Many of our prospective patients wonder if they are good candidates for weight loss surgery. We encourage you to contact the office and have the staff help to determine if you qualify for surgery. There are many variables that will determine whether surgery is right for a patient and which procedure is best :
Body Mass Index (BMI). Patients are considered obese when their BMI is over 30. If the patient’s body mass index is under 30, medical (non-surgical) weight loss is the best option.
Age. In general, our program accepts patients between the ages of 18 and 65. We consider patients outside that age range on a case by case basis.
The procedure itself. The type of procedure plays a role in whether a candidate will qualify for weight loss surgery. Those that have a BMI of 30 or more with one or more diseases associated with obesity may qualify for Lap-Band® surgery only. Those with a BMI of 35 or more with one or more diseases associated with obesity may qualify for all other weight loss procedures. Those with a BMI of 40 or more, regardless of the diseases associated, may qualify for weight loss surgery. This of course depends upon your individual policy, and we can help you determine your coverage benefits.
Payment method. Some insurance providers may require the patient to meet strict criteria to qualify for weight loss surgery. They may also require significant documentation including a history of dieting and exercise for up to six months or more, or even proof of an attempted physician-supervised weight loss program. Each insurance company will have different criteria, and criteria may vary within their plans. It is important to understand your insurance coverage completely, and we can help you verify your insurance providers’ requirements. Patients who finance or pay cash for their procedure may eliminate some of these restrictions.
Overall health. We always weigh the benefits of surgery against the risks. Occasionally, we see patients who are at greater risk of complications from surgery and we therefore recommend non-surgical weight loss. Patient safety is our number one goal, and we specialize in making surgery as safe as possible using the best of modern technology. We may require pre-operative testing depending upon your individual health history, but we do not require every patient to complete extensive testing. We take an individualized approach to testing and only order what is needed to ensure your surgery is done in the safest manner possible.
While there seem to be many moving parts in qualifying for weight loss surgery, it is important to remember that patients have an expert resource to which they can turn – our team. Our staff understands – some firsthand – how daunting this process can be, and we look forward to helping patients navigate it with ease. If you are considering weight los surgery, we hope you will use us as a resource throughout your journey.
Qualifying for Weight loss Surgery
Many of our prospective patients wonder if they are good candidates for weight loss surgery. We encourage you to contact the office and have the staff help to determine if you qualify for surgery. There are many variables that will determine whether surgery is right for a patient and which procedure is best :
While there seem to be many moving parts in qualifying for weight loss surgery, it is important to remember that patients have an expert resource to which they can turn – our team. Our staff understands – some firsthand – how daunting this process can be, and we look forward to helping patients navigate it with ease. If you are considering weight los surgery, we hope you will use us as a resource throughout your journey.