Why is a seminar so important? A seminar is very useful to a patient because it will offer a great deal of information to help in the decision as to whether bariatric surgery is the right option.  It is also an opportunity to connect with our staff, which will be by your side for the months and years to come. Finally, seminars are a required first step in our weight loss program – it is important that you understand the pros and cons of weight loss surgery before your first consultation and pre-operative testing.

Seminars are also important because you will learn more about whether you qualify for weight loss surgery according to the guidelines set forth by the FDA and our practice. If your basic information shows that you are a candidate, we will also be able to help you verify your benefits and discuss payment options with you.

So as you see, the benefits of attending a weight loss surgery seminar are clear. We ask that you contact our office, either online through our website, or by calling us, to reserve your seat at one of our seminars.

Of course, the answer is that every patient has their own considerations for weight loss surgery and which procedure is best for them. In the case of Governor Christie, the benefits of the gastric band, such as being performed on an outpatient basis and having reversible and adjustable qualities may have outweighed the potential pitfalls. For others, a non-reversible procedure offering more dramatic weight loss potential may be better.

To the point of what surgical procedure is best, it is important to note that all weight loss surgery procedures can be revised.  Of course, it is best to make the right decision in the first place and follow your post-op guidelines closely. In fact, the gastric band is the easiest procedure to revise since there is no cutting of the stomach or rerouting of the small intestine. That said, it is important to note that revisional bariatric surgery comes with a higher potential for complications.

Remember, just like Governor Christie, you must make an informed decision regarding what procedure is best for your particular circumstance – there is no best procedure for everyone. As bariatric surgeons, we can recommend the procedures that may be best based on your medical profile, habits and other information we gather over the course of our consultations. However, the final decision to undergo a weight loss surgery procedure and which one that is, is a personal decision that can only be made by you with the advice of your medical team and loved ones.

First and foremost is a change in lifestyle. You will have to start eating healthier foods and exercising regularly. Improper diet can derail any potential weight loss benefits that the procedure offers. Similarly, a sedentary lifestyle only works against your weight loss efforts and goals. In the beginning, this new diet regimen will be difficult; however over the course of time, it will become second nature and your weight loss goals will finally be within your reach. While lifestyle change may seem very daunting, there are many things that you can do now and into the future to ensure that your postoperative lifestyle changes are sustainable.

Our practice offers regular support groups, which will allow you to run experiences and questions by others in your position. You’ll also be able to speak to our staff on a regular basis to get tips and tricks for jump-starting your weight loss. You must also develop a support system of your own, consisting of friends or family members who understand your goals and the journey you will have to make.

Ultimately, it is very important that patients understand that they will not simply be cured of the disease of obesity by having weight loss surgery. The journey to a lower weight requires a great deal of dedication and focus. That said you will be empowered knowing that, as you lose weight and reach your weight loss milestones, it will have been primarily due to your efforts, with the help of your bariatric procedure.

There has been a significant societal push in recent years to curb the use of or eliminate trans fats in restaurants, fast food establishment and even in the grocery store. Trans fats are, as we know, the worst of the worst – infamous for their artery clogging properties. These fats are usually found in deep-fried foods, heavily processed items and certain oils. Saturated fats are also considered to be detrimental to our health and should be limited or avoided altogether. Whole milk, for example, has reasonably high levels of saturated fat, which can in turn increase cholesterol in the blood and ultimately lead to blockages in the arteries around the body.

Unsaturated fats however, can be very beneficial – in moderation of course. With a balanced diet, our bodies can take advantage of the many and varied nutrients and vitamins that we consume in our daily meals. Unsaturated fats can also work to reduce cholesterol and promote heart health. When you think of unsaturated fats, think Mediterranean diet. Olive oils, almonds and walnuts as well as avocado are all a great sources of unsaturated fat.

Limiting the intake of calories of every kind comes naturally with post bariatric surgery food restriction. However all post-op patients should be aware of consuming the right foods and calories. In the case of fats, that means reducing saturated fats and promoting unsaturated fats.

Before surgery, a medical weight loss program may be a required part of insurance coverage as stipulated by the patient’s particular plan. A medical weight loss program can also help the patient lose some weight before their procedure, effectively reducing the chances of complications during surgery. With tis intense focus on lifestyle modification, medical weight loss can also give the patient a glimpse into and head start in their lifestyle changes after surgery.

Bariatric surgery patients who need additional help losing weight after surgery may benefit from a medical weight loss program as well. These programs are generally more effective than dieting and exercising without the supervision of a qualified medical team. Medical weight loss programs help train the patient to work towards a permanent lifestyle change. In essence, it can be effective in explaining the reasons behind the particular diet or exercise plan and will offer yet another layer of support for post-surgical patients.

Most medical weight loss programs last for a minimum of a month and can continue or as long as three to six months. During this time, a specialized team of weight loss experts guides the patient in virtually every aspect of their life as it relates to health and weight. From grocery store trips to exercise classes and working out at the gym, a medical weight loss programs covers all the important, every day activities that the average patient will need to perform to lose weight.

As any weight loss surgery patient knows, proper diet is a cornerstone to weight loss and later, weight maintenance. The question therefore arises as to whether organic foods are actually worth it. There has been some debate as to whether organic foods help with weight loss. To this point there is no definitive evidence that it does. We suggest that weight loss not be a consideration when you decide whether to buy organic or conventional – at least until more data is available to back up these claims.

Organic food is also grown without the use of pesticides and is not genetically modified. Again there is no definitive data to support the dangers of commonly used crop pesticides or any danger of genetically modified food. However, there is certainly no harm in consuming foods that do not use these controversial growing methods.

The biggest consideration with regard to organic food is cost. Every patient has an individual financial circumstance that will determine if organic food is actually worth the cost. Ultimately, obesity and excess weight is very real and present disease that can debilitate or kill. If you wish to consume organic foods, that is fine. However, most important is the transition to healthy, fresh and natural products. Walk before you run and stay away from processed foods as well as those high in fat and sugar. Eating organic is very much secondary to that.

What can you do to shorten the wait?

Ultimately, the time it takes for the insurance company to review your file is caused by the sheer volume of requests they receive. To help them help you consider the following:

Be organized…that’s about the best advice we can offer. Once you’ve attended one of our seminars, we will advise you to start the process with a call to your insurance carrier. You’ll understand exactly what you need to qualify for surgery. Further, our billing staff will assist you by performing a preliminary verification of insurance benefits.

Once you understand what documentation is expected of you, compiling it quickly, but thoroughly, is paramount. Remember, if your pre-approval is denied for any reason, even just an omission, it could take weeks to have it revisited and overturned.

What do you do if you’re denied?

We will help you in any way we can to ensure that your pre-approval and coverage is not denied. Sometimes, however, patients will receive a denial anyway. This is when you should first contact your insurance provider and request the denial in writing, with the reason clearly stated. Second, bring this denial to our billing department and we will help you analyze it and submit a response or appeal.

Unfortunately, we can’t do much more than wait for the insurance company’s decision. However, being prepared with our application for pre-approval and coverage is a great start. You may also want to attend one of our monthly bariatric surgery support groups and find a patient who has your same insurance. You may get some information about how they managed the process and the time it took for them.

The ASMBS and each of its chapters is dedicated to patient advocacy through ever increasing safety and effectiveness of bariatric procedures. They are also dedicated to increasing access to bariatric procedures through information dissemination and research. The ASMBS has become a valuable resource and partner for medical professionals in the field of obesity as well as individuals suffering from the disease.

We look forward to seeing the New Jersey Chapter of the ASMBS flourish under the leadership of Dr. Feteiha.

During preoperative testing, all patients will undergo a psychiatric evaluation to ensure that they understand and will be able to follow the post-surgical lifestyle. The psychological consultation however also determines whether or not they have a propensity for addiction. If they are indeed at risk for addiction, considerations and checks and balances will be put in place after surgery. This ensures that when the food is no longer available in the same quantity or composition, another substance of abuse does not take its place.

For some patients, when certain foods and the euphoria they derive from that food is no longer available, they turn to other substances, most often alcohol, to fill the void. The alcohol affects the reward receptors in the brain, giving the patient that former feeling of enjoyment. And while all addiction is equally bad, addiction to substances such as alcohol and drugs can cause acute as well as chronic harm.

It is very important that the patient disclose their history of addiction, if any.  They must be very open and honest during their psychological consultation to ensure that they choose the correct surgical procedure as well as understand the risk factors and triggers for addiction and addiction substitution after surgery. Further, patients may consider including their family and close friends in these discussions in order to have them understand the dangers and warning signs of addiction.

While not every patient will be at risk of substituting alcoholism for their food addiction, it is important that they understand how to prevent addiction from ever entering their post-bariatric surgery lives.

Before we continue with this blog post, it is worth mentioning that patients who follow a healthy diet often do eat better at home, simply because they can control their ingredients and portions. We’re simply illustrating the point that patients can go out to a restaurant for a meal once in a while, and with discipline, feel happy about what they’ve eaten.

For most bariatric patients, eating out is a fun once-in-a-while social activity and not a daily occurrence. Most patients are also very good about eating the right foods in the right quantities. The result is a very successful lunch or dinner outside of the house. Many of us also stumble when we leave home and eat out. That’s why it’s important to remember a few of the most important tips for eating out:

• Avoid eating out when you’re starving. If for some reason (and it is not recommended) a bariatric patient has missed a meal, don’t get caught up in overeating to compensate.

• When patients do eat out, consider it an indulgence. Eat foods you may not prepare at home, but eat them in smaller quantities. Order lunch portions or box half the dinner up before the meal even begins.

• Drink plenty of water about 45 minutes before leaving for the restaurant.

• Start with a healthy soup or salad to help fill you up earlier in the meal.

• As always, avoid heavily sugared or carbonated drinks at all times but especially during the meal.

The bottom line is that patients can eat healthily whether they eat at home or out on the town. Ultimately it rests on the patient’s focus and dedication to their diet as to how successful they will be when eating out. Remember, life is to be enjoyed and the same goes for post-bariatric patients. Just enjoy everything in moderation.