time line till surgery

I have an appointment in a few weeks for bariatric surgery.  I was most interested in the lap band but have also been considering the gastric sleeve option.  How long do they normally wait to schedule you for surgery after you first appointment>  I know there is a lot go through before surgery is preformed.  I am @ 100% coverage on my insurance right now and am just wondering if this is even a possibility to have done before year end.  I know every office would be different but was just looking for an idea.  Thanks to any one that can give me info.  Also if there is anyone that has had the band or sleeve procedures that can give me pointers I would appreciate that as well

Thanks

Michele

Your insurance or surgeon may require a supervised weight loss program that can last up to 6 months.

If that is not required, you could be scheduled rather quickly.

I was self pay for my Realize Band and was 9 weeks from ,y first consult to my surgery because I had some family comittments.  It could have been as few as 3 weeks.

I have had good luck with a band, but would not recommend it to anyone else due to the high complication rate.

Bands don't last MOST people more than 5 years .... And you may only get one WLS covered per lifetime ..... Don't waste it on a band that will surely require a revision at some point.

Thanks for the info on lap band vs sleeve.  After checking out more info about both I am leaning more towards the sleeve procedure.  I had no idea that it would only last so long and the upkeep on it sounded endless.  So far with the responses I have gotten it looks like surgery by year end is possible.  Thanks again!  Good Luck in your journey.

Check with your insurance and see what requirement you may or may not have.

I have BCBS of IL (no  3-6 month diet needed)

My first appt was the Weight loss Seminar.. that was awesome it went over the different types of surgeries and pros/cons and what to expect.. etc. I'm going with the Sleeve as it is becoming "the" surgery. The band seems to be looked over. 

My first appt/consult with the surgeon was June 26th 2014. I had some requirements for insurance, and requirements for the surgeon, (see my profile page). My surgery is Aug 29th 2014. so for me was about 2 month time frame... the most time consuming thing was trying to get appts. I'm not working right now so I was totally open, it was the specialists that were booked up!

Good luck!!

Jessica,

You must be getting excited/anxious with your surgery date so close. Good Luck hope everything goes well! I too have bc/bs but of Michigan.  I have multiple medical conditions that are weight related.  I am hoping with weight loss that these conditions are non existant.  I think I will give them a call tomorrow and check out more info. 

I went in on June 27th for my initial appointment. (Classroom style with all the information about the different types of surgery...) I initially wanted the Lap Band. However, after hearing all the information, I have decided to go with the sleeve. I had my 6 months physician supervised weight loss already done by that point (or so I thought... more on that in a minute).

I did psych evaluation on July 11th.

They called me to tell me that I was "missing" a month of my weight loss information. (January 27th apt got postponed to Feb 4th because I had foot surgery. Apparently the insurance company doesn't count day in between appts, they just care that you went sometime during the month.) So, I got in for a speedy appointment with the dietician on July 21st.

Had approval from insurance company on July 28th! (Most exciting day of my month! - well, probably year!)

Did pulmonary function on July 30th. Had labs drawn, pregnancy test, h-pylori test, upper GI, EKG, chest x-rays, and gall bladder scan on August 1st. Along with an appointment with another doctor that day to have a second opinion on my health, as per my insurance company's requirement.

August 14th they called to schedule surgery on September 10th then got a call back on scheduling pre-op nutrition class on August 26th!

So, all in all, it's been pretty quick!

Good luck on your journey!

Check with your insurance company today to see what they require for pre-approval.  You may need to make some more appts while you're waiting to see the surgeon.  From approval to surgery date depends on your surgeon's schedule.  My wait was 6 weeks.

The band has seen many complications over the years causing serious internal damage, so I would definitely be steering you towards the sleeve if you seek restriction-only.  Fewer complications, less maintenance (no adjustments for 10 years) and it's a permanent solution (the band is only supposed to be for 10 yrs)