Questions need answers please!!!

  I am in the process of looking for a surgeon so i can proceed to the lab band. Once u found ur surgeon. Did the process take a long time to get to the surgery day? What all do u have to go through until u can have the surgery? Thanks Cathy

I'm in the "paper work" stages Cathy..let me tell you it's like jumping through hoops after hoops.  I started all this back in Jan. and I've FINALLY gotten a call to get to the Nutritionist and Physcologist.... from there THEN i get to see a surgeon...  So it's definately a "process" at least it's been that way for me. I'm just glad that the ball is finally rolling Good Luck,Sandi

Hi Cathy, I guess you can say the amount of time it takes from application to the actual surgery is dependant on 2 things.   1) your insurance provider   2) your current health status Some insurance providers require a 6 month supervised diet so you have to consider that as well.  It can be a long wait but I've heard of some people getting lucky with their insurance and get approved quickly. ************************************************************************************ This is how things played out for people in my family though to give you an idea: I made application in Late May '07 and had surgery in early November '07.  That was about 5 months.  I ended up being self pay so that speeded things up immensely!  I was relatively healthy so all I needed to get other than my pre-op testing was a cardiac stress test. My sister on the other hand, fought with her insurance carrier for a long time and her wait was about 2 years!!  She also ended up with a lap RNY when her preference was for the Lap Band.  She's very happy though!! My mother got her lapband very early on (2004, I think) and somehow slide through the cracks so she saw the surgeon immediately without seeing the bariatric group and her surgery was approved by her insurance on the first attempt so it might have been about 3 months total for her. My husband is next!  We submitted his paperwork about 7 or 8 weeks ago.  He has had his nutrition and psych consults and will see the surgeon this Wednesday.  He will also be self-pay (our home equity will then be tapped out!!).  Hopefully, we will be given his surgery date at that appointment.  After speaking with our doctor's nurse though she said it would be entirely possible to get a surgery date for that same month!  That is assuming he doesn't have to get any bigger surgery clearances such as a doppler study or a cardiac stress test (he's already had a sleep study a few months back). I hope this info helps and didn't bore you!!

I found out what my insurance requirements were first then I went to 3 different surgeons and was finally comfortable with my surgeon and my procedure.   I knew all along that I would need a six month insurance required medically supervised diet so I had that started already.  By the time I found my surgeon I was well into the 5th month of that.  Then I needed a letter from my Primary Care Physician stating that the surgery was medically necessary.  They also required a psychological exam and a nutritionist evaluation.  My surgeons office sent it all to the insurance company.  I followed up with insurance until I was approved. I think that is the key to a speedy surgery date, even though I started this journey last June.  Start by knowing your insurance requirements, then do your research on surgery types.  Don't just settle for one because Aunt Betty had it and she did good with it.  Realize each surgery is different and choose the one YOU can live with.  Revisions are risky and it is best to think twice, cut once. Best of luck to you pulling it all together, it has been an amazing journey for me and I wish the best for you.

I choose Dr. Shina in jan 2007. I had lapband  surgery in sept 07. I was going thru a 6 month supervised diet when they cancelled it so I got in a lil early then I thought. The doctor you choose will have a impact too. the more popular doc have long waiting lists.. Good luck. Do you know who you are going to choose for a doc?? dawn

I am going to see Dr. William Richards in nashville, tn

Thanks guys for the answers. They give me an ideal of how long it takes. I am going to Nashville, Tn to a surgeon down there. I have a seminar in Nashville April 18, 2008. thanks again best of luck to ya all.

For me the process didnt take long at all. I was seeing a physcologist on my own before i met  with my surgeon so all i had to do was get a letter of recomendation from her. My dad got me scheduled to see my surgeon in August and i had my surgery in october. but i think it took less time also because we went the self pay route since my insurance was not going to cover the procedure for me because of my age and because i didnt have any comorbities yet. I wish the best of luck to you. an keep us updated on your status.

Thank you for the info. I am plaining to get some of the steps out of the way before i have the initial visit with a surgeon. Thanks again and i will keep ya'll posted.