Pre Surgery Weight Loss Requirements?

I, like many of you, was told to lose weight before I would be approved for VSG (20lbs to be exact). I was also told by folks who had the surgery that they didn't lose the weight the doctor told them to & were still approved for surgery. People say that the doctor just needs to see that you're trying by losing some weight. What are your experiences?

My surgeon will not do surgery if the weight loss requirement is not met.

I think with most surgeons/programs this requirement is to show that you have the discipline and commitment to follow the guidelines after surgery. A lot of them will not approve you for surgery if you don't lose the weight.

Research has shown no correlation between successful pre surgery weight loss and post bariatric surgery out comes but many insurance companies still require it. Or at least an attempt. Bariatric surgeons should really know better.

My program only required people who start over 300lbs to lose weight pre op.

I had this surgery because I had to starve myself to lose even a pound a week. I am a very active person and was put on (and stuck too) a 1200 calories a day for 6 weeks and lost less than 3 pounds.

My team and insurance had no weight loss requirements other than they did not want me to gain. When I started the process I weighed 340 and by the date of surgery I was 295. There were a few pre-op visits where I had gained weight though and my nutritionist talked with me about the importance of getting good habits established before I had the surgery.

My surgeon also said there is no correlation between pre op loss an success after surgery. He does not require it but my insurance did. I did not lose weight pre op and was still approved. I have BCBS. I used the pre op time to give up caffeine and learn to eat slower, etc. I was glad for the good habits post op.

I've never seen an actual scientific study on the subject. And I've seen a lot of folks who lost no weight preop become very successful. I've also seen many who lost no weight do very poorly.

But every person I've seen lose a significant amount preop have been successful. All of them. It's not a scientific result, but it's enough for me to really encourage new folks to do the same.

I think that for many of us it is making that commitment to change old habits and build new ones early (pre-op) which sets the stage for post-op success. I know that I was so disgusted with my weight and so ready to make a change that I listened and followed the advice the NUT gave me 100%.

I agree almost completely. My nutritionists gave me some advice, like eating more crappy carbs, that I ignored. But it really is about building good habits, and especially about committing ourselves.