By: Caitlin Hastings, Physician Assistant
Whether they’re post-op or just starting to consider weight loss surgery, everybody has so many questions when they come into our office. There are all kinds of stuff out there on the internet that can be misleading, or worse, flat-out untrue. While every surgeon does things differently, from the kind of pre-op diet they put their patients on to their post-surgery recommendations, even “accurate” information, may not be what our doctor, Dr. Long, recommends.
In order to make sure our patients and potential patients get accurate information and thorough answers to their questions, we don’t suggest you seek out advice just anywhere. Along with our patient folder full of all the information you could possibly need and attending our required pre-op prep nutrition/prep class if you want resources you can truly count on, here are our top 3 recommendations below.
#1 Dr. Long
The absolute best way for patients and potential patients to get accurate information is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Long, as he really is the best resource. He can answer all of your questions and explain how we do things here at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery. He does a great job spending ample time with each patient, taking anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour just talking about what to expect.
Along with using Dr. Long as the main resource, our front office staff is highly trained to answer any questions regarding bariatric surgery. While they’re happy to answer common questions, they may also encourage you to come in for a consultation with Dr. Long if they think that would be best.
#2 Our Website and Blog
We put as much information as possible on our website and blog, so you can often find answers to your questions here. Whether you’re just starting to consider weight loss surgery, or if you’re days away from having surgery, this is a great online resource. From preparing for surgery to details on gastric bypass or any other procedure that we offer, you can trust that this information is both accurate and timely.
#3 Our Facebook Group
Once you’ve decided that you’re going to have the surgery, you can request to join our Bariatric Facebook Group called Saints for Wellness. While there are many weight loss support groups out there, this one is near and dear to us because it’s run by bariatric surgery patients. It’s a large group with nearly 3,000 members made up of our patients and patients of another local bariatric surgery group. While many join once their surgery is scheduled to ask questions, it’s full of patients that have “been there, done that”, making it great for those that are both pre and post-op.
While your first instinct may be to search the internet for the answers to your weight loss surgery questions, you can’t always know if the information you’ve found is correct, and if it is, if it’s what Dr. Long recommends. That’s why we always tell our patients and potential patients to just ask us, consult our website or blog, and/or join our Facebook Group. This way, we can ensure that you have the trustworthy resources you need to help guide you through your weight loss journey.
Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery is a caring group of professionals who specialize in all types of bariatric surgery. Our surgeon Dr. Jay Long has highly specialized training in bariatric surgery, having completed a fellowship in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, where he focused on taking care of patients that are morbidly obese. And we are so proud of our pricing that we publish the costs right on the front page of our website! Insurance won’t pay? We have a variety of financing options we can offer you so that you are able to get the healthy body you’ve wanted for years. Visit us today at http://www.bmisurgery.com/ or give us a call to set up a consultation at 205-833-6907.
