Losing weight before SURGERY

why am I reading about some having to lose weight before the surgery? My doctor didnt say to me anything about this and the ones I have read that have too are about the same weight as me I am about 245 lbs. I guess I dont need to worry bout this but just wondered why... my surgery is in a week and a half so im living on this message board until then and after for awhile thank you Beth

Hi Beth, Some docs want their patients to lose weight if they feel the procedure is not safe for them because their weight is too high, and adds additional risks and/or to eliminate some health risks that make surgery tough. Some want their patients to prove that they can follow a food program prior to surgery. Others need to be on a diet and monitored by a doctor for a period of time because their insurance company requires it for the approval process. I tried to lose some weight prior to surgery because I have a short torso, and the surgeon was concerned whether he'd be able to do the procedure laproscopically - which I wanted! So I tried to lose weight to make that possible. (I did have it done laproscopically - whether it was due to my efforts or not, I'll never know!) I'm sure there are more reasons - but that's what came to my mind! Good luck with your upcoming surgery! You must be excited! Crystal

My surgeon wanted a minimum 10 lb loss to shrink the liver AND to see how committed the patient is to the life change that must accompany the surgery. I put myself on the bariatric diet 2 1/2 months before the surgery and lost 33 pounds from 267 to 234. If your surgeon doesn't have that requirement you don't need to do it. Lois

If you have open RNY, then usually no pre-op diet. If you have laproscopic RNY, then your surgeon might require you to lose weight to shrink your liver and give them more room to move the equipment around in there. Lap RNY is done through 5-6 or so small incisions using a camera and long armed equipment. My husband had open RNY. No pre-op diet. I had lap RNY. Pre-op diet. Doc wanted a 10% body weight loss. (I started at 276 and got down to 244 before surgery.)

hi thank you for the replies I am also having it laproscopic and he didnt say anything so guess all is ok hopefully : ))