Question:
I am new to this. Why does one need to lose weight BEFORE surgery?
— JoyHMB (posted on September 27, 2004)
September 27, 2004
The answer depends on who is asking you to lose the weight. If it is your
surgeon - some surgeons like to see some weight loss prior to surgery so
that your liver will not be as large and if your having lap surgery, it
reduces the chances of the liver getting nicked by accident.
Also, some insurance companies want you to "prove" to them that
conventional diets do not work long term for you. Most of us can lose
weight on a traditional diet, we just can't keep it off. Both insurance
and Dr.'s sometimes want to make sure that you will be compliant with the
post-op diet and that you will be successful. It is possible to out eat
this surgery and many have or will do just that.
Good Luck
— Carolyn M.
September 27, 2004
I agree with the first poster. Some surgeons and insurance companies
require it for the reasons listed. My surgeon did not require it--I gained
9 lbs in the month before surgery.
— gerardlovesjoy
September 27, 2004
A also think they want to see if you can commit to a the doctor's request.
If you can't lose for a short time how will you be able to for the rest of
your life. Remember, this surgery is a DIET TOOL. If you abuse the tool
it will break and you will gain weight.
— Linda R.
September 27, 2004
Depends on who's doing the asking. Among the reasons I've heard are (1)
Insurance Company requiring 6 mos. supervised weight loss attempt in the
current calendar year. (2) Doctor wants to get some weight off to help
with fatty liver problems and help in recovery (3) Doctor wants to see if
you can stick to a required program before you're committed to one via
surgery and (4) Health reasons.
— Cathy S.
September 27, 2004
well the reason they put u on deit before surgery is so that it will shirnk
ur liver and make room for them to move around in there , so there a better
chance thay don't have to open you up and u don't have this long scar just
these small ones ... i hope this helped out . believe me it is worth it
— lizzie72
September 27, 2004
All good answers so far and another one: according to my doctor and
research I did pre-op, ANY weight you lose beforehand lessens your surgery
risk.
— scbabe
September 28, 2004
My surgeon was asked this question at a recent support group meeting -- his
answer was that to his knowledge there is NO evidence that losing weight
just prior to surgery does ANYTHING to the liver, and in fact is an
unnecessary stress on the body which might make the patient an even higher
surgical risk due to suboptimal nutrition. My surgeon does lap DS
procedures, even on patients as high as 600 lbs., so if he thought there
was any benefit to pre-op dieting, I'm sure he would recommend it. It is
my opinion that a requirement for pre-op dieting is a sadistic, unnecessary
torture, and only misinformed surgeons require it -- why should you have to
PROVE you can use the tool before you get it? It is meaningless and
pointless torture, IMHO. I would not have used a surgeon who required
pre-op weight loss, and fortunately, my first choice surgeon agreed with my
assessment of the utility of such a requirement. Good luck with whatever
you do.
— [Deactivated Member]
September 28, 2004
Well, you've heard all the "reasons" out there. I just wanted to
add that if I were you, I would seek a doctor who doesn't require it.
Advise it, sure, but require it? In my honest opinion, that's like telling
a drowning man in shark-infested waters that he needs to show he can
doggy-paddle before you'll save him! ::)
— christied
September 29, 2004
It is ridiculous. One of my insurance requirements was that you've tried
weight loss and have not been able to lose. So it seems to me if you loss
weight it would disqualify you.
— Bettyj
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