Weight Loss Surgery Program Process

Although everyone’s process is a little different, these are the steps that people go through if they’d like to have surgery or a procedure like the weight loss balloon with Dr. Kurian.

Understanding Our Process

Weight loss surgeries like the gastric sleeve or gastric bypass, when followed with a healthy diet and physical activity, gives you the best chance of losing excess weight and long-term weight loss. However, there is no one perfect procedure for every patient. Our weight loss surgery process helps find the perfect surgery for you.

Our Weight Loss Surgery Process

Although everyone’s process is a little different, these are the steps that people go through if they’d like to have surgery or a procedure like the weight loss balloon with Dr. Kurian. Here are the five steps to the New York Minimally Invasive Surgery process:

• Watch our online seminar
• Contact us to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kurian
• Ask us about your insurance coverage or financing options
• Schedule your treatment or surgery with us
• Learn about our continuing support and the lifestyle changes you’ll make to reach your goals

Watch our online seminar

This is the first step in learning more about the weight loss surgeries we perform and what you can expect from Dr. Kurian and New York Minimally Invasive surgery. Our seminar will cover when weight loss surgery is an option, the benefits of bariatric surgery, what kind of diet you expect after the surgery, and much more.

The seminar gives you a holistic view of our weight loss surgery process, including conversations about the most common bariatric procedures: Gastric band, sleeve, and bypass as well as gastric balloon and weight loss surgery revisions. This seminar is very informative and will answer many of the questions you may have about our weight loss surgery process.

Schedule an appointment

When you’re ready, reach out to New York Minimally Invasive Surgery to set up an appointment for an initial conversation. During the appointment, we’ll talk about your expectations for bariatric surgery and your current goals. We’ll talk about your health history, past weight management efforts (such as exercise, diets, medications, etc.), body mass index, and any injuries or current health problems that may affect the surgery.

There are a few instances where you may not be a good candidate for weight loss surgery. We will also tell you about continued treatment after the procedure (diet, exercise, follow-up support, and so on).

Discuss insurance coverage and financing options

Many health insurance companies and plans are beginning to see the many advantages of weight loss surgery and are treating obesity as a real health concern. However, it’s still important to review your insurance or health plan coverage prior to scheduling your surgery. Nobody likes surprises, especially when it comes to medical bills.

We’ll help you figure out what the procedure will cost you and the different options for covering that cost. We will establish the criteria for instance coverage and if your health care plan covers or excludes the weight loss surgery best suited for you. If the procedure is not covered by insurance, we will discuss different payment options.

Schedule a date for the surgery

When you’re ready for the surgery, we’ll set a date for you to come in for your bariatric procedure. There are a few things you may need to do in the days and weeks leading up to the surgery. For example, if you have an iron deficiency, your bariatric surgeon will talk to you about iron supplements or other vitamins and minerals.

These steps will get your body ready for the surgery as well as prepare you for life after the surgery. After the weight loss surgery, you will be kept under a 23-hour observation to ensure there are no complications. Then you will be able to go home after meeting the minimum requirements for discharge, including being able to walk independently, swallow liquids, and other basic tasks.

For the next 14 days, you will be held to a strict liquid diet that allows your body to adapt to the surgery while still giving you all the nutrients you need. You will begin to notice that you get fuller faster and hunger pangs will become fewer and far between. You’ll have a follow-up in the office five to 10 days after the surgery, refrain from any strenuous activities, and inspect surgical sites for redness, swelling, discharge, etc.

Learn about continuing support

During your initial conversation and before surgery, you will go over what you need to do to reach your weight-loss goals after the procedure. This will include eating and drinking limitations in the days, weeks, and months after surgery, the amount of food or liquids you can have in one sitting, and when you can return to physical activity.

But there are also support options for any questions you may have down the road. Ideally, our post-op patients join the GoFurther Program, which includes a virtual nutritionist, dietician, exercise routines or classes, recipes, goal management, etc. There is also a monthly support group offered by our office (currently via zoom due to the pandemic).

Deciding to get any of our bariatric surgery options is a huge decision, but for many, it’s a life-saving decision. There’s as much emotional healing afterward as there is physical, and we want you to know we’re here for you. After surgery, many patients see an improvement in their type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and other issues linked to obesity.

After talking with your primary care physician to make sure the weight loss surgery process is for you, take a look at our online seminar so you can better understand the process a little bit more. And when you’re ready, or if you have any more questions, reach out to the New York Minimally Invasive Surgery care team to schedule an initial consultation. We look forward to playing a part in your weight-loss journey.

“Dr.Kurian is the greatest! I would refer her to anyone who is looking into weight loss surgery. When I come to the office she knows who I am and she makes me feel safe and secure. I’m not just another patient – she knows who I am and she knows my story. I could not have asked for a better surgeon” ~ Shante