Preparing for Bariatric Surgery

The surgical weight loss journey has four separate and distinct stages.

First Stage

The first stage is the gathering of information through:

• the Information Session
• personal investigation in books, magazine articles and on the internet. Recommended web sites are www.asmbs.org, www.obesityhelp.com, www.lapband.com and www.realize.com

Once a person has some general knowledge about bariatric surgery, has attended our Information Session and is ready to move forward, a consultation appointment is scheduled to meet with Dr. Wizman personally.

At the time of this appointment he will discuss surgical options and your personal history. Family members and significant others are encouraged to come to the consultation appointment. This appointment is scheduled after the patient has received a letter of medical necessity from his primary care physician and has completed a nutritional and psychological evaluation. This will be explained further in the Information Session and the needed paperwork will be provided.

Second Stage

The second stage is the pre-operative (before surgery) requirements that prepare a patient for surgery. The pre-op requirements are done within 30 days of the surgical date and after the insurance authorization is obtained. This time frame is the same for self pay patients. They include:

• Mandatory attendance at the Pre-Op Education class and the Success Class
• Cardiology evaluation and clearance
• Pulmonary evaluation and clearance
• Primary Care evaluation and clearance
• Blood work
• EKG and Chest X-ray

Upper GI Series are required for all gastric band patients. At times, additional testing is needed based on the cardiologist or pulmonologist recommendation which may include:

• a sleep study
• stress test
• echocardiogram
• pulmonary functions tests, etc.

This is on a case-by-case basis. Patients that are diabetic and under the care of an endocrinologist will require a endocrinology evaluation and clearance also.

Third Stage

The third stage is the actual hospitalization. Patients get admitted to the hospital the morning of their surgery. Hospital stays are 1-3 days depending on the surgical procedure. Dr. Wizman operates at Northwest Medical Center (Center of Excellence facility), Coral Springs Medical Center, Coral Springs Outpatient Surgery Center and Wellington Regional Medical Center.

Fourth Stage

The fourth stage is the post-operative (after surgery) program, also referred to as the “After Care Program”. The post-operative phase is as important as the actual surgical procedure. Read more...