Frequently asked questions

Better health can improve your quality of life. It can help you become a better partner, sister, brother, mother or father. In addition to having a longer life, you can be more involved in the lives that mean the most to you. Being healthy and active allows you to participate in more family activities and keep up with loved ones.

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Contact our insurance specialists. Our dedicated specialists will contact your insurance provider on your behalf. Then, we will work with you to explore self-pay options and payment plans.

After surgery, eating high-fat, high-sugar foods or eating too much may cause uncomfortable reactions, such as vomiting or dumping syndrome. These reactions make it much easier to avoid junk food.

Many people say their tastes change after surgery, and they no longer want unhealthy foods. You may notice that foods you used to love won’t appeal to you anymore, and you may develop tastes for new and different foods. After surgery, you no longer will be able to depend on food for comfort. For some people, it can be difficult to fill the void that used to be filled by food.

This is different for everyone. For some people, the skin will tone up and look fine. In other cases, the skin has stretched too much to return to normal. You may be left with sagging skin around your middle or other parts of your body. Some people choose to live with the excess skin; others have it removed. The procedures usually are considered cosmetic and may not be covered by insurance. If excess skin is causing medical problems (such as rashes or sores), your insurance plan may cover the surgery. For more information about procedures Park Nicollet offers to remove excess skin, visit Plastic Surgery.

Ibuprofen® in pill form and aspirin may irritate your stomach, so for aches and pains, you should take acetaminophen (Tylenol®), enteric-coated aspirin (Ecotrin®) or liquid Ibuprofen®. Medications used to manage chronic conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, sometimes are decreased or stopped. Do not discontinue any medication unless directed by your doctor. If you experience difficulty taking pills, some medications are available in liquid form. All medications recommended by your doctor are available at one of 13 Pharmacy @ Park Nicollet locations.

Bariatric surgery helps you lose weight by reducing the amount of food you can eat at each meal. The surgery is designed to help you feel full when only eating three small meals a day. Snacking between meals can lead to significant calorie intake, which can sabotage your efforts to lose weight.

You will begin losing weight immediately after surgery. But, don’t be surprised if you actually weigh a few pounds more when you go home than you did when you entered the hospital. This can be a result of all the fluids you were given in the hospital, and the weight will be lost quickly.

Some people experience hair thinning several months after surgery. Unfortunately, this often is a side effect of rapid weight loss, and you may not be able to prevent it. If you do find your hair getting thinner, keep in mind it is not a permanent side effect. Hair loss will stop as your weight stabilizes, and your hair will grow back.

It is not likely, if you stick to your eating and exercise plan. Older weight-loss surgery procedures were not as effective as current surgical methods, and more often resulted in staple line breakdown or stretching of the stomach, which led to weight gain. People also regained the weight if they didn’t follow a regimen of healthy eating and exercise. Research shows that people who stick to their plan and see their bariatric team on a regular basis are more successful in the long-term.

Usually it isn’t. After surgery, you will be taking a vitamin and mineral supplement, and blood tests will be done periodically to check blood chemistry and nutrition status.

After surgery, you may experience periods when you do not lose weight. These plateaus can last for a few weeks or a few months. Do not get discouraged. Stick to your weight-loss plan and, eventually, you will begin seeing weight loss again.

Most people do not need a blood transfusion, but with any surgery, there is a chance it will be necessary. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have about transfusions.

The procedure usually takes two to four hours.

People who have open-incision operations usually stay in the hospital four nights. The average stay for people who have laparoscopic operations is two nights.

Most people completely recover in about six weeks. You will be able to return to work two to six weeks after surgery, depending on the physical demands of your job. If you have a laparoscopic procedure, you typically can return to work in two weeks to three weeks. If you have an open procedure, you typically can return to work in four to six weeks.

Yes, if you don’t have other fertility problems. Women should wait at least 18 months after the surgery to get pregnant, until their weight becomes stable.

Contact us with your questions.