that surgery is the easiest part of the bariatric journey. Making this change requires a long-term commitment that will impact every aspect of your life, including your diet and exercise. Keep in mind that:

• In the months before your bariatric procedure, you will need to remove soft drinks, caffeine, alcohol and tobacco use from your life and plan to abstain from those things for the rest of your life.
• Your eating habits will change drastically following the surgery, with liquids and soft foods allowed at the start and other foods reintroduced over time.
• You will need to portion and pre-plan meals indefinitely -- a change you must understand and accept before surgery.

Preparing yourself for permanent diet, exercise and related lifestyle changes is part of the pre-surgery process -- and vital to your success.

Are You Mentally Prepared?

The physical component of bariatric surgery is only part of the story -- your mindset requires complete reprogramming for the procedure to succeed long term. This is why you will have pre-surgery and post-procedure counseling.

A large amount of weight loss will bring various emotions that vary by patient. It’s important to prepare yourself mentally for emotional ups and downs after losing a large amount of weight. Stress can lead to weight gain, so understanding triggers and coping will help you keep off the initial weight you lose.

In addition to speaking with trained mental health professionals, consider joining in-person or online support groups with other bariatric surgery patients. These groups often offer real-world advice and encouragement from people who know exactly what you are going through. 

Do You Understand Potential Social Changes?

After surgery, weight loss and improving health will put you on a positive trajectory, but the process also changes relationship dynamics. Expect your interactions with others to evolve as you change. The best way to stave off negative energy is to have upfront conversations with those closest to you about how you value and need their support during this lifelong change. Some people may be associated with negative habits in your life -- such as heavy drinking or smoking. Though it’s difficult, you will need to avoid those scenarios to protect your health and well-being. Remember that you are undergoing bariatric surgery to become an optimal version of yourself, and some people may not like or fully understand that -- and that’s OK.

Bariatric surgery is the beginning of a long-term lifestyle change. Understanding that is vital to your success.