Plano, TX, Oct. 10, 2016 – Making the decision to undergo bariatric surgery can have long-term, positive impacts on the lives of people who are seriously obese. While these procedures have long been proven highly successful in helping people lose weight and keep it off, most patients will find there’s a waiting period of sorts they must endure before a surgeon will agree to move forward with a procedure.

“Bariatric surgery is not a proposition the should result from a snap decision,” explains Dr. Nick Nicholson, founder and lead surgeon at the Nicholson Clinic for Weight Loss Surgery. “Most procedures, such as the gastric bypass, involve the permanent alteration of the body. A commitment to making lasting lifestyle changes to support weight loss and maintenance of health is also critical for a positive outcome.”

Because bariatric surgery involves body-altering procedures and a need for patients to be serious about maintaining health through proper nutrition going forward, there is quite often a three-to-six-month gap between a patient pursuing the option and surgery being performed.

“The waiting period is not an idle time for patients,” Dr. Nicolson points out. “In addition to tests to make sure patients are good candidates for procedures, counseling and nutritional support are also required in the waiting period. The latter two are vital for ensuring patients understand what to expect post-surgery and to make sure they’re willing to make the dietary and exercise commitments they need to make to pave the way for long-term weight loss success.”

Bariatric surgery can help people who are obese gain control over their weight once and for all. Promoting positive outcomes, however, does require patients to do their part through diet and exercise while also addressing any underlying weight-related concerns, such as eating disorders or poor habits.

“Bariatric surgery can produce tremendous results,” says Dr. Nicholson. “This type of surgery is not a magic pill though. To see lasting results while improving health in the process, patients must be committed to lifestyle changes. Paving the way for success is the point behind the gap between initial decision-making and surgery being performed.”

About Nicholson Clinic
Founded by Dr. Nick Nicholson, one of the country’s leading weight loss surgeons and co-author of “Weight Loss Surgery: The Real Skinny,” the Nicholson Clinic for Weight Loss Surgery offers a variety of options to help patients gain control of their weight and their lives.