Question:
Does everyone have to lose 10% of their weight before surgery, how?

   — [Anonymous] (posted on December 12, 2000)

December 12, 2000
Hi I saw Dr. Ostroff in August. They expect us to lose the weight. I lost it in one month...but maintaining it through all the tests which took three months after was and is difficult. This is what I would have done...if I could do it again... start losing the weight and get referalls to get your ultrasound on your gall bladder , psych exam, ecardiogram..cardiologist, and lose the weight while doing that. I lost it, then the SF office told me to do those other things so I have gained 10 pounds back because it is taking so long. I now have an appt. with Dr. Patti the beginning of the year and I have to lose that 10 pounds again. I was told it he sees we gain any weight he WILL NOT do surgery. That really sucks being I lost it all quickly but the wait on tests and referalls and now Holidays are here and I have a bottle of Metabolife to keep me from having anything. To answer your question, No not every dr. makes you. Karen Bagatellos from dr. Ostroff's office said to me that they have you do for the committment. It shows how committed you really are plus it will help you recover quicker. She also told me that 50% of the potential patients drop out and don't pursue WLS because they don't lose their weight. I think this is a way for them to see who is serious and who is not. In their eyes. I would have preferred to not have to lose weight, but the surgery is that important to me and Dr. Patti has had excellent results with his patients so far that I am aware of. You may email anytime. [email protected]
   — Patricia C.

December 12, 2000
I did not have to lose any weight before surgery. I think the reason these doctors want you to lose weight is to determine your how motivated you will be to maintain the type of diet we have to adhere to post op. Good Luck...Hugs,
   — Marni

December 12, 2000
Our doc didn't require that. He figures if we COULD diet it off, we would have, therefore, diets do not work. If you happen to lose a little right before surgery, that's great, but if not, he certainly doesn't ask us to do what we already had been unable to do. Until I was 40 (+), I could always dump a few lbs by starvation dieting. But this time, it didn't work. Nope, not a lb did I lose. If that had been a requirement with my doc, I'd have gone right ahead and died back in 1995 or 1996 cuz losing it without surgery was NOT happening for me.
   — vitalady

December 13, 2000
The first surgeon I went to required weight-loss prior to surgery. He said it would be "easier" for him if there was no so much fat in the liver. This was very difficult for me to do. Since his office wouldn't contact my insurance company or schedule the surgery until I lost the weight, I was constantly nervous and anxious for five months! They even put my on the Atkins Diet to lose weight. I have since dropped this surgeon, found another surgeon who doesn't require weight loss, doesn't see the reason for it, and I was approved and scheduled with him for surgery all within one month!!!!!!
   — Kristy J.