What to Expect Before Surgery

We want you to be well-educated and comfortable with your weight-loss plan and procedure. You will have an initial consultation with your surgeon — Dr. Hanna — to discuss any health issues or concerns you may have. You may also undergo some of the diagnostic testing required to prepare for surgery. These tests allow us to provide you with the best care possible.

You can work with your primary care physician or your surgeon to complete these tests. In some cases, additional testing may be required.

Some of the diagnostic testing may include:

Bloodwork and other laboratory testing
Chest X-ray (CXR)
Electrocardiogram (EKG)
Cardiac tests
Psychological evaluation
Respiratory/sleep study testing
Radiological testing (barium swallow, mammography, chest X-ray)
Gynecological evaluation
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
Colonoscopy

Your care team will provide you with information about diet and nutrition, post-operative requirements, consent and potential risks to give you all of the tools necessary to be successful. We encourage you to include any family members or friends in this education process, as they can help you to reach your weight loss and lifestyle change goals.

The educational information you will receive may include:

Surgical procedure overview
Pre-/post-operative follow-up requirements
Testing requirements
Insurance/billing information
Pre-procedure weight loss requirements
Pre- and post-procedure nutrition
Pre- and post-procedure exercise
Post-procedure weight-loss expectations
Band adjustment — timing and procedure
Open forum

Several monthly appointments with Dr. Hanna are required before having surgery. During these appointments, your consultation and testing results will be reviewed and discussed with you. You will also receive ongoing education and support from our team for your weight-loss efforts.

You should plan to attend our monthly Bariatric Support Group meetings, which are led by our bariatric coordinator, Debbie Parker and by our nutritionists.