Follow-Up
Follow-up is an essential part of healthy weight loss. In keeping with our combined efforts toward comprehensive care, please follow up with your bariatric surgeon and primary care doctor as instructed after your surgery. We also want all of our patients to contact us at any time if they believe they are having problems related to their operation, immediately after surgery or even several years after their operation. The majority of the medical community is still learning about weight loss surgery, and Bariatric surgery is a specialty which only a minority of surgeons perform.
With large weight losses, medications will require adjusting as you lose weight. Many of the medical problems will start improving with weight loss and are probably best managed by the various doctors treating those problems for you. If for some reason you have to transfer your care elsewhere, please refer to this page as a guide to your follow-up care plan.
Our Follow-Up Care Plan Schedule
Routine Office Visits
Lap-Band Patients:
- Within 1 to 2 weeks after surgery
- 6 weeks after surgery for 1st adjustment
- Adjustments can be performed every 2 weeks if necessary afterwards
- Monthly visits while adjusting the band
- Once band adjusted every 3 months during first 2 years
- Bi-annual from 2nd to 5th year
- Yearly visits for life after 5th year
Bypass, DS, BPD, Sleeve and Revision Patients:
- The next day after discharge and 1 week after surgery
- Monthly for the 1st 6 months
- Every 3 months for the remainder of the 1st and then 2nd year
- Bi-annual for life
Routine Labs schedule:
A routine lab check may include: CBC, Vitamin Levels (D, B12, A), Comprehensive Chemistry Panel, Lipid profile, Ca, Mg, PO4, Fe levels, PTH level, and a bone density scan
Lap-Band Patients:
- Once properly adjusted should have labs performed every 6 months for the 1st 2 years and then at least yearly
Bypass, DS, BPD, Sleeve, and Revision Patients:
- Every 3 months in the 1st year
- Then every 6 months for life
The following symptoms may indicate a serious problem:
- Fever
- High heart rate
- Recurrent cramping pain in the upper abdomen
- Unusual abdominal tenderness or pain
- Shortness of breath (symptom of pulmonary embolism)
- Vomiting, dry heaves
- Persistent uncontrolled diarrhea
- Pain out of proportion to exam
- Inability to tolerate liquids for more then 24 hours
- Just not feeling right
If any of these problems should occur, call the office immediately
<< Back to Top >>
MISH Rewards Program
The MISH Rewards Program is an incentive program to further help our patients reach their weight loss goals. The Rewards Program is based on a point system. Patients can earn points in several ways (attending a support group, nutrition class or behavior modification class, losing weight and more) toward a number of rewards for participating in our weight loss surgery program
Patients who undergo weight loss surgery at the MISH are eligible to participate in the MISH Rewards Program. The ability to earn points starts with the date of the weight loss operation. A card to help keep track of earned points and listing the point system and rewards will be given to each patient. There is no cash value for points earned.
Rewards that can be earned can include a free office band adjustment/fill, an X-Ray band adjustment/fill, an office visit, a session with the dietician, a session with the psychologist, a Lap-Band Operation, a Tummy Tuck operation, a Bilateral Arm, or a Bilateral Thigh Tuck.
<< Back to Top >>
Weight Loss Surgery is TAX DEDUCTIBLE
The cost of weight-loss programs that are not part of the treatment for diseases, such as obesity, are tax deductible. The Internal Revenue Service released this information in March 2002.
The IRS stated, “Obesity is medically accepted to be a disease in its own right.”
Taxpayers who participate in these programs for medically valid reasons will now be able to deduct amounts above 7.5 percent of their adjusted gross income, similar to any other medical expense not covered by insurance or other reimbursement. A taxpayer’s spouse and dependents would also be covered.
Still not deductible, however, are the costs of weight control programs intended “to improve the taxpayer’s appearance, general health and sense of well-being.” Diet foods are also not deductible, even though they are often an integral part of a weight control program under a physician’s supervision. The IRS reasons that people have to pay for food whether or not they are trying to lose weight. Fees, diet menus and literature and other costs would be deductible.
The IRS specifically cited obesity and high blood pressure as examples of diseases for which the deduction could be taken. But it would apply to any specific ailment diagnosed by a physician, including mental illness. The ruling applies not only to current year tax returns, but goes all the way back to 1998. Taxpayers who want to take the deduction need only file an amended return for the tax year in question. The IRS also recently included smoking cessation programs as deductible medical expenses, as are treatment and other costs for alcoholism.
(For more details go to www.IRS.gov web site and search in forms and publications under “Obesity.”)
ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISOR!
<< Back to Top >>
