Weight Loss Surgery FAQ

To start, you can learn more about weight loss surgery by attending one of our free seminars. Sign up online or call 336-716-6099.

We encourage people to do some research on the varying types of weight loss surgery. Please view our surgical information session in order to hear an overview of the procedures and discuss this decision at your individual consultation with the surgeon.

You can learn more about weight loss surgery by attending one of our free seminars. Sign up online or by calling 336-716-6099.

BMI, or body mass index, is a measure to estimate whether a person's weight is healthy in relation to their height.

Yes.

Diets such as Weight Watcher's, Atkins, Slim Fast, portion-control; a physician-prescribed program; exercise; and anti-obesity medications.

Yes, you'll be required to see our program’s psychologist and dietitian. We offer a multidisciplinary team approach, and our psychologists and dietitians are specially trained to care for patients undergoing weight loss surgery. They'll follow you long-term to help ensure your success in making the various lifestyle, behavioral and dietary changes needed after the procedure. 

Medication can be a helpful tool for some patients, depending on many different factors. If our assessments show that medicine may benefit you, we’ll explain your options and help you choose what feels right for you.

To avoid surprises, contact your insurance provider before your visit to learn about your plan's coverage criteria for anti-obesity medication and any associated costs.

If, after reviewing your materials, you are considered an appropriate candidate for weight loss surgery, it may take only two to three weeks for your initial consultation with the surgeon. The timeline for the entire process may vary based on your individual pre operative requirements.

It can take anywhere from one to six weeks, depending on your insurance provider. The process may be prolonged if all necessary medical records are not made available to us.

Out-of-pocket expenses vary depending on your insurance policy. Regardless of your policy, all out-of-pocket expenses should be paid in full prior to surgery.

We accept most insurance companies. Yes, we accept Medicare and Medicaid.

Though we will do our best to assist you, it is your responsibility to determine if your insurance company considers weight loss surgery a covered benefit. We suggest you review your insurance policy carefully and consult with your company's Benefits Office to confirm coverage. Be sure to write down the name of the person with whom you speak just in case your coverage is later questioned.

No.

Two to three weeks for the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy; two to six weeks for Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, Duodenal Switch and SADI-S.

After surgery, you'll have to learn how to eat again. Here’s what your diet may look like following the procedure:   

• Full liquids (such as soups, protein drinks and yogurt) for 1 to 3 weeks
• Puréed foods for 2 to 3 weeks
• Soft, regular foods as tolerated after 3 weeks

During your nutrition class before surgery, your nutritionist will review your personal eating plan for after the procedure. They’ll go step by step and explain what and how you should eat. Learn more about Life After Surgery.

Yes, please call 336-716-6099 and choose option 1, for more information.

Regardless of which weight loss procedure you choose, the changes made to your gastrointestinal tract will require permanent changes in what and how you eat.

• You will not be able to eat steaks or other chunks of meat if they are not ground or chewed thoroughly.
• Drinking fluids during meals will make you feel full before you have eaten enough food.
• No desserts and other items with sugar listed as one of the first three ingredients.
• Omit carbonated drinks, high-calorie nutritional supplements, milk shakes, high-fat foods and foods with high fiber content.
• Avoid alcohol.
• Small, frequent meals will be better than three larger ones.

Our dietitians work closely with patients to design a personalized bariatric diet help them make the right food choices after surgery. You will not get a cookie-cutter set of dietary recommendations. They work with your surgeon to develop a personalized set of guidelines, tailored to your work schedule, home life and food preferences. Our dietitians see patients every three to six months in the first year after surgery, and then at least every six to 12 months after that.

You should not get pregnant for 2 years after surgery due to the risk of harm to mother and/or baby. Your diet, weight, and micronutrient levels will rapidly change after surgery, which likely won’t support a healthy pregnancy. Hormonal changes and weight loss can also increase fertility.

It is strongly recommended that sexually active women use a reliable form of birth control, such as an IUD, after bariatric surgery. You should avoid all hormonal birth control for at least a month before and after surgery, but you can talk with your OBGYN to see what other options are available.

Ongoing follow-up is an important part of your long-term success and allows us to provide you with the appropriate support. During these check-ins, we will also perform periodic labs to monitor for vitamin and mineral deficiencies, avoiding any post-op safety concerns.