Overview
To help yourself maintain a healthy weight long-term, take advantage of Ballad Health’s education, support and resources before and after bariatric surgery.
Learn about weight-loss surgery
Free live seminar
Learn about bariatric surgery – and whether it’s right for you – at our Exploring Weight-Loss Surgery class.
The class is offered at multiple locations each month.
Preparing for surgery
Learn what you need to know to get the best possible results from bariatric surgery. Before scheduling treatment, you’ll likely:
- Attend a free class that explains weight-loss surgery and tells you what to expect
- Meet with a surgeon to talk about your treatment options
- Go to a class that reviews diet, exercise and lifestyle rules and discusses hospital care for the specific procedure you’ll get
- Take part in a bariatric surgery support group meeting
- Meet with a dietitian to learn what to eat and not eat before and after surgery, and review a nutrition guide for details
Follow-up care
Visit your bariatric surgeon as often as he or she tells you to after surgery so the doctor can check on your health and answer your questions. Make appointments with your primary care provider, too, so he or she knows how you’re doing. Your health care providers want to help you prevent and respond to concerns in a timely way, so you stay as well as possible.
Healthy living after surgery
To keep weight off after bariatric surgery, you must make a lifelong commitment to healthy habits, including:
- Meeting regularly with a dietitian and following his or her rules for planning and eating healthy, balanced meals and snacks
- Taking certain vitamins and supplements to make sure your body gets all the nutrients it needs
- Exercising regularly, especially with a friend and/or a fitness instructor’s guidance at The Wellness Center
Support groups
Share your story, learn from your peers and find encouragement in bariatric surgery support groups. Whether you’re just starting to think about surgery or you had the procedure years ago, you’ll appreciate the chance to ask questions and make friends with people in your shoes. Look forward to discussions and guest speakers on topics such as:
- Advances in weight-loss surgery
- Reducing stress
- Healthy holiday eating
- Family support
- Sticking with a fun exercise plan
- Celebrating success and enjoying life
Behavioral health
Because your lifestyle and looks change after bariatric surgery, you might also notice a difference in your mood, confidence and relationships. Behavioral health specialists can help you and your loved ones adjust. You’ll learn positive ways of thinking and acting to make the most of your new life.
Body contouring
After you lose a lot of weight, you’ll probably notice extra, sagging skin where fat used to be. Body contouring, or plastic surgery, can tighten these areas of your body and reduce skin rashes. Ask a plastic surgeon about treatment options after your weight loss slows down or stops, and you’ve kept the weight off for several months.