Pre-Surgery Weight loss?

Hi everyone
I am pretty new to the boards and have just started my weight loss journey.  I have done the info session, first consult, this week I have my bloodwork, upper GI, gallbladder , psyc eval, and in 2 weeks my sleep test.   I have my next appt with the doc to review my test results the week after all my tests are done.   I am extremely excited to be on my way.  I am a self pay patient and since I don't have to wait for any insurance approval, my understanding is that as long as everything is  OK, I can move foward.

My question has to do with Pre-Surgery weight loss.  In reading a lot on the boards I see that a lot of people have been required to loose a certain amount of weight prior to surgery.  I know every surgeon is different, but is that pretty standard?  Does it have to do with health issues or a requirement to see how serious you are about the procedure?   Just wasn't sure what to expect when I go back in a few weeks. 
Thanks for the info!

I had my surgery at Jeanes Hospital with Dr. Dempsey.  I had to go on a two week liquid diet prior to surgery to help shink my liver to make it safer for the operation.  Other than that I did not need to loose weight as a requirement of my insurance.

My hubby had his surgery 4 years ago at Temple and did not have to do a liquid diet. 

BTW, welcome to the boards. 

Ida

I think a lot of the docs would like us to lose some weight prior to surgery as it makes their job easier for them.  (Shrinks the liver, so they can operate more easily.)  They don't test us to see if we're serious about the procedure, but it's a big committment, so we do need to be serious about making changes.

Keep us posted on your progress!!!

A lot of this will be up to your insurance and your doctor.  My insurance didn't make me loose anything before surgery... my doctor said whatever I could lose would be great... because of my PCOS I was only able to lose 5 pounds... but 5 pounds is 5 pounds...

Good luck

Thanks everyone for the responses.  I am having my surgery at Penn Presbytarian.  Wondering about the 2 week liquid diet, not sure about that one yet. 
Thanks for the info!

The program at LVH wanted you to lose weight, but Dr Rovito did not.  He said they would not be allowed to not approve us as he is the surgeon - so it is basically up to him as he told it.  He told us if we could lose weight we would not need this surgery so why put us thru that.  Sadly, he did not tell us this until 5 months into the program when I was freaking out that I only lost 5lbs!  LOL