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1. How can I know if I am a good candidate for surgery?
   To find out you may come  for a consultation.  An history and a physical exam will be done.    Then the pros and cons of surgery, risks and benefits for you specifically will be explained.  You will never be pressured to decide to have surgery.

2. What are some guidelines you use to decide if a person is a candidate for surgery for morbid obesity?
   Age usually between 18 and 65
   Weight usually more than 100 pounds above the ideal body weight.
   Patients have failed extensive efforts to lose weight over several years.  Surgery is not meant to replace dieting , it is only for morbidly obese  patients who have failed to lose weight despite their prolonged efforts.
   No recent alcohol or drug dependence.
   Stop smoking before the surgery.
   Acceptable medical risk for surgery.
   No serious psychiatric contraindications. (depression or anxiety is not a contraindication)
   The patient has to be able to understand all the aspects of the procedure and follow up instructions.
   A decision for surgery can only be made after a consultation.

3. Does insurance cover this type of surgery.
   The surgery for morbid obesity is usually cover by health insurance in the same way that and other surgery is handled that is medically indicated.  This is not cosmetic surgery.  This is not experimental surgery.  If your insurance company says that surgery for morbid obesity is not covered there are ways of protesting their decision.

4. You must contact your insurance company specifically and ask them if the surgery for morbid obesity (called bariatric surgery) that is called gastric bypass (code number 43846) is a covered service for you.  This is crucial.

5. Do you accept my insurance?
   You have to call your insurance company to see if I am participating in your plan.

6. Can I have children after my surgery?
   You must wait for 12 to 18 months until after your surgery before conceiving.  You will lose a lot of weight in this time  and you should not carry a pregnancy until the weight loss period is over. 

7. How long am I in the hospital for after the surgery?
   Usually patients are admitted the same day of surgery.  The operation takes about 1-1 1/2 hours and is done under general anesthesia.  Most people stay in the hospital for 3-4 days. 

8. How long do I have to be out of work for after I go home from the hospital?
   This varies  between  a week to a month after discharge from the hospital.

9. Are there different types of surgery being done for morbid obesity?
   Yes and the types available, the differences between them and the results that are achieved can be discussed in detail when the initial visit is made.

10. What are potential complications of surgery?
    As it is not good medical practice to give specific medical information by website, this is also best discussed with the doctor, making sure to ask important questions like leak rate, PE rate, death rate, and any other valid concerns you may have.

11. Why do you do the surgery the way you do?
    I have tried to balance safety of surgery, good long term weight loss results, and healthy  nutritional status for my patients.

    

    read some articles of interest regarding bariatric surgery patients

    

    photos after gastric bypass surgery