Newbie here...

Hello all. I am new here and am looking forward to getting to hear more about your journeys and learning about you. I will have my last 1 on 1 with the Nutritionist by the second week in November. The pre surgery checklist is shrinking and I am getting exciting. Also some nervous energy and thoughts. Realizing that each surgical group has their own timelines along with waiting for the final authorization from insurance, what has been your experience on what I can expect for a surgery date? With the Holiday season approaching, work vacation scheduling, I am trying to plan ahead so that I can give me the best chance at success. TIA for taking the time to read my post and share your advice.

My surgeon is booked six months in advance.  Every surgeon has their own schedule.  Ask the coordinator at your surgical center what to expect.

I pre-scheudled for xmas holiday and prayed the ins app came through - it did.  Submitted on Wed, approved Fri, surgery on Mon.  Dr was willing to finalize on Fri if it came through.  I don't think you can count on this quick scheduling, but I was lucky.

Mine was about 2 months after insurance approval. 

I started my process for surgery in March of 2015, and had surgery that June.  Most of that time was waiting on the dang specialists for clearance, as they had hideously long wait times (pulmanory, cardiac, etc).  I had a two week wait to see the surgeon, and no real discernable wait to book surgery, however I snuck in just after the program at my hospital started (literally, I was probably one of the first ever patients).  I hear they have a very long wait now.  

I had a very good PPO at the time (which I dearly miss as our company switched to HMOs only) and we waited like four days for approval tops.  I had more pre-testing than they required due to my crummy health at the time.  It was sort of hilarious because I got the approval letter from BCBSIL before my surgeon's office, heh.  

I had to have surgery within a two week window before starting my clinical internship for my degree, and my surgeon's program were amazing in helping it fit into my timeline.  Again, though, I was fortunate being an "early adopter" in a new bariatric program with very experienced surgeons from elsewhere in the Midwest.  My medical group is one of the best in the state (Edwards Hospital).

I also showed up with a binder that had 1000 pages of research and knew my stuff, and was already familiar with the procedures, the diet, the requirements.  I am a very "well-educated consumer," as my PCP, who is endlessly patient with my neurotic self, puts it. ;)

Best wishes to you!! Hope you will feel the same way I do about having weight loss surgery... best gift I ever gave myself.

Hope your approval process is smooth sailing!

My surgery was scheduled 10 days after insurance approval.  The surgeons office won't submit it until they are pretty sure you have met both the surgeons and insurance guidelines.  In my case, insurance required 6 months supervised weight loss in addition to psych visits and documentation of need especially with BMI under 40.  The surgeons office required health evaluations, attendance at meetings, and demonstrated ability to adhere to a weight loss regime - this differed depending on the patient.  For instance tests might differ depending on previous health issues, age and weight of the patient.