Philadelphia Inquirer: Weight loss prior to bariatric surgery carries risks
The headline is slightly off center from the story's primary message. The article itself raises excellent points about wasting time and money on pre-surgery weight-loss plans for insurance-covered patients.
"Weight loss prior to bariatric surgery carries risks"
https://www.inquirer.com/health/bari...-20190704.html
Re: Philadelphia Inquirer: Weight loss prior to bariatric surgery carries risks
Self pay people don't have to lose any weight before surgery, at least I didn't. Sounds like an ineffective insurance requirement! (An unnecessary hoop.)
Re: Philadelphia Inquirer: Weight loss prior to bariatric surgery carries risks
Thank you for sharing this article.
I was also self-pay and wasn’t “required” to jump through any pre-surgery weight loss hoops. I was encouraged by my Bari Team to practice eating the way I would be eating post-surgery. If I remember correctly, the 3 days prior to VSG was to shrink my liver.
I know some insurance providers require up to 6 months of weight loss trials. I watched my sisters-in-law agonize through that 6 months. It’s insane! :-(
Re: Philadelphia Inquirer: Weight loss prior to bariatric surgery carries risks
Like for everything in life, it's always good to look at the whole picture and not just an article in a newspaper because most journalists know nothing about nutrition.
Here is the conclusion of the study's abstract " Conclusion
Weight loss prior to metabolic and bariatric surgery may not be necessary or safe for all patients. Unsafe weight loss prior to surgery may compromise nutrition status and lead to increased infection rates."
So it gives a little perspective about the newspaper's article right?
In my own experience, and because my BMI was really high prior to the sleeve, my surgeon did ask me to lose at least 5% of my body weight to decrease risks of the surgery.
I did lose the weight with a good nutrition and all my tests EKG, blood test, scan etc got better !!! so my surgery was than less risky.
For many surgeons, if patients can't comply to the pre op diet it is also a bad omen to what's going to happen post-op. No compliant patients won't lose weight or will just regain it all. So why perform a surgery when you know it won't work?
My rescue surgery last week didn't have a pre op diet. I'm not at the BMI I was before the sleeve, and lifting my liver to repair my stomach was indeed less risky.
I personally think a pre op diet is important, probably not 6 months like many do in the US, but at least 3 months are a big help to prevent complications.
But a real diet supervised by professionals, with patients taking supplements/vitamins and getting regular blood tests do monitor potential deficiencies. A diet where patient learn about food and what to eat, not just a "drink shakes all day and watch your scale" diet.
Not everything is always about money, I do believe that pre-op diet can save lifes.
Re: Philadelphia Inquirer: Weight loss prior to bariatric surgery carries risks
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sraebaer
Self pay people don't have to lose any weight before surgery, at least I didn't. Sounds like an ineffective insurance requirement! (An unnecessary hoop.)
My doc had me lose 20 pounds to shrink my liver even though I was self pay. He had me on a diet that mirrored post op to do it.
Re: Philadelphia Inquirer: Weight loss prior to bariatric surgery carries risks
Hmm .. interesting article