How much weight did you lose prior to WLS?

110 pounds before surgery.

My doc generally asks for 10%, but that varies.  He told me to lose 20%.  I didn't want to fail, and they were so slow getting things processed, that by the time of the surgery day I had lost 110

Scott

I was at 460lbs before surgery and Duke required me to be under 400lbs. So I had to lose weight to have weight loss surgery, go figure. I lost 65 pounds in about 65 days by living on salad and protien only. It was a great start because I ended up losing 241lbs overall and have been maintaining successfully for the past 18 months.

Great input fellas. Pretty interesting the differences in what is required prior to WLS. You'd think there would be more of a "standard" requirement given the perceived benefits of weight loss prior to WLS.

As an aside, Tim, my brother is having is WLS next Tuesday in Omaha by a Dr. Sudan. Dr. Sudan has an excellent WLS reputation and is going to be moving on to Duke to continue his practice. As a matter of fact, I think my brother will be one of his last patients in Omaha before he makes the move. Duke is picking up a good one for sure. The strong keep getting stronger just like in basketball.

Thought you might like to know. 

Boner 

They wanted us to start losing in my WLS class, so it wasn't anything regulated by insurance or dr, or anything. I weighed 313 and by surgery time I was 298.

battling,

al

I lost a mere 4 lbs the 3 days before the good Dr. Graber did his 'slice and dice on me'. This was fine with him, as the 'deal' with Dr. Graber is that you do not gain any weight from the time you first meet, and that you follow his 3-day liquid diet from hell before surgery - I met his objectives

I wouldnt complain too hard about your pre-op liquid diet mine was for three weeks! I hated the liquid diet but I did lose 25lbs bringing me from 345 to 320 or so. I was only asked to lose 5% of my weight though.

I was required to lose 5% I went from 525 to 484.  The theory as It was explained to me was it helps reduce the fat just around the liver.  That makes it easier to do the surgery laperscopically.  The insurance requires it and the doctor only does surgeries for the insurance company's patients.  He has has under 1% of his patients planned for open, people with known issues - previous wls, hernias etc.  And in the last 5 years only 3 or less conversions where they planned laperscopic and had to switch to open in the operating room. 

I am 34, male, super morbidly obese with athletic asthma.  They weight loss wasn't too difficult.  Cut out diet coke and adkins did it pretty quick.  I had actually lost enough by the time the appeal went through.  The day after the surgery, while still in the hospital I was walking 1/2 mile at a time.  So for me the weight loss was worth how it made the surgery and recovery easier.

I lost 25 pounds in the two months before surgery: everything but the past week was simply a modified Weigh****chers-ish kind of diet.  The last week involved three meal replacement shakes (e.g., Slim Fast) and one small lo-cal/lo-carb entree a day.

/Steve

My doctor requires a 10% weight loss before surgery will even be scheduled.  I have to lose a total of 42 lbs.  Have lost 26 lbs, 16 lbs to go.  Michael

At my orientation program I was told that we would be required to loose 10% of our weight prior to surgery.  When I had my first appointment with the surgeon, he said to schedule me for a 4 week Medifast diet, during which time I lost 45 pounds (over 10%).  After one month of the liquid diet, just the shakes, water, herbal tea, no artificial sweetners  etc, the clear liquid diet was wonderful!  I have never enjoyed cottage cheese or popsicles so much.  It was hard, but I think I was better prepared for life after surgery.

Jim