PreSurgical Evaluations

presurgical evaluations

Some surgical procedures, such as bariatric surgery (i.e., gastric bypass and laparoscopic gastric banding) and spinal cord stimulator implant, require a Presurgical Psychological Evaluation. The purpose of these evaluations is to determine if you currently have any risk factors that would contribute to a negative surgical outcome. Dr. Lovette will assist you in getting through this required evaluation quickly. If needed, reports can be sent to your doctor within 24 hours after your evaluation is complete.

what to expect

Presurgical Psychological Evaluations with Dr. Lovette typically take 2-3 hours. Before the appointment, you will be sent some forms to complete to provide your personal, medical, and psychiatric background.

Upon arriving to the office, you will complete some paper-and-pencil tests. Because these tests can determine biased-responding, it's important that you be honest and forthright in your responses. After you complete the tests, you will meet with Dr. Lovette for approximately an hour.

After the testing, Dr. Lovette's report will be completed and sent to your doctor within 48 hours. The report will focus on your personal strengths, coping styles, psychiatric challenges and how they might affect surgical outcome, and provide recommendations for ensuring a good outcome from your surgery.