Weight loss surgery is, by design, meant to help patients lose weight and live their best lives. But often patients receive frustrating news about their upcoming surgery: they have to lose weight before it can take place. But why should someone have to lose weight before having surgery to do exactly that? As it turns out there are lots of reasons you should lose weight before bariatric surgery including fewer complications, shorter recovery time, and even motivation.
Weight Loss Surgery is More Successful With Less Obstruction
Losing even a small amount of weight makes most weight loss operations go much more smoothly than those where the patient lost no additional weight. It allows for less obstruction around the organs and more room for the surgeons to do their jobs.
Statistics show that weight loss surgery patients who lost at least 10 percent of their excess body weight experienced fewer complications than those patients who did not. Because a majority of bariatric surgeries are performed laparoscopically, meaning smaller incisions are made and a small camera is inserted beneath the skin and moved by the surgeon, guiding the surgery. With weight loss before surgery, there’s less fat in the body and less pressure on the organs, the surgeon has more freedom to move the camera and perform the surgery more precisely.
Your Insurance Company May Require Weight Loss
Weight loss is often mandatory before an insurance program agrees to pay for a patient’s weight loss surgery, typically ranging anywhere from 3-6 months. While this may seem daunting or feel like a barrier to completing surgery, but the weight you lose before surgery reduces your risks of complications during surgery which is beneficial for the insurance company. If you are considering bariatric surgery, it’s a good idea to call your insurance company so you can know exactly what their requirements are.
More weight loss prior to bariatric surgery means less money spent on behalf of the insurance company, and less time in the hospital for the patient. Spending less time in the hospital gets you back on your feet sooner, and headed to recovery and your new life. As tedious and frustrating as insurance requirements may be, these programs are designed for the patient’s benefit.
Jumpstart Your Lifestyle Change
Losing weight before surgery will help to prepare you for a new way of living. Patients need to eat differently after weight loss surgery, sometimes drastically. After bariatric surgery, your stomach will be much smaller and you’ll have to eat less food. Our team here at WeightWise will develop a nutrition and exercise plan that will help facilitate weight loss. Starting this plan prior to your surgery, will help you establish healthy eating and fitness habits well ahead of your procedure. So much will change after the surgery, it can be very comforting to already have an established exercise and nutrition routine.
Weight Loss Motivation
As anyone knows who has undergone weight loss in the past, seeing weight come off frequently can motivate you to keep that weight loss going. Losing weight before bariatric surgery is no different. In fact, it can be even more motivating, at you know that you will soon have a tool that will help promote the weight loss. While motivation may not seem as pressing as fewer complications or a quicker recovery time, it can be equally important to your overall well being.
Start Your Journey
To learn more about losing weight before surgery, nutrition and exercise plans, or your options for weight loss surgery, attend one of our completely free, no obligation seminars, either online or in person. WeightWise has a dedicated, expert team with the knowledge and experience to get you started on your journey to a new, healthier lifestyle.
