We believe after researching on their own and attending a seminar, most patients have an idea of which procedure will work best for them. Some individuals are not comfortable with the idea of a foreign body being placed, so they know they prefer not to have a band. Some individuals are not comfortable with having a portion of their intestine bypassed, so they choose not to have a bypass. A procedure, called vertical sleeve gastrectomy, may represent the best of both worlds for patients who want restriction but without the need for multiple adjustments as with a gastric band

The answer to this question varies. Some insurance programs require that you follow a medically supervised program for 3 months, 6 months or 1 year prior to surgery. Sometimes your surgeon may recommend weight loss prior to surgery.

Yes. We recommend taking a complete multi-vitamin with minerals and a calcium supplement. Remember to follow your anesthesiologist rules prior to surgery as to when to stop taking any medicine or vitamins. We recommend discontinuing your multi-vitamin and or vitamin E two weeks prior to surgery. You will need to take additional supplements after surgery. Your surgeon and dietitian will review all of these recommendations at your pre-op consult.

We believe after researching on their own and attending a seminar, most patients have an idea of which procedure will work best for them. Some individuals are not comfortable with the idea of a foreign body being placed, so they know they prefer not to have a band. Some individuals are not comfortable with having a portion of their intestine bypassed, so they choose not to have a bypass. A procedure, called vertical sleeve gastrectomy, may represent the best of both worlds for patients who want restriction but without the need for multiple adjustments as with a gastric band

This evaluation is recommended for all patients by the National Institute of Health, most surgeons, and most insurance companies. While 25% of Americans suffer from clinical levels of depression, approximately 90% of appropriate candidates for weight loss surgery report significant depression. We often make suggestions to help you through this process and have greater success post-operatively.

Yes. The requirements for this vary from 2-14 days. Your surgeon will give you pre-op liquid diet instructions.

Yes. We offer pre-op/preparation for surgery classes with the dietitian and nurse that all of our patients attend prior to surgery. This will be scheduled by your surgeon’s office and is FREE for all Centennial Center for the Treatment of Obesity Patients.

Our program provides lifelong support, including free unlimited access to our registered dietitians and psychologist led support groups. Each expert is dedicated to providing support for bariatric patients both before and after surgery.

There is no direct evidence that weight loss surgery can cause any particular psychological conditions. However, social and emotional problems that exist prior to surgery are clearly not removed by surgery. If food is a way of coping, then you may struggle when that coping mechanism is removed. This highlights the importance of attendance at support groups and the Psychological Support Program.

Between two and four hours, so dress comfortable and bring reading glasses if needed. The evaluation includes a structured interview by a psychologist and several pencil and paper tests.

We can usually schedule an appointment for you within a couple of days and the results are sent to your surgeon’s office in less than one week’s time after your evaluation.

Support groups give patients an excellent opportunity to talk about personal issues. Most patients learn, for example, that bariatric surgery will not resolve personal relationship issues. Most bariatric surgeons will tell you that ongoing support after surgery helps to achieve the greatest level of success for their patients. Patients help keep each other motivated, celebrate small victories together, and provide perspective on the everyday successes and challenges that patients generally experience. Centennial offers many support group options including both patient led and professional led groups.

This evaluation is recommended for all patients by the National Institute of Health, most surgeons, and most insurance companies. While 25% of Americans suffer from clinical levels of depression, approximately 90% of appropriate candidates for weight loss surgery report significant depression. We often make suggestions to help you through this process and have greater success post-operatively.

Our program provides lifelong support, including free unlimited access to our registered dietitians and psychologist led support groups. Each expert is dedicated to providing support for bariatric patients both before and after surgery.

After laparoscopic surgery, you are typically able to return to your normal activities within two weeks; prior to that time, we recommend you do not lift more than twenty pounds.

Since there are so many variables in excess skin and how much there will be, there is no guarantee that strength training will be as effective as plastic surgery. What strength training does is firm up and tone your muscle under the loose skin, which will help with the appearance of sagging skin.

Exercise will also help maintain healthy blood flow to the skin which will help some with elasticity. Time is also necessary in judging how much excess skin you will have. Moisturizing will help some, as well as staying well hydrated. But keep in mind that the results will not be the same as someone who has had plastic surgery.

You are usually able to return to work within a couple of weeks of surgery. If you have a more physical job, then you may need to be off as long as 4-6 weeks.

Discharge from the hospital is individualized to how you are doing. In general, our gastric band patients go home the day of surgery.
Sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass patients will go home within two to three days of surgery.
Duodenal switch patients will go home within three to four days of surgery.

The first thing you should do upon hitting a plateau is try to determine the cause. Sometimes it is easy to overestimate daily calorie intake. We recommend keeping a food journal, increase activity as tolerated, increase protein, increase fluids and follow up with your registered dietitian.

You may resume driving once you have been off all narcotic pain medication for 24 hours. Keep in mind that for the first week or so after surgery, you may still feel pretty sore across the abdomen and that may impede your ability to brake quickly or suddenly.

You may shower within a couple of days of surgery; however, we prefer you do not take a tub bath or get in the pool until your incisions have healed and any drain sites have closed. This is usually after your one week follow up visit.

You will receive an owner’s manual at your consult with the surgeon. The nutritional guidelines section has suggestions on where the appropriate items you will need following surgery can be purchased. Our program does offer the Bariatric Advantage line of vitamins and supplements both onsite and online.

Possibly. The amount of hair loss or thinning varies with each patient. Hair loss during weight loss is can be related to protein intake, this is another important reason to meet your protein needs of a minimum 60-80 grams per day. Hair loss generally occurs 3-9 months after surgery and starts to come back around 1 year after surgery or when your weight loss slows down. Remember this is temporary! The best defense is adequate protein intake.

Since there are so many variables in excess skin and how much there will be, there is no guarantee that strength training will be as effective as plastic surgery. What strength training does is firm up and tone your muscle under the loose skin, which will help with the appearance of sagging skin.

Exercise will also help maintain healthy blood flow to the skin which will help some with elasticity. Time is also necessary in judging how much excess skin you will have. Moisturizing will help some, as well as staying well hydrated. But keep in mind that the results will not be the same as someone who has had plastic surgery.

Arthritis in the knees, hips, back, and ankles can limit what you can do for exercise; however it does not mean you can’t exercise at all. You can try swimming or water aerobics which are both no impact exercises. If you are not comfortable in the pool, or do not have access to a pool year round you can try an exercise bike (We recommend a recumbent bike) or elliptical. Both of these are no impact exercises that you can do either with home equipment or with a gym membership.

Additionally, exercise bands are available for approximately $10.00 – $12.00 at many discount stores and supercenters and can be used in your living room. A true beginner program may be as basic as chair exercises, for example, holding a sixteen ounce bottle of water or canned vegetables in each hand and lifting your hands up over your head 10 – 12 times. Our exercise physiologist can help you develop a program that fits your needs.

Personal trainers are great for motivation, accountability, and direction. If you have never worked out at a gym or are new to strength training, a personal trainer is a great investment. You can take advantage of a personal trainer with most new gym memberships and have someone show you how to set and use all of the fitness equipment in one free session that comes with joining the gym.

You should start walking as soon as you get home from the hospital. Several times a day you should get up and walk around the house or yard for 5 to 10 minutes, or as much as you can tolerate. Every day you will need to increase how far, how often or how long you walk on a daily basis.

The best toning exercise is strength training. You can use machine weights, free weights (dumbbells), or resistance bands for your program. Strength training helps tone muscles, give skin more elasticity, and raise your metabolism to aid in your weight loss.

The best thing you can do before surgery is to start a regular exercise program. You want to set aside time up to 5 to 6 days a week and walk, bike, swim, or do aerobics for as long as you can tolerate. For some people it may be up to an hour, for some it may be 5 to 10 minutes. Establishing the habit is important, and the more you can do before surgery the easier it will be to continue after surgery. The primary goal before surgery is to move more; however much you move today, do more tomorrow and more the next day and more the next.

4 to 6 weeks after surgery you can start a light weight training program. Start slowly with 1 set of 10 to 15 repetitions and gradually work up to 3 to 5 sets.