FAQ's

Why have surgery?
Surgery is the only effective therapy for morbid obesity and it’s complications.

What if I have diabetes, asthma, heart complications or other medical problems?
Surgical weight loss can reduce disability from complications brought on by morbid obesity.

How fast will I lose weight?
Depending on your surgical weight loss procedure results will vary.  During your initial consultation your physician will explain typical weight loss results.

How much does each procedure cost?
Surgical treatment of morbid obesity is a covered procedure under most insurance plans.  Your eligibility and level of benefits will be determined after your initial consultation.  Texas Weight Management Program physicians can quote a cash price for each procedure and coordinate financing for individuals without medical coverage; only after an initial consultation..

What about diet, exercise, time-off from work and other aspects of my life affected by surgical weight loss?
Texas Weight Management Program physicians can answer all your questions and concerns regarding surgical weight loss.  Your individual pre-and post-surgical plan will be tailored to your specific needs.

What if I don’t live close to the facility?
Texas Weight Management Program has a concierge service to assist all patient and their families with travel and lodging arrangements.  Patients and families will receive a packet on area hotels, restaurants and local amenities.

What are the routine tests before surgery?
Some basic tests are done prior to surgery. Your doctor will decide which laboratory tests are necessary. Often a Glucose Tolerance Test is done to evaluate for diabetes, which is very common in overweight persons. All patients but the very young get a chest X-ray and an electrocardiogram. Women may have a vaginal ultrasound to look for abnormalities of the ovaries or uterus. Many surgeons ask for a gallbladder ultrasound to look for gallstones. Other tests, such as pulmonary function testing, echocardiogram, sleep studies, GI evaluation, cardiology evaluation, or psychiatric evaluation, may be requested when indicated.

What is the purpose of all these tests?
An accurate assessment of your health is needed before surgery. The best way to avoid complications is to never have them in the first place. It is important to know if your thyroid function is adequate since hypothyroidism can lead to sudden death post-operatively. If you are diabetic, special steps must be taken to control your blood sugar. Because surgery increases cardiac stress, your heart will be thoroughly evaluated. These tests will determine if you have liver malfunction, breathing difficulties, excess fluid in the tissues, abnormalities of the salts or minerals in body fluids, or abnormal blood fat levels.

Why do I have to have a GI Evaluation?
Patients who have significant gastrointestinal symptoms such as upper abdominal pain, heartburn, belching sour fluid, etc., may have underlying problems such as a hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal reflux or peptic ulcer. For example, many patients have symptoms of reflux. Up to 15% of these patients may show early changes in the lining of the esophagus, which could predispose them to cancer of the esophagus. It is important to identify these changes so a suitable surveillance or treatment program can be planned.

Why do I have to have a Sleep Study?
The sleep study detects a tendency for abnormal stopping of breathing, usually associated with airway blockage when the muscles relax during sleep. This condition is associated with a high mortality rate. After surgery, you will be sedated and will receive narcotics for pain, which further depress normal breathing and reflexes. Airway blockage becomes more dangerous at this time. It is important to have a clear picture of what to expect and how to handle it.

Why do I have to have a Psychiatric Evaluation?
The most common reason a psychiatric evaluation is ordered is that your insurance company may require it. Most psychiatrists will evaluate your understanding and knowledge of the risks and complications associated with weight loss surgery and your ability to follow the basic recovery plan.

What impact do my medical problems have on the decision for surgery, and how do the medical problems affect risk?
Medical problems, such as serious heart or lung problems, can increase the risk of any surgery. On the other hand, if they are problems that are related to the patient's weight, they also increase the need for surgery. Severe medical problems may not dissuade the surgeon from recommending gastric bypass surgery if it is otherwise appropriate, but those conditions will make a patient's risk higher than average.

If I want to undergo a gastric bypass, how long do I have to wait?
New evaluation appointments are usually booked 2-4 weeks in advance. Once a patient is seen, if the surgeon and patient agree it is appropriate, the operation can usually be scheduled within 8 weeks. Why so long? There is more need for weight loss surgery than there are qualified bariatric surgeons.

What is the youngest age for which weight loss surgery is recommended?
Generally accepted guidelines from the American Society for Bariatric Surgery and the National Institutes of Health indicate surgery only for those 18 years of age and older. Surgery has been performed on patients 16 and younger. There is a real concern that young patients may not have reached full developmental or emotional maturity to make this type of decision. It is important that young weight loss surgery patients have a full understanding of the lifelong commitment to the altered eating and lifestyle changes necessary for success.

What is the oldest patient for whom weight loss surgery is recommended?
Patients over 65 require very strong indications for surgery and must also meet stringent Medicare criteria. The risk of surgery in this age group is increased, and the benefits, in terms of reduced risk of mortality, are reduced.

Can Weight Loss Surgery prolong my life?
There is good evidence from scientific research that if you have Type 2 diabetes (or other serious obesity-related health conditions), are at least 100 lbs. over ideal body weight, and are able to comply with lifestyle changes (daily exercise and low-fat diet), then weight loss surgery may significantly prolong your life.

Can weight loss surgery help other physical conditions?
According to current research, weight loss surgery can improve or resolve associated health conditions.

What can I do before the appointment to speed up the process of getting ready for surgery?

• Schedule an appointment with a Texas Weight Management Program primary care physician if you haven’t already, and establish a relationship with him or her. Work with your physician to ensure that your routine health maintenance testing is current. For example, women may have a pap smear, and if over 40 years of age, a breast exam. And for men, this may include a prostate specific antigen test (PSA).
• Make a list of all the diets you have tried (a diet history) and bring it to your initial appointment.
• Bring any pertinent medical data to your appointment with the surgeon - this would include reports of special tests (echocardiogram, sleep study, etc.) or hospital discharge summary if you have been in the hospital.
• Bring a list of your medications with dose and schedule.
• Stop smoking. Surgical patients who use tobacco products are at a higher surgical risk.