Am I a candidate for bariatric surgery?
Candidates for bariatric surgery must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more or are at least 100 pounds over weight. You may also be considered for gastric bypass if you have a BMI of 35 or more and have two or more of the following obesity-related health problems: hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, or severe sleep apnea.

What is required prior to surgery?
We have developed a multi-faceted program designed to provide you with quality medical care and support, utilizing a wide variety of resources. By following this program, we are convinced that you will be successful in reaching your long-term, permanent weight loss goals.

Prior to getting your bariatric surgery approved and scheduled, we are requiring you to schedule an appointment with a dietician that will educate you about the diet changes that will be necessary after your surgery, as well as a behavioral health specialist who will do an evaluation to ensure that you are aware of what lies ahead. We can assist you in the scheduling of these appointments.

How does the insurance process work?
We will assist you in obtaining a prior authorization and a determination of the level of insurance benefits available from your insurance company for this procedure. Insurance companies generally require copies of the office notes from your visits with us, the dietician, and the behavioral health specialist before they will issue a prior authorization. It is important to complete these appointments in a timely fashion, as this process is generally the most time-consuming portion of the procedure.

We are also available to arrange payment plans for those of you who are self-insured. Please ask us about the financing options that are available for the Lap Band.

What do I do first?
Your first step closer to weight loss is scheduling an appointment with the surgeon of your choice. We will provide you with a Patient Information Form and Bariatric Surgery Questionnaire for Gastric Bypass /Banding Bariatric Surgery. This form can either be mailed to you or it can be downloaded. It is very important that you fill out all sections of this questionnaire completely and bring it with you to your appointment. This will allow both of us to make the most efficient use of our appointment time as possible and negate the need to reschedule your appointment. Remember to research the procedure and make sure that you are committed to making the life-long change to weight loss.

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