Pre-Surgery Planning

Planning for your bariatric surgery
The Center for Surgical Weight Management at Gwinnett Medical Center–Duluth is glad you’re considering bariatric surgery. To ensure you have the most successful surgery possible, there are several steps you need to complete. We do this to make sure you thoroughly understand how this surgery will impact your life, your health and your future.

Attending a weight loss surgery seminar Because we want to see you live a longer, healthier life, we want to meet you, talk to you and answer any questions you might have about bariatric surgery. This is why we ask each potential patient to attend a weight loss surgery seminar.

Your first step in attending a seminar begins by registering online or calling us to schedule a seminar date. You can choose to view our online seminar or attend one of our monthly live seminars.  If you view our online seminar, you will have the option to request that we verify your insurance benefits. Once verified, we will contact you to discuss your surgery benefits and schedule a consultation with the surgeon.

If your insurance carrier does not cover bariatric surgery we offer several self-payment options which we will be happy to discuss with you.

Evaluations
Having bariatric surgery means making a dedication to changing your life and your diet. Again, we want to get to know you so we can discuss realistic goals and walk you through every step of the process for the best possible outcome. You will meet with several individuals at the Center for Surgical Weight Management at Gwinnett Medical Center–Duluth and undergo several evaluations, including:

• A surgical consultation
• Psychological evaluation
• F.I.T. consultation (fitness evaluation)
• A nutrition education session
• At least one support group meeting

Medical clearances
As with any surgery, patient safety is our top priority. We may ask you to obtain medical clearances per your surgeon’s instructions. Clearances may include:

• Cardiac consultation
• Pulmonary consultation
• Sleep study
• Internal medicine consultation
• Gastroenterology consultation

Pre-surgical workshop
Finally, before your surgery, we require you to attend a pre-surgical workshop where we can answer any last-minute questions you might have. We will also discuss your recovery time, follow-ups and everything else you can expect post-surgery.

We will also start you on a two-week pre-surgical liquid diet and have you meet with either our financial counselor or office coordinator for an estimate of fees due prior to surgery.

For more information, please call 678-312-6200, or complete the online form and someone will contact you.