FAQs

A: The Lumin Bariatric Weight Loss office will begin the process of insurance approval as soon as you have completed all of the necessary steps. The time of submission to the time of approval generally takes about 1 month. If you would like to see what you can do to speed up this process, please contact your insurance company directly.

A: The length of time required to perform surgery depends on the type of procedure being completed. Going to sleep and waking up from surgery usually takes about 1 hour, not including the actual surgery time. Sleeve gastrectomy procedures usually take about 2 ½ hours while gastric bypass surgeries generally take about 4 hours. Our goal is to provide you with safe, compassionate care and occasionally that means taking some extra time to ensure the highest quality treatment. If your surgery runs a little on the longer side, it is not a reason to worry.

A: We will customize your treatment to fit your needs. In general, the majority of patients take two weeks off of work.

Patients who have jobs requiring limited activity (working mainly at a desk, cubicle or office) may return to work after one week. However, it is common for people to tire easily after just one week off. It is a good idea to prepare to work only half days during that second week.

People with jobs involving strenuous activity, continuous movement, heavy lifting or labor-intensive duties may need 4 – 6 weeks off before returning to work. Be sure to discuss this with your bariatric surgeon ahead of time.

A: Most patients will spend one night in the hospital and then return home the day after surgery. This, of course, depends on how you and your body are doing in your initial recovery. If you are drinking liquids, moving around and generally free of pain, you may go home that day. Occasionally, some patients don’t feel well on the first day after surgery and may need an additional night in the hospital.

A: As soon as you are fully alert after surgery, you will be given water to drink. This is typically about 1 hour after surgery. If you are able to drink water without nausea, you will be cleared to progress to your full liquid diet (about 2 – 4 hours after surgery).

A: Our goal is to provide a comprehensive spectrum of medications to help with pain after surgery. Many patients will still feel some discomfort, but usually report that it is very manageable. In fact, pain management starts before your surgery begins – After you are asleep and before the operation starts, a long-acting pain medication will be injected into the stomach nerves. After surgery, your pain medications will likely include ketorolac, acetaminophen, gabapentin and both an oral and intravenous narcotic.

A: Generally, the below mathematical equation will give you an idea of the pounds you can expect to lose with your chosen procedure:

1. Write down your current weight
2. Calculate your ideal body weight using the ideal body weight calculator
3. Subtract your ideal body weight from your current weight. This number is your excess body weight.
4. Multiply your excess body weight by the numbers below. This gives you the number of pounds that you can expect to lose with each procedure.

A: Do not weight yourself for one week following your surgery. One of the side effects of surgery is that your body holds onto water, which takes your body 3 – 7 days to release through urination.

A: You will typically be allowed to drive when you have been off all of your pain medications for at least 24 hours.

A: You can shower on the same day as your surgery, though most patients wait until the next day. Be sure to be gentle, especially around the stomach region – Do not scrub your belly. You should also not take a bath in a bathtub or go swimming for the first 2 weeks after your surgery.