Q: Where will my surgery be done?
A: Your surgery will be done at Highlands Regional Medical Center. The Hospital is accredited by Joint Commission.

Q: How long will it be before I can get back to work?
A: Everyone is different. Patients commonly take four weeks off from work, but some patients can go back sooner, especially if they are self-employed, or work at home. Patients who have physically demanding jobs may take longer to resume work.

Q: Will I have pain after surgery?
A: Some pain after surgery is inevitable. However, laparoscopic surgery patients usually experience far less pain and faster recovery.

Q: What about a support group?
A: A support group for patients meets the 1st Wednesday of every month in Meeting Rooms A&B at Highlands Regional Medical Center in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. The support group is an opportunity for patients to compare their experiences. There is no charge for attending the support group meetings.

Q: What are the risks of bariatric surgery?
A: All major abdominal surgeries have many of the same risks and complications. These risks are mostly due to the act of having the operation, not the particular operation itself. Risk level increases dramatically when anesthesia and surgery are performed on a person who is already compromised by obesity and any other existing co-morbidities. Life-threatening complications or death are rare, but you must be aware that these complications exist.

Q: Will I feel hungry after weight loss surgery?
A: No – In fact, you will feel full most of the time in the beginning.