Before your Surgery

Laparascopic Gastric Bypass and Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band are major surgeries and it is perfectly normal to be nervous before your procedure. The best preparation is to understand everything you can about the surgery – including potential benefits and potential risks. At the Scottsdale Bariatric Center, we are committed to helping you achieve your weight loss goals and educating you about the path to success.

Now is the time to get motivated for your life-changing experience. You must be committed to change – both emotionally and physically. But you don't have to do it alone. At Scottsdale Bariatric Center, we are committed to supporting you in your new life. The following are some successful strategies to help prepare you for surgery:

  • Find Strength and Support From Others Talk to people who have had the procedure. We can put you in contact with patients who have had surgery at Scottsdale Bariatric Center. You will also be required to attend our monthly support meeting at Scottsdale Healthcare before your surgery. You are welcome to watch and listen or ask any question that may come to mind. We will give you written instructions on how to join this group during your initial consultation.
  • Write Down Your Thoughts and Feelings Some patients find it helpful to start a journal about their experience. Record how you feel before and after surgery and any obstacles you encounter. Identify you goals in terms of weight loss, new hobbies, activities, and social goals.
  • Reach Out To Family and Friends Patients often have a hard time deciding whether to tell their friends and family about their decision to have surgery. Sometimes you may feel – and rightly so – that your family and friends won't be supportive. Even when friends or family have negative things to say about your decision, we believe you have the best chance of enlisting their full support by sharing your decision with them, by educating them about the surgery and what it can accomplish.
  • Establish a Healthy Lifestyle Before Surgery In the weeks before surgery, try to increase your exercise and improve your diet as much as possible. This can greatly improve your ability to achieve successful long-term weight loss.

Visit our nutrition and fitness section to learn more.

Once your surgery date is set, we will schedule dates 2-3 weeks prior to surgery for your pre-operative patient education seminar. Your half-day training session will include the following seminars:

  • Preparing for Surgery: Expectations and Responsibilities
  • Mind and Body: Fundamentals of Yoga, Meditation, Breathing, and Relaxation
  • Psychological Fundamentals of Overeating
  • Fundamentals of Diet and Nutrition
  • PATTS: Pre-Admission Testing and Teaching

The health and medical information presented on this web site is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical care. If you have a medical question about any of this information, please consult your family doctor or a health care professional. Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information presented on this web site. The Scottsdale Bariatric Center makes no guarantee or promise, express or implied, as to the accuracy or reliability of the information presented. This information is subject to change without notice and cannot be guaranteed to be current.