Key Takeaways:
Most patients wait about 6 weeks to 9 months for bariatric surgery after the first visit.
Key steps may include: consultation, insurance approval, medical tests, nutrition and mental health evaluations.
Your medical history, insurance provider, and pre-surgery prep can impact your timeline.
As they say, waiting is always the worst part. But honestly, looking back, the whole process felt like it flew by. It all took less than three months, from the first email with the clinic to surgery day. Could’ve been quicker by a few weeks, sure, but I had some other plans lined up that I wasn’t ready to ditch. I’m going to break down the entire process for you step by step, so you can see how it all went down for me.
Before I dive in, I just wanted to mention that my weight loss surgery had some out-of-pocket expenses. Honestly, that part definitely helped move the entire process along a lot faster. Usually, it takes a few weeks (at least that’s what I’ve read) for the insurance provider and insurance company to figure out the insurance approval, but I was able to skip that whole wait. I also didn’t have to meet with a mental health professional, which is usually part of the process for most patients. But of course, the medical team still made sure I was all set and ready to go!
Reaching Out to the Clinic
After I finally decided to go ahead with weight loss surgery, I filled out a super short online form on the clinic’s website. Thankfully, it wasn’t some massive health history quiz, just a few personal details: name, email, age, a bit about myself, and any questions I had. They even asked for my preferred contact method. A few days later, the doctor’s office reached out with answers to my questions, and we booked my consultation with the bariatric surgeon.
Initial Consultation with the Bariatric Surgeon
Now, I’m going to be honest with you. I was nervous. And that’s not just because I was about to meet a surgeon. I’ve had my fair share of negative experiences with healthcare professionals in the past. I mean, let’s face it, a lot of times when I’ve walked into a doctor’s office, I’ve felt like the focus is immediately on my weight. I’m sure a lot of it is unintentional, but I’ve had times where I could practically hear their internal monologue: “Oh, here we go again.”
I get it, doctors aren’t supposed to cheer and clap for me being overweight (obviously). But when I’ve gone in for something simple, like catching a cold during flu season, I can’t help but feel like my weight is seen as the main problem. Sure, it definitely plays a part, but it’s not like me being overweight is the reason I’ve caught a simple bug. You know what I mean? So, yeah, I went into the consultation a little on edge, just anticipating more of the same.
But, spoiler alert: none of that happened! The entire consultation was super chill. The doctor was friendly and made me feel comfortable right away. We started with a few basic questions, like what do I do for work, where am I from, etc. I’m guessing this is standard, but even that small intro made me feel at ease. The chat covered the following topics:
Medical history
We calculated my body mass index and talked about what I had tried in the past to lose weight. I shared how I’d tried multiple diets and exercise routines, and, well, failed every time. We also talked about any obesity-related conditions (e.g., high blood pressure, sleep apnea, heart disease, high cholesterol) and how bariatric surgery could help with those. In the end, we agreed that I was a suitable candidate for bariatric surgery. I can’t stress enough how relieved I was that I never felt judged or awkward during the conversation.
Weight Loss Procedure
After that, my bariatric surgeon took the time to explain all the surgical options they perform at the clinic: gastric bypass, gastric sleeve surgery, mini-gastric bypass surgery, and sleeve-bypass (SASI). Of course, I had already done my research and was torn between the mini-gastric bypass and SASI, but I wanted to hear his opinion. He said I was a good fit for both, but since I wanted to play it safe (there isn’t as much long-term data about the SASI procedure compared to the mini-gastric bypass), we decided to go with the mini-gastric bypass. We also calculated the realistic weight loss I could expect.
Post-Surgery Recovery
Of course, I was curious about the recovery part because, honestly, I was scared of it. It had been years since I had general anesthesia, and even the idea of it gave me chills. The doctor was kind and calm and explained what most patients experience after waking up, and that really helped me feel at ease. He also mentioned that the preoperative testing is done to make sure my body is physically ready for surgery.
Significant Lifestyle Changes
The doctor also explained that weight loss surgery is really just one tool. Long-term success depends on making lifestyle changes, not just dietary ones. He emphasised that physical activity is just as important as changing what you eat. Plus, he stressed how important it is to keep going to those follow-up appointments so the medical team can keep track of how you’re doing and help you monitor your progress.
The whole chat lasted about 45 minutes, and by the end, I was like, “Yep, I want this guy to do my surgery.” I got answers to everything I was wondering about, and honestly, I left feeling really good about it. I was so ready that I wanted to book my surgery date already.
The Paperwork
As mentioned, after the consultation, I was sold. I was ready. So, the clinic sent me some paperwork to go over: terms and conditions, invoices, that sort of thing. I also got the liquid diet instructions and everything I’d need to know about life after the weight loss surgery (hospital recovery, what to eat, what not to eat, how to move around, etc.).
The Blood Work
Next up: lab work. Simple. Fast. Easy. The clinic had already set me up with an electronic referral, and I was told to stop taking any vitamins a week before the blood test to make sure the results were as accurate as possible. I just showed up, sat in the chair, and waited for the nurse to take my blood. Honestly, that was the hardest part – waiting for the needle.
Consultation with the Registered Dietitian
Once my test results came back, it was time to meet with the nutritionist. Again, super chill. We went over my health numbers and, based on thatt, she gave me a list of vitamins and supplements I’d need to take before weight loss surgery. Then we talked about what my dietary changes would look like after surgery. She also told me to reach out to her or the care team if I had any questions along the way, which made me feel a lot more comfortable.
And that was pretty much it. After all of that, the pre-op diet began, but I’ll save the details of that for another post.
So, what’s your story? Have you been through something like this, or are you just starting to think about it? I’d love to hear how the wait times were for you, from the initial consultation to the insurance authorization and those weeks leading up to surgery. Did it take a few months or move along faster? Leave a comment and let’s get a conversation going. I’d really love to hear from you!
