I would suggest finding out more about the hospital at
http://www.surgicalreview.org/locate.aspx?state=US-MS#srchResults.

The type of facility you want to find is one that is designated as a "Bariatric Center of Excellence" (also known as BSCOE).
Is your facility and/or doctor certified in this? If not, why?

Here is a list of insurance companies who prefer Bariatric Centers of Excellence
http://www.surgicalreview.org/v4ePatients.aspx

Look over the criteria. Even if you choose to use another facility, it will give you an idea of some great questions to ask at your seminar. Scroll down to the bottom of the page, section ASMBS Centers of excellence. My surgeon also met additional criteria as well. But the most important statistic he had was that he has performed almost 1,000 bariatric surgeries and ZERO fatilities!
http://www.asmbs.org/Newsite07/media/asmbs_fs.pdf

This is the organiziation that gives out this designation.
http://www.asbs.org/

Good luck!

~ Tammy

I am planning on it. Going to the seminar on July 17th.

Last year for Lilith's 2nd birthday, I purchased a cake from Costco. Yes, I know, not smart for two post bariatric patients to bring a giant cream filled cake into their home. I am not claiming that I have super self control or anything, because I don't, but once I get ill (aka dump) on something, I'm done with it. I mean really done. As a child I once became ill on Dinty Moore beef stew and haven't been able to look at a can of it without feeling nauseous ever since. The only thing that I still attempt, (even though it is like playing Dumping roulette), is ice cream. Even though I stopped allowing 1/2 gallons in my house and only buy low carb or low sugar individually wrapped novelties, it is still bad. I know that if I stop at one (okay on a bad day 2), I will be okay. But, ice cream is my Achilles heel, my Anna crack if you will. It is also my #1 trigger food or gateway drug. This means that if I give in to the ice cream, I am more likely to give in to other naughties and then you better lock up your chocolate and SunChips! Ice cream releases my inner sugar and carb monster. It also is the first food I want when I want to stress eat. But other than ice cream, if something makes me dump, I don't even see it after that. I don't care how good it was. Maybe this is because I usually vomit when I dump and have horrible cramps. It isn't pretty folks. It isn't suppose to be, that is one of the ways this surgery works, it is suppose to deter you from eating things that will make and/or keep you fat. It always reminds me of the movie "Clock Work Orange". I am "conditioned", if you will, not to want certain foods anymore via pain aversion therapy.
Husband, not so much. Husband can get violently ill from something and after he is through being sick, go have more of it. This always makes me sit and look at him with a puzzled/disgusted look on my face.
read more at;
luvsexytrstno1.blogspot.com/

Although not in the Jackson area, he is SOOOOOO worth the drive. I used Dr. De la Torre at UAB in Birmigham AL he has TONS of experience with working with WLS patients, and he got my insurance to cover the cost of the surgery, all I paid was a 50.00 copay.  What I had done was a Pannulectomy which is like a tummy tuck, but is considered 'reconstructive' vs cosmetic  I had rashes and I took pics of it and documented everything..and they were considered skin infections. So my insurance viewed it as a medical necessity.  I was approved in a week...it was amazing, and he did an INCREDIBLE job!! I highly highly recommend him. He is also the director of the Plastic Surgery Division at UAB.

Thanks for replying. I have three small kids so I get on the computer once a day so my posts will be done like that.

I have been referred to doc  in Oxford where I have to pay the 20% up front before the surgery. Do you know if hospitals do this in other areas. My husband had to surgery and we did not have to  have the money first. However, some would say mine is not medically neccesary, but I would argue that point.

Thanks for any help.

Babs