Preparing for Bariatric Surgery in Las Vegas, Nevada

Team Approach
Critical to our Las Vegas weight loss surgery patients' success is having the support of a bariatric team. Blossom Bariatrics offers all four components: medical, nutritional, psychological and surgical. This multidisciplinary team evaluates the patient before surgery and provides education and treatment after surgery. This team delivers medical, nutritional, and psychological care, and looks at lifestyle changes following surgery.

Dr. Umbach encourages patients to research weight loss surgery. This includes participating in support groups before surgery. This group setting is helpful for patients before surgery, as they discuss their concerns and hear from other patients who have gone through bariatric surgery.

Selecting a Procedure
At your initial evaluation, with Dr. Umbach, after attending the seminar, you will discuss the benefits and risks of the different surgical procedures, and together you will choose the most appropriate surgery, such as Lap-Band, gastric bypass or Stomaphyx. Once you choose a procedure, the next step is to create an action plan of everything you need to complete prior to your operation; such as obtaining a sleep study or a visit with the dietician.

Surgical Preparation
Weight loss surgery is an elective major operation. Because of this Dr. Umbach believes in preparing each and every patient as best as possible. Different patients will be required to complete different tasks. Some patients will have relatively little to complete, while others will have more. Dr. Umbach has successfully and safely operated on hundreds of patients using this approach.

What Can I Do to Prepare?
Bariatric surgery is like other major surgeries. You can best prepare by knowing the benefits and risks of surgery and by closely following Dr. Umbach's instructions.

To mentally prepare yourself:

• Understand the surgical process and what to expect afterward. While most patients recover without any complications, some individuals might require revision bariatric surgery in Las Vegas.
• Keep in mind that you'll never be able to eat the way you did before, and that you'll have to watch the way you eat for the rest of your life.
• Talk to people who have had bariatric surgery.
• Write a letter to yourself and your surgeon explaining your reasons for having bariatric surgery and outlining your plans to maintain your weight loss after surgery.
• Start a journal. Record how you feel now, the challenges you face, and the things you hope to be able to do after bariatric surgery.
• Get a letter of support from your family. It helps to know you have people behind you, waiting to help.

To prepare yourself physically, follow the guidelines that Blossom Bariatrics will give you. The guidelines will be based upon your procedure, your personal profile, and other factors. You want to ensure your best outcome, and the guidelines will help you accomplish that.