Weight-Loss Surgery Process

At Manatee Weight Loss Center in Bradenton, FL, we provide surgical options to help you lose weight when diet and exercise were not effective for you. Recognizing the general step-by-step process can help you better prepare for the experience and help you (and your friends and family) feel  supported and clear about the minimally invasive weight-loss options, and what’s right for you.

1. Attend a free seminar

Manatee Weight Loss Center offers free educational seminars to help you learn more about each weight-loss option. During the seminar, a surgeon will explain the procedures and the specific advantages of each one. You will be able to ask questions and hear from other participants. You can bring your insurance information with you and our patient advocate will confirm your coverage and find out what requirements you need to follow to qualify.

2. Insurance coverage

After the seminar, our patient advocate will contact you to let you know if you have coverage with your insurance. At this time, the patient advocate will schedule your one-on-one appointment with the surgeon.

While we accept most forms of insurance, we encourage you to check with our team prior to your visit to ensure that everything goes smoothly. Please call with questions, 941-896-9507.

3. One-on-one with a surgeon

During your first office visit, you surgeon will ask about your medical history and prescribed medications. This information will help your surgeon determine which procedure, if any, is the best fit for you. You will also discuss insurance coverage and the referrals and clearances you will need from other physicians. All patients need a referral to a nutritionist, psychiatrist and gastroenterologist.

4. Start your diet

Your body needs to be in the proper nutritional state before your surgery. You will need to make an appointment with a nutritionist to start your supervised diet before your surgery. Staying on this diet lowers your chances of complications during and after your surgery. If you do not follow your new diet, your surgeon may postpone the surgery.

5. Clearances

While you are seeing the dietician, you will also need to get clearances from a psychiatrist, your primary physician and any other professional the surgeon may feel is necessary prior to surgery. Our patient advocate is here to help with this process. After you’ve received all clearances and referrals, we will submit them to your insurance company for review.

6. Scheduling your procedure

After your insurance company approves your weight-loss surgery, they’ll contact us to schedule your procedure. The patient advocate will notify you of the date and time and will schedule a preoperative appointment with the surgeon for final clearance. If you have any remaining balances or payments for surgery, we ask that you please pay them at this time.

7. A hospital stay

Depending on which procedure you have, you may need to spend a few days in the hospital. However, some surgeries are outpatient procedures that may only require a single night at the hospital. After your surgery, you’ll begin a clear liquid diet while at the hospital. As you recover in the weeks after your surgery, you will slowly switch to puréed food and eventually solid food.

If you have questions, please call Manatee Weight Loss Center 941-254-4957 or search for a specialist online.