Our Process

• First Appointment
• Pre-Operative Visit

The multidisciplinary consultation process involves a thorough patient evaluation. Goals in the consultation appointment are three-fold:

• Educating you about gastric bypass including the regimen after surgery, and risks and benefits of the operation
• Gathering information regarding your height, weight, history, and medical conditions in order to determine appropriateness of surgery
• Determining if there is a need for further evaluation prior to surgery such as a sleep study or cardiac evaluation

Prior to your arrival at the office, you will be asked to fill out an information sheet and a detailed questionnaire about your weight history and current medical condition.

You should bring:

• Your insurance card
• A list of current medications and dietary supplements
• The names/addresses of physicians who have taken care of you in the past
• Any other medical data relevant to your clinical evaluation

Please come to the appointment early enough to complete all paperwork.

After watching an informational video, you will have an interview with your surgeon. He will discuss and clarify your medical history, conduct a physical examination, and go into a detailed discussion about gastric bypass surgery in your specific case. He will let you know if you are a reasonable candidate for gastric bypass to ensure that you are as informed as possible about the procedure and its ramifications.

If your surgeon determines you are an appropriate candidate for surgery, he will make a written request to your insurance company to approve coverage for obesity surgery. Further consultations may be necessary to ensure your health is stable and you can undergo general anesthesia for the surgery. These may include appointments with a cardiologist, psychologist, and internist, as well as tests including a sleep study and endocrine evaluation.

The patient usually sees the surgeon again after all the pre-operative medical testing is completed (typically within two to three weeks before the date of surgery). The purpose of this appointment is to review all the medical data and make sure that the necessary testing has been done, and to answer any questions you may have. The surgeon and patient will also discuss possible medication changes and other pre-operative instructions.

During this visit, you will also be oriented to the hospital admitting area, receive instructions for what time you will arrive on the day of surgery, and view the area in which you will recover from surgery.

If your spouse or other loved ones were not able to attend the first appointment, they should come to this one. We encourage family members to be fully informed about the surgery.