Diet before surgery

neesh · May 19, 2009

Can anyone tell me how long are you on this diet before surgery. I swear I thought I read someone was in there 3rd month of this diet before surgery. I thought this was after surgery Please explain the dieting before and after surgery.

I hope I don't have to go on a diet for 3-6 months before surgery. I mean if I can do that then I wouldn't need the band :purplebananna:

ParrotheadCathy · May 19, 2009

You need to talk to your insurance company. Some insurance companies require 3 or 6 months of supervised dieting before they will approve lap band surgery. Usually, your surgeon's office can be the one to supervise this diet period. If you are self-pay, then don't worry about it. You don't have to do it. It is only an insurance requirement.

If you haven't talked to your insurance company yet, I would recommend calling. Find out that they for sure cover lap band surgery, what their requirements are (most have a minimum BMI that you must have been at for a specified period of time) and depending on your BMI, may require co-morbidities. Supervised diet is another possible requirement, along with a psych. evaluation and visit(s) with a nutritionist. Find out what doctors in your area are approved by your insurance so that you start out with an approved doctor, too.

neesh · May 19, 2009

Aww ok thank you this was helpful i will be calling my ins company im not self pay.

Yaaaaaaaaay I just called my ins and there is no diet requirements or counsling good. I have preffered one ins.

Edited May 19, 2009 by neesh

TSB · May 19, 2009

Diets vary from surgeon to surgeon and insurance company to insurance company. My insurance company does not require a "diet." However, part of the pre-op requirements w/ my surgeon include losing 10% of my starting weight and being nutritionally cleared by the nutritionists he has on staff. The philosophy is that I need to show my commitment and my ability to make the neccessary life-style changes given that the band is merely a tool. At first, I was really put off by the nutritionists, but as I get further into the process I have realized two things 1) they are a great resource in this process and 2) they are also in a sense "gatekeepers" in that it does not matter if I pass every single medical/psych test given me --- if they are not satisfied that I "get" the nutritional part of all of this, I will not have surgery. Therefore, even though I am not perfect in following their nutrtional recommendations (i.e., I had two margaritas and a big old plate of enchiladas for my 40th birthday) I am being as compliant as possible in following their recommedations. For me, the recommendations are consume no more than 1200-1400 cal per day, eat 60-80 grams of Protein a day & consume 48-64 oz of low calorie/non-caffienated Fluid a day.

wishinghoping · May 20, 2009

Diets vary from surgeon to surgeon and insurance company to insurance company. My insurance company does not require a "diet." However, part of the pre-op requirements w/ my surgeon include losing 10% of my starting weight and being nutritionally cleared by the nutritionists he has on staff. The philosophy is that I need to show my commitment and my ability to make the neccessary life-style changes given that the band is merely a tool. At first, I was really put off by the nutritionists, but as I get further into the process I have realized two things 1) they are a great resource in this process and 2) they are also in a sense "gatekeepers" in that it does not matter if I pass every single medical/psych test given me --- if they are not satisfied that I "get" the nutritional part of all of this, I will not have surgery. Therefore, even though I am not perfect in following their nutrtional recommendations (i.e., I had two margaritas and a big old plate of enchiladas for my 40th birthday) I am being as compliant as possible in following their recommedations. For me, the recommendations are consume no more than 1200-1400 cal per day, eat 60-80 grams of Protein a day & consume 48-64 oz of low calorie/non-caffienated Fluid a day.

Has your success with this made you reconsider whether you should even have the surgery?

TSB · May 20, 2009

Has your success with this made you reconsider whether you should even have the surgery?

No it has not. I have been overweight since I was a child. The first time I joined weight watchers I was 12 years old. I lost 25 pounds. I have had repeated "success" at losing weight all of my life. A few years ago, I even managed to drop 60 pounds (from 215 to 155) in a period of about 6 months. As you can see, I gained it all back. The reason I am getting the band is that 1) I hope to get down to a healthy BMI & 2) I hope to use the band as tool to STAY at a healthy BMI.