Weight Loss Surgery FAQ

Call 336-716-6099 to schedule a seminar or complete seminar registration online. 

We encourage people to do some research on the varying types of weight loss surgery. Please attend one of our free weekly seminars held in Winston-Salem, Greensboro or High Point in order to hear an overview of the procedures and meet one of our surgeons. Please call (336) 716-6099, Option 1, to schedule a seminar and find a location near to you. Also consider attending one of our monthly Weight Loss Surgery Support Group meetings, to ask questions of post-surgical patients. Finally you will be able to 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 determine if a person is at a healthy weight in relation to their height. Calculate your BMI.

Yes.

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

We offer a multidisciplinary team approach to weight loss surgery. Our psychologists and dietitians are trained to care for patients undergoing weight loss surgery. They will be following you long-term to ensure your success in making various lifestyle, behavior and dietary changes after surgery.

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 entire process takes about 60 to 90 days, depending on your preoperative 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 must learn how to eat again. You will consume full liquids (soups, protein drinks and yogurt) for one to three weeks, pureed foods for two to three weeks, and then soft, regular foods. Your nutritionist will outline the post-operative diet progression in detail at the nutrition education class before surgery. 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.

We strongly advise that women of childbearing age use the most effective forms of birth control during the first 18 months after weight loss surgery. The added demands pregnancy places on your body and the potential for fetal damage make this a very important requirement.

Yes, long-term follow up is critical for success after weight loss surgery. They will perform periodic checks for vitamin and mineral deficiencies and ensure you are maintaining your weight loss.