What should all prospective patients know before they have bariatric surgery? originally appeared on Quora, the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus.

Having bariatric surgery is a major life decision. All prospective patients need to understand the risks, benefits, expected outcome and potential life adjustment after surgery. Our team recommends that people who are considering surgery for weight loss research information online using trusted medical websites, attend seminars, and speak with their medical care team. We also encourage our patients to join our bariatric surgery support group, where they can talk to patients who have had bariatric surgery and hear their experiences.

During a consultation, patients should discuss the surgical options and their unique medical issues with a bariatric surgeon. It is also extremely important to take a pre-operative class taught by registered dieticians and nurse practitioners, in which they'll learn about the stages of the post-operative diets and necessary preparations. It's also important for patients to know that after surgery, they are typically put on a protein shake diet for 2-3 weeks — after which they can begin to start introducing soft foods again as advised by their medical care team.

At the end of the day, bariatric surgery is a personal decision and one that should be made following research and consideration.

This question originally appeared on Quora. More questions on Quora:

* Health: What are the short and long-term health effects of obesity?

* Weight Loss Surgery: What are the differences between the weight loss surgery, bariatric surgery, and metabolic surgery?

* Medicine and Healthcare: How can patients tell which kind of bariatric surgery is right for them?

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