Question:
How long usually from Surgical Consult to Surgical Date?

I've just begun thinking about this and haven't even spoken to my PCP yet. I have a very important family wedding to go to in late July, and had first thought I would wait until after the wedding to try to get a surgical consult to make sure I'm up to attending the wedding. But thru research it seems that in some cases there is a very short time span between the surgical consult and the actual surgery, in which case I might be able to have the surgery early enough that I could still attend the wedding. I'd like some suggestions and feedback on whether it would be best to wait until after the wedding to even begin putting this in motion. Could I go ahead and ask my PCP for a referral? I already know which surgeon I'd like to see, but I'm not sure if he's a member of my PPO or not. Please help!?    — Elva C. (posted on May 19, 2001)

May 18, 2001
I had primary and secondary insurance, so it took about three weeks from the consultation date to get approval letters from the providers. Then, I was able to get a date on the surgical schedule three weeks after that....about 6 weeks in all. I think that most pre-ops can expect a 3-6 week wait for insurance approval, sometimes longer depending on the provider. My daughter was private pay, and was offered a surgical date within 3 weeks of her consultation. Good luck!
   — Diana T.

May 18, 2001
From my consult to my approval was 10 weeks and then 3 weeks for a surgery date. I have the same problem I was going on vacation the beginning of July and could of had surgery scheduled in mid June. I asked for a date after my vacation.
   — Judy K.

May 18, 2001
I had my first consultation for WLS on March 1 and had surgery on 4/13. This is not typical but things went well and fell into place for me. Best of luck!
   — Laura W.

May 19, 2001
I had my first consult on February 27 and had surgery on May 9.
   — Mary B.

May 19, 2001
I would go ahead and schedule the consult. If there does happen to be a short time between consult and surgery you don't HAVE to schedule it that quickly. My experience tells me that if there is a short time until surgery, then you should be able to pick and choose your date. Schedule it for when it most fits your schedule. If you wait to have the consult then you MIGHT have a wait and then you run the risk of not having this when you want it. I started this process in September. I actually had my consult in November but already had my insurance approval. My goal was to have the surgery at the beginning of 2001. My surgery was 1/8/01! I hope this makes sense.
   — Shelley.

May 19, 2001
It really does depend on the insurance and the DR. The 1st one I checked with in 1/01 couldn't see me for a consult until 8/01 and no surgery until 3/02!! I was fortunate to find another DR. that got me in on a consult on 2/2/01. It was 3 days until my insurance approved it (only because 2 of those were weekend days) and then he schelduled my surgery for 2/22/01!!! So less than three weeks for me from consult to surgery and I couldn't have been happier!!! :-) Good Luck! Steph- Lap RNY 2/22/01 -76lbs!
   — Stephanie E.

January 30, 2004
I saw my surgeon for the first time on 1/7, insurance approved 1/27, surgery on 2/12.
   — Aileigh S.