When most of us think of bariatric support, we think of post-surgical groups and lifestyle changes. However support is extremely important and effective even before undergoing bariatric surgery or any other life-changing procedure.

Support before bariatric surgery is a lot easier than you may think. There are many resources available to those who are considering or have decided on bariatric surgery, but have not undergone the procedure. These resources can range from support groups to websites and online applications and even support tools provided by our practice and medical device manufacturers. One of the great advances we have seen in bariatric field is the availability of online and smart phone applications. These programs not only help track weight loss and weight loss goals, but also assist with recipes, calorie counts other amazingly useful tools. This alone can help a patient or someone considering bariatric surgery learn more about their bodies.

Here at Healthy Steps we understand the value of support both before and after surgery. And we know the support system with which you surround yourself is crucial to your long-term success. Starting your support regimen before you undergo surgery not only allows you to learn more about post-surgical lifestyle changes, but will also make them easier to implement. Further, losing some weight and getting healthier before surgery may actually reduce the possibility of a complication during or shortly after surgery.

To learn more about opportunities to start your support program before surgery, please give our office call we will be happy to direct you to the resources that we believe are suitable for your particular situation.

First and foremost, you should congratulate yourself for making the life-changing decision to undergo bariatric surgery, a decision that can positively affect you, your family and those around you.

With that decision under your belt, choosing a surgeon becomes the most important next step in the bariatric process. Choosing a bariatric surgeon is no easy task, and even though bariatric surgery has become relatively safe, especially when compared to the risks of living with obesity, it is still major surgery. The choice must be the right one for you and must be backed up by thorough research.

Each patient makes the decision to undergo surgery by weighing different criteria, and choosing a surgeon is no different. Some patients may be attracted by price, others may be referred by a friend or colleague, and yet others may respond to advertising. But no matter how you find your shortlist of practices, it is important to remember there’s no right surgeon for everyone – rather, there’s the right surgeon for you. That means that it is crucial that you have a connection with your surgeon and surgical practice and are comfortable knowing that not only will you be putting your health in their hands during surgery, but you will also be relying on them for support for months and years after surgery.

First, do your research online and ask for referrals from friends and your primary physician. Next, create your short list of surgeons based on their qualifications and experience, and then sign up for each of their seminars in order to learn more about their practices and their staff. It is also important to speak to former patients. Ask lots of questions. No question is silly – remember, these former patients were once at a crossroads like you. They know what you’re going through, what fears and doubts fill your mind, and just how much this journey can change your life.

Ultimately, no matter which practice and surgeon you decide on, we cannot stress enough how important it is to spend the time to really get to know the practice you choose. Bariatric surgery is not a one-size-fits-all procedure, and as such, choosing the right team for you is a crucial first step in your long-term success.

There’s no doubt that we can be our own worst enemy. This is often especially true when it comes to our sense of body image after bariatric surgery. For most of us, it took us years to become obese. It was a gradual and difficult transition, and we watched as our bodies changed before our eyes. It gave us plenty of time to develop our strong opinions of our appearance, self-worth and changing selves. But unlike the slow gaining of weight, losing weight after surgery happens over a matter of months; it happens very quickly. This means that sometimes our brains do not catch up with our eyes and we just don’t believe that we’ve made the progress that we actually see. We’re still stuck in an old mindset, and no matter what progress is proven by our waistbands or on the scale, we have difficulty grasping our success.

All too often after surgery, we see patients who cannot believe they have been successful or cannot appreciate the degree of weight loss that they have achieved. This discouragement is natural in doses, however if serious enough, and left unchecked, it can lead to lessened resolve and a slow-down in weight loss progress.

There’s no doubt that appreciating your true body image is difficult and takes time, but we want to suggest some tips and tricks to help you get to the point where you fully appreciate the progress you have made. First, if you’re comfortable, open up to friends and family. Keeping them close to you can help keep your weight loss in perspective. After all, they’ve known you before and after your surgery.

You may want to keep your old clothing or old pictures of yourself for a tangible reminder of how much weight you’ve lost and how many inches have disappeared from your waist. This is a great visual tool especially when you’re feeling down. And if you have any, you can also use your excess skin – that portable trophy, to remind you how far you’ve come.

No matter how you see yourself, measure your progress by the numbers. How much lower is your cholesterol? How has your weight changed? How many inches have you lost? Don’t let the little voice inside get you down.

Most people might think it a bit odd to raise your excess skin onto a podium and consider it a trophy, but that’s exactly what it is. The excess skin you see developing on your body is common after extreme weight loss and often occurs after bariatric surgery, dieting or pregnancy. Our skin is much like a rubber band inasmuch as it can only stretch a certain amount. Once it reaches the elastic limit, the skin doesn’t snap back like it once did. As time goes on, depending on your age and genetics, the excess skin may be minimized, however, it is likely that there will always be some remaining.

Bariatric patients sometimes find themselves in a situation where, despite what their scale tells them, they do not feel like they have made progress. Similarly, patients who may be having body image issues will see their excess skin as yet another failure. It’s time to change that. The excess skin is one of the most visible and measurable quantifiers of success – and should be celebrated.

That’s not to say that, if appropriate and safe, a bariatric patient can’t correct the excess skin through cosmetic surgery – that is a personal choice to be made with your healthcare professionals. Rather, while it’s there, it should be treated as a tangible sign of progress. In bariatric surgery, as in life, we will always have signs, small or large, that we don’t always recognize as positive. But by simply re-training the way we think, and the way we look at ourselves, we can not only be happier, but more motivated for further success.