Understanding the Purpose of a Pre-bariatric Surgery Psych Eval

Bariatric surgery helps thousands of people each year with numerous health benefits. While most people recognize it as a weight loss surgery, it can also resolve obesity-related conditions, improve mobility, and offer individuals an overall better quality of life.

However, it’s not a quick and simple surgery that allows you to return to your normal lifestyle within days. In fact, that’s part of the entire point of the surgery — there are lifestyle changes you’ll need to make permanent. There are also plenty of risks involved in the procedure itself.

Simply put, bariatric surgery can be a major life-changing event. As a result, many physicians require their patients to undergo a pre-bariatric surgery psych eval. But what does that evaluation entail, and what is it for? Let’s take a closer look at the purpose of a pre-bariatric surgery psych eval so you’ll know what to expect before you take one of your own.

Assessing Psychological Readiness

The main goal of a pre-bariatric surgery psych eval is to determine a person’s psychological readiness for the procedure. It helps to ensure that you know what to expect, including the potential risks that come with surgery and the lifestyle changes you’ll likely have to make as you go forward.

This kind of evaluation will also help to ensure you have realistic expectations about the surgery. It’s not uncommon for some people to think that bariatric surgery will be a quick fix on their weight loss journey, but it will completely change the way you live your life.

That’s why the eval will also ask you what your motivations are for having the surgery. These questions will help your doctor better understand if you’re ready for the procedure and if you’ll adhere to medical recommendations before and after surgery.

Uncovering Psychological Factors

A pre-bariatric psych eval will also dig a bit deeper into your mental health history. You’ll be asked to disclose past or current mental health conditions, including depression or anxiety. Those things don’t necessarily mean you’re not ready for the surgery. However, they will give your doctor something to consider and perhaps trigger some follow-up questions for clarity.

Understanding your eating behaviors is also an important part of this evaluation. It’s essential to follow certain eating patterns after surgery. If you have an unhealthy relationship with food or patterns that could be harmful, those things need to be addressed.

The evaluation will also assess the support system you currently have in your life. Having people around to build you up and help you both practically and emotionally after your surgery is extremely important. Isolation can be damaging to your mental health and recovery.

Long-Term Success

In addition to wanting to ensure you’re ready for the procedure itself, a pre-bariatric surgery psych eval aims to ensure you will achieve long-term success.

It will help you and your doctor address potential psychological barriers that might hold you back from that success. If there are any potential barriers, they can be addressed right away, and you might even be able to get a recommendation for professional mental health help before and after surgery. Preparing for the changes that are to come is essential for success, and a mental health professional can make that transition easier.

There’s nothing to be scared of when it comes to this kind of evaluation. You and your doctor want the same thing — for the surgery to be successful. Taking the proper precautions ahead of time can help to ensure that.

If you have more questions about a pre-bariatric surgery psych eval or your doctor has recommended one, feel free to reach out and schedule an appointment soon.