Considerations on the treatment before and after bariatric surgery

The decision to undergo bariatric surgery will affect your lifestyle for years to come. When you choose to undergo after bypass surgery, you should modify your exercise regime and diet, both before and after bariatric surgery. This page provides further information on pre and post-surgical preparations that should be considered for the treatment of bariatric surgery.

Before undergoing any type of bariatric surgery, it is important that patients follow the doctor's instructions carefully and to learn about the risks and potential benefits of the procedure. Follow these tips to prepare mentally for surgery for obesity:

Understand the surgical procedure and what to expect afterwards.
Talk to people who have undergone surgery for obesity.
Start writing a diary about their experience.
Get your family to write a letter of support.

All preoperative patients should get advice before having surgery for obesity. This advice will help you better understand that bariatric surgery is only part of a multidisciplinary approach to weight loss. No way this surgery should be considered as a "quick fix". Instead, patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery should make lifelong changes in their diet and exercise habits to ensure long-term results after bariatric surgery.

A thorough psychological evaluation is a fundamental part of the surgical preparation of any patient who is having surgery for obesity. Having talked to a doctor about the possibility of bariatric surgery, will meet with a psychologist trained in behavioral counseling for bariatric patients. The evaluation should include social background, personal and psychiatric problems.

Besides asking the reasons for their desire to undergo gastric bypass surgery, the behavioral psychologist also determine if you are prepared to change your diet and exercise plan before and after bariatric surgery. Patients with the highest rate of long-term success are those that have a strong support system of family and friends who are willing to help them both physically and emotionally.

Certain physical and psychological conditions can reduce the likelihood of success of bariatric surgery. These conditions include:

Drug or alcohol abuse;
Depression undiagnosed and untreated;
Schizophrenia or other personality disorders.

The evaluation of a behavioral psychologist can bring to light these conditions. This will allow doctors to try and give the best chance of success after bariatric surgery.
Physical preparation for surgery for obesity

Before bariatric surgery should comply with a thorough regimen of exercise and diet to ensure your body is ready both for surgery to undergo drastic changes in the months after treatment.