How long will I be in the hospital?
For most patients, the hospital stay is one to two days.
How long will I need to be off work after surgery?
Everyone’s recovery is different; some jobs require more physical activity than others. Our patients typically take three to six weeks to return to work.
If you are the care provider for others, think about who can help with your responsibilities in the first few weeks following surgery.
What can I do to prepare for surgery, even before my first visit?
Before your surgery is scheduled, you must quit smoking, vaping or using nicotine products. If you are currently smoking or vaping, start cutting back now. We offer a Smoking Cessation program to help you quit, or you can contact your primary care provider for additional tools and resources.
You should begin a movement or physical activity program.
What are the risks of bariatric surgery?
All surgical operations have risks. The risks of stomach and intestinal surgery include but are not limited to leaks, infection, blood clots, bleeding, wound infection and hernia.
Every patient has a different risk level depending on their health, size and other issues. For most patients, the risk of major complications is less than 2%, and the risk of a minor complication is less than 5%. During your appointments, our providers will discuss your risks.
How much does bariatric surgery cost?
Every insurance policy has different co-pay, deductible and co-insurance amounts. In general, you should plan to spend your entire deductible amount for the first two years after surgery. This is because you will have per-operative visits, the surgery, and post-operative lab work and visits.
Following your surgery, you will need to take vitamins for the rest of your life. Insurance does not cover the cost of the vitamins. You will need to budget $15 to $30 per month for vitamin supplementation.
Insurance does not cover the protein drinks you need as a meal replacement. When you start with a dietitian, you will need to plan on one protein drink per day. The number of protein drinks increases in the weeks before and the first two months after surgery. You will need to budget for three to five protein drinks per day.
Note: Weight loss results vary depending on the individual. No guarantee of weight loss is provided or implied.