Whether bariatric surgery is the following step in your weight reduction journey otherwise you’re still deciding if it’s the best selection for you, it’s necessary that you’re feeling ready.
A giant a part of bariatric surgery is the preparation, which incorporates understanding insurance requirements and making major lifestyle changes that you simply’ll proceed post-surgery. Read on to find out how to prepare for bariatric surgery, and the way our team will guide you thru every step toward a healthier, better-quality life.
An excellent first step is knowing bariatric pre-surgery insurance requirements
A giant query on many individuals’s minds is, “Does insurance cover weight reduction surgery?” The excellent news is that the majority insurance firms cover a number of kinds of bariatric surgery.
Nonetheless, requirements for bariatric surgery differ based on insurance coverage. And it’s best to know what your insurance company covers before your first appointment at a bariatric surgery or weight reduction center.
How to know what’s required by your insurance
Call the member services number on the back of your insurance card and ask in regards to the coverage criteria for bariatric surgery. They’ll find a way to explain what’s covered and will even send you a link to the coverage criteria you’ll be able to take to your appointment.
Your care team will answer any questions on the coverage criteria in the course of the first appointment. They’ll also talk in regards to the pre-approval process and what comes next.
Activities that could be required before surgery
When you’re approved, you might still need to complete certain activities before you’ll be able to get bariatric surgery. These will depend upon your insurance plan but may include:
Managing or dropping pounds before bariatric surgery
Many individuals don’t need to shed extra pounds prior to surgery, however it could also be required due to insurance or medical history. When you need to shed extra pounds, your doctor will let how much, and your care team will help with pre-surgery weight reduction.
Trying other weight-loss options first
Some insurance firms require no less than six months of supervised weight-loss attempts through a medical weight management program. Prescription weight reduction medications could also be an option in case you need to shed extra pounds before surgery. These medications can reduce your appetite and cravings for certain foods or change how your body processes nutrients corresponding to fat, so that you metabolize fewer calories.
Dietary counseling and education
It’s typical for insurance coverage to require a number of meetings with a nutritionist or dietitian before surgery. They’ll work with you to put together an individualized plan for healthy eating as you prepare for surgery and the years to come.
Medical testing for bariatric surgery
Your doctor will use medical tests and wellness checks to get an accurate assessment of your health before surgery. Testing will depend upon your health history and insurance requirements, but often includes lab work and imaging tests like chest X-rays and gallbladder ultrasounds.
Developing a plan to increase activity levels
Before surgery, you’ll meet with an exercise specialist or a physical therapist to determine your current level of fitness and develop movement goals for before and after surgery.
Meeting with a behavioral health specialist
Your attitudes and habits around food can get in the best way of successful weight control. That’s why you’ll need to talk to a behavioral health specialist before you’ve got bariatric surgery.
The goal is to discover and treat mental health barriers so that you’re higher able to form and maintain good habits and lifestyle changes before surgery. Examples include eating disorders (corresponding to a binge eating disorder), using food as a coping mechanism for stressful or traumatic situations, substance misuse disorder, depression, anxiety and a bipolar diagnosis.
If you’ve got a mental health condition, it doesn’t mean you can’t have bariatric surgery. Nonetheless, getting therapy before surgery can increase the prospect of successful weight reduction after surgery.
Preparing your body and mind before bariatric surgery
The bariatric pre-surgery insurance requirements will provide help to prepare for surgery and the changes that may follow. But there’s much more you’ll be able to do to set yourself up for success.
Below, we cover details about changing your eating regimen and what to eat to prepare for surgery, becoming more energetic, constructing a support system and other lifestyle habits that could possibly be helpful to implement before surgery.
What to eat while preparing for bariatric surgery
Establishing healthy eating habits before bariatric surgery helps you physically prepare for the brand new lifestyle that you simply’ll maintain after the procedure. Your dietitian will provide an individualized plan based in your needs. You possibly can expect recommendations corresponding to:
- Eating quite a lot of foods
- Eating three meals a day
- Eating lower fat foods
- Eating less restaurant or fast food
Pre-surgery bariatric liquid eating regimen
About 10 days to 3 weeks before surgery, you’ll start a liquid eating regimen. The liquid eating regimen helps reduce body fat and reduce the dimensions of the liver. These body changes can reduce the length of surgery, recovery time and the prospect of complications.
Your care team will work with you to ensure your eating regimen provides the essential nutrients you would like, while also preparing your body for surgery. Liquids have to be clear, low-sugar and low-fat, and also you’ll eat around 64 ounces a day. Appropriate liquids include:
- Protein shakes
- Low-sodium broth
- Water
- Coffee or tea
- Sugar-free popsicles or Jell-O
- Sugar-free beverages with no carbonation (like Crystal Light)
Increasing activity levels may help prepare your body for surgery and for the changes you’ll need to make afterwards. Plus, in case your heart and body are healthier, you’ll find a way to get better faster and more quickly move into an energetic lifestyle.
An excellent goal is to work up to an hour of movement, most days of the week. If you start understanding, concentrate on low-impact cardio exercises and incorporate strength training. Listed here are more suggestions that may provide help to be more energetic:
- Work around mobility limitations – Start with exercises like chair yoga. All movements are done from a seated position, putting less pressure in your body and joints.
- Add more movement into your day – Try cleansing the home, parking farther away on the mall or using the steps as an alternative of an escalator.
- Get outside for a walk – When you’re recent to exercise, start with a visit to the mailbox or walking across the block, then slowly increase the space as you’re feeling comfortable.
Setting goals and identifying your support system
Preparation for bariatric surgery goes beyond physical preparation. It’s just as vital to be sure that you’re in a great place mentally and emotionally. Before surgery, take time to set realistic goals and discover the individuals who you’ll be able to lean on after surgery. It’s necessary to:
- Set realistic expectations – Weight reduction surgery isn’t a fast fix, but somewhat a tool to provide help to reach your long-term goals. It’s necessary to prepare for periods of time while you’ll see big results and for the times you don’t. Everyone’s weight reduction is exclusive, so try to avoid comparing your results to others.
- Have a support system – It takes effort and time to lose and keep weight off after bariatric surgery. Having a robust support system of family or friends who understand your long-term goals, can provide help to stay motivated and cheer you on along the best way.
- Lean in your care team – Your care team wants you to achieve success, so ask for help while you need it. Your dietitian or nutritionist can provide help to plan for eating changes, and your primary care provider generally is a priceless support system post-surgery and beyond.
- Get support for mental health concerns – Our team of behavioral health professionals is here to provide help to work through any mental health concerns that may hold you back from achieving your goals.
Why you must give up smoking before bariatric surgery
When you smoke, it’s often really helpful that you simply quit no less than 4 weeks before your surgery. Nonsmokers have higher recovery rates after surgery than smokers and are less likely to develop pneumonia or other lung problems during recovery. You do not want to quit alone. Talk to your primary care doctor for suggestions and data about resources to provide help to quit smoking.
What to buy before bariatric surgery
Recovering from bariatric surgery takes several weeks or more. Gathering essential items before surgery could make the recovery process just a little easier. Because you’ll be on a liquid eating regimen for a couple of weeks after surgery, you’ll likely need to stock your pantry and fridge with different items. It’s also a great idea to put money into shaker bottles and food storage containers.
Hospital bag checklist
Before surgery, we recommend making your personal bariatric surgery hospital checklist, so you’ve got all the things you would like for a snug stay. We recommend including items like:
- Cozy clothes or pajamas
- Cellphone, tablet or e-reader and chargers
- Earplugs
- Thermos or water bottle
- Toiletries
- CPAP machine or other device for sleep apnea, if you’ve got one
Bariatric surgery and weight reduction support
We provide video visits for bariatric surgery and weight management services to make it easy and convenient for you to get the personalized support you would like before and after surgery. During these visits, you’ll be able to seek the advice of together with your doctor and care team on a wide selection of topics, including activity and fitness recommendations, nutrition and mental health support.