Question:
I'm 850 pounds, how much should i lose before the surgery?

   — Lola S. (posted on July 24, 2005)

July 24, 2005
The amount you need to lose would be between your surgeon and you. I was told 10%. I was 352 lbs before my WLS, I only lost 10 lbs not 35 lbs, and my surgeon was okay with that, the more you lose before surgery is less stress on your liver.
   — cindy

July 24, 2005
Your surgeon will inform you of any necessary diets or weight loss goals you need to reach before he will perform the procedure. I'd check with your surgeon. Good luck and best wishes!
   — Shayna T.

July 24, 2005
Lola- Congratulations on taking these first steps. Our surgeon doesn't require any pre-operative weight loss (because if any of us could lose weight on demand, we probably wouldn't need bariatric surgery). However, some programs consider it a sign of good faith on the patient's part. As everyone has advised, check with the surgeon you choose and good luck.
   — SteveColarossi

July 24, 2005
I always thought that super obese patients had to lose a huge amount of weight in order to have the surgery. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought due the amount you weigh it would be deadly to sedate you for surgery. But I could be wrong...check with your doctor....
   — [Deactivated Member]

July 24, 2005
I agree it would be up to your surgeon. I was only able to lose 5lbs in 3 months preop. I felt bad about it and my surgeon said "if you could lose weight you wouldn't need me." That was just the right thing for him to say. Good luck on your exciting journey. In spite of some early complications and some skin issues now I would do it again for sure. My quality of life is so much better now. God bless you, Cathy
   — catleth

July 25, 2005
A quick response on the risk factor for the super morbidly obese-- yes, it is true that heavier patients do experience some greater surgical risks (however, in almost all instances that increased risk pales in comparison to the significant mortality rate increases which the super morbidly face from all other co-morbidities). And, as has been well documented in most studies of the procedure, the greatest risk factor for patient demise is surgical inexperience. For those of us who were supermorbidly obese, the death sentence that hung over us prior to surgery (and all the shame and bad feelings that accompanied us) made any slight increase in operative risk a small price to pay for the second chances we were all given. But, returning to the topic at hand, it is important to note that most surgeons who require a pre-operative weight loss requirement impose that to help screen out patients who might not be compliant and not to dramatically decrease surgical risks.
   — SteveColarossi

July 25, 2005
You don't state the reason for losing prior to the WLS and there's no info on your profile. If your surgeon has not asked you to lose weight before WLS, he may be able to do the surgery without prior weight loss. It's likely that you may be put on a medically supervised liquid diet for a brief time prior to surgery. I suggest that you ask this question over on the Message Board since there are a lot of people who read that board but don't even look here. The only person who I remember (and my memory is terrible) and can name for you to contact is Kirk Thompson. I was and still am supermorbidly obese and there are many others in that category. My surgeon said I was at high risk for WLS with a starting weight of 561, but I was in really bad shape. Good luck and God bless you on your WLS journey.
   — sjbob

July 27, 2005
Because of your weight your surgeon may require significant weight loss. I have heard of some super morbid obese patients that have had a lapband installed to lose a hundred pounds or more. Then convert to either RNY (distal) or DS surgery. I myself had RNY (proximal) but I would encourage you to look into the DS surgery. Good luck and PLEASE keep us posted via your profile.
   — SJP