Things You'll Need:
- BMI Calculator
- Height and Weight Measurements
- List of illnesses/ailments (co-morbidities like diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.)
- Budget
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Step 1
First get your height and weight and input them into a BMI calculator. These can be found online at sites like mybiglife.com and SHAPE magazine's website.
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Step 2
Once you have found your BMI, figure out if you are a candidate for bariatric weight loss surgery. People with a BMI of over 40 are usually a candidate for WLS. People with a BMI of over 35, but have a co-morbidity (an accompanying illness, like diabetes), may also qualify.
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Step 3
Now, research and decide which surgery you may want to get. For people who don't want a permanent surgery, the LAP-BAND (adjustable gastric banding) may be the best bet. It is a round band that is filled with a saline solution. This band goes around a portion of the stomach to create a small pouch where food will rest before dropping down in the bottom of the stomach.
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Step 4
If you want a permanent solution, research other forms of weight loss surgery, such as roux-en-y gastric bypass (most popular) or a vertical sleeve gastrectomy. These types of surgeries are permanent and are performed by removing a part of the stomach and/or re-routing the intestines to change the digestive process.
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Step 5
Once you have a surgery (or two) in mind, go to a bariatric surgeon in your area to have a consultation and learn more about your possibilities. Most surgeons offer a free consultation. Make sure you are going to a surgeon that offers the type of weight loss surgery you are thinking about.
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Step 6
Once you have decided on a surgeon and bariatric surgery type, check with your insurance to see if they cover bariatric surgery. Set up a budget depending on if they'll approve your surgery to determine whether or not you can afford weight loss surgery.
