New to Site and looking for info

Hello,  I am new to this site and had a couple of questions.....my sister lives in Alberta and is interested in Lap Band surgery so I thought I would ask on her behalf.....what is the process for getting lap band surgery in AB?  Would she go to her GP and get a referal?  Then it gets started from there?  Is it covered in AB?  What is the wait time like?  AND...I only saw places in Calgary that do this, but from what I have read there is a place in Edmonton?  Red Deer?  Is this correct?  Any info you can give me to pass along to my sister would be greatly appreciated!  THANKS!

 You can get the lap and done in red deer and Edmonton. I don't know about Calgary. You have to get a referral from your GP to one of the clinics.
Wait times to get to the clinics vary. All of the clinics have a program that has to be followed, diet modifications and or modules.
It seems that a year from your first appointment to surgery seems to be average. it is covered in AB.
You have to meet the criteria in order to be eligible to have surgery,  every clinic has slightly different criteria. Such as BMI, other co-morbidities, non-smoker......I'm not sure what else I can say. Hopefully others chime in :)

Thank you so much!  I will forward your reply to my sister and I am sure she will look into it....Can't thank you enough!!!!  THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

The Calgary Program requires a refferal from your doctor.
The wait time is anywhere from a few months to a year, and once in the program it is a 4 month program and then you are not promised the surgery after completion of the program.

The best advice you can give to your sister is to go see her doctor and they should be able to let her know what program she should go into. They seem to be very helpful.

This info was very helpful....I will pass on the info to my sister....only one thing though....why would you not be promissed the surgery after completion?

Thank you sssssooooo much Kellie!!!!

The Calgary Program is on a budget as are all programs I guess and they only have 25 surgeries a year that they can perform and a LOT more people that want the surgery than just 25.
All you can do is follow the program and hope for the best.

Hi Kellie;

Can you give me the details on the Calgary program?  My doctor is willing to refer me but wants me to do some research first and decide which place to go with.  Do you have the contact information for the Calgary program and who are the surgeons?

Thanks so much.

Glenna

Weight Wise clinic does lap band surgery in Edmonton. But if I were your sister I would definitely do your research about lap band. It does have a high rate of failure.  Edmonton also offers gastric sleeve surgery and gastric by-pass. She should start with talking with her doctor and then go from there. All the programs have different rates of waiting times but I know first hand that the Weight Wise clinic does 100's of surgeries each year.Good luck to your sister.
Kee.

Good to know....All I saw was Calgary, so Edmonton is good to know.  I have sent her the these responses so hopefully she will look into it a bit more....sounds so good for her.  Thank you so much!!!!  Your info is GREATLY appreciated!!!!!!!

Hi - There is also a surgeon in Medicine Hat (southeast AB) that does the gastric by-pass if she decides to go that route.  His name is Dr. Carl Nohr.  I had surgery with him the end of Oct 2011 and I can't say enough about him.  He's great!  He doesn't have a program but you get a referral to him through your doctor, then you wait for a call to attend a 1/2 day session with the dietician and a same day appointment with Dr. Nohr.  At the appointment you will get a surgery date if he approves you.  You almost always get in before the date given as long as you get on the cancellations list.  I got in over a year early.  The total timeline for me from referral to surgery date was 17 months.

I agree with Kee, get your sister to do some research about different procedures.  Look closely at the Gastric Bypass (RNY) and the Vertical Sleeve.  Ultimately, it is your choice in the end.

Giselle