Lap Band Process

[tflitter 0]

What is generally the process timeline for the Lap Band? How long from the Orientation does it take to get to surgery?

[waynef 25]

took me 9 months

[GLove 44]

Im at 9 months and waiting but 3 of those months is due to my own delays. I started the 3 month nutrition classes in March and just got the surgeon pre op consult scheduled in Jan. Im expecting surgery date in Feb. Know what all the requirements are in advance and stay on top of them.

[Sharon1222 19]

Im at 9 months and waiting but 3 of those months is due to my own delays. I started the 3 month nutrition classes in March and just got the surgeon pre op consult scheduled in Jan. Im expecting surgery date in Feb. Know what all the requirements are in advance and stay on top of them.

1 month or less self paid

[depressed_bandster 72]

I'm having surgery tomorrow and I went to my seminar/consultation the beginning of October! I have been fortunate. I did not have any insurance delays....took only 3-4 days, because I was a pest. I started with one doctor group (800-get-thin), had one sleep study & with them, it was going to be 6 weeks getting all the results back BEFORE they would even submit to the insurance company. I needed to have my surgery by the end of the year so I went searching for another group, which I found from this & they have been AWESOME! Two and a half weeks after having my endoscopy through them, I am having surgery! I am so pleased with the doctors and the staff.

I have read some nightmares on here with people being denied, appealing, having to wait months and months for approval. I guess it depends on your insurance. I have Anthem BCBS PPO, my BMI is barely 40 and I have moderate sleep apnea. Because of my BMI being varely 40, I didn't have to do the pre-op liquid diet, thank God! My liquid diet will start after surgery. If you don't have any known co-morbidities (heart issues, diabetes, etc) I think all docs do a sleep study to see if you have sleep apnea (most overweight people do). If your BMI is 35-39, you have to have a co-morbidity, if your BMI is 40+ you don't have to have a comorbidity. There are BMI calculators online to help you find your BMI so you can see if you are a candidate. In addition to the sleep study my doc (& I think all do) required an endoscopy; this was done the same week as my sleep study. My psyche eval was done over the phone & my nutrition consultation was done the day of my endoscopy. Some insurances require 3-6 months of nutrition classes; mine did not. You insurance company should be able to give you their requirements.

Good luck! Hope your journey is as easy as mine has been thus far! Tomorrow will begin the REAL journey!

[dwiley56 5]

I went to the Orientation in late April and had my surgery June 3rd. I am a self pay.

[tflitter 0]

Good Luck Tomorrow!!! Thank you for the information. I will have BCBS as of January 1st. Cigna, which I have now will not cover me.

I'm having surgery tomorrow and I went to my seminar/consultation the beginning of October! I have been fortunate. I did not have any insurance delays....took only 3-4 days, because I was a pest. I started with one doctor group (800-get-thin), had one sleep study & with them, it was going to be 6 weeks getting all the results back BEFORE they would even submit to the insurance company. I needed to have my surgery by the end of the year so I went searching for another group, which I found from this & they have been AWESOME! Two and a half weeks after having my endoscopy through them, I am having surgery! I am so pleased with the doctors and the staff.

I have read some nightmares on here with people being denied, appealing, having to wait months and months for approval. I guess it depends on your insurance. I have Anthem BCBS PPO, my BMI is barely 40 and I have moderate sleep apnea. Because of my BMI being varely 40, I didn't have to do the pre-op liquid diet, thank God! My liquid diet will start after surgery. If you don't have any known co-morbidities (heart issues, diabetes, etc) I think all docs do a sleep study to see if you have sleep apnea (most overweight people do). If your BMI is 35-39, you have to have a co-morbidity, if your BMI is 40+ you don't have to have a comorbidity. There are BMI calculators online to help you find your BMI so you can see if you are a candidate. In addition to the sleep study my doc (& I think all do) required an endoscopy; this was done the same week as my sleep study. My psyche eval was done over the phone & my nutrition consultation was done the day of my endoscopy. Some insurances require 3-6 months of nutrition classes; mine did not. You insurance company should be able to give you their requirements.

Good luck! Hope your journey is as easy as mine has been thus far! Tomorrow will begin the REAL journey!

[SHC 6]

I'm having surgery tomorrow and I went to my seminar/consultation the beginning of October! I have been fortunate. I did not have any insurance delays....took only 3-4 days, because I was a pest. I started with one doctor group (800-get-thin), had one sleep study & with them, it was going to be 6 weeks getting all the results back BEFORE they would even submit to the insurance company. I needed to have my surgery by the end of the year so I went searching for another group, which I found from this & they have been AWESOME! Two and a half weeks after having my endoscopy through them, I am having surgery! I am so pleased with the doctors and the staff.

I have read some nightmares on here with people being denied, appealing, having to wait months and months for approval. I guess it depends on your insurance. I have Anthem BCBS PPO, my BMI is barely 40 and I have moderate sleep apnea. Because of my BMI being varely 40, I didn't have to do the pre-op liquid diet, thank God! My liquid diet will start after surgery. If you don't have any known co-morbidities (heart issues, diabetes, etc) I think all docs do a sleep study to see if you have sleep apnea (most overweight people do). If your BMI is 35-39, you have to have a co-morbidity, if your BMI is 40+ you don't have to have a comorbidity. There are BMI calculators online to help you find your BMI so you can see if you are a candidate. In addition to the sleep study my doc (& I think all do) required an endoscopy; this was done the same week as my sleep study. My psyche eval was done over the phone & my nutrition consultation was done the day of my endoscopy. Some insurances require 3-6 months of nutrition classes; mine did not. You insurance company should be able to give you their requirements.

Good luck! Hope your journey is as easy as mine has been thus far! Tomorrow will begin the REAL journey!

I'm happy for u. I have the same ins. but i'm in cali what state are you in and my ins. don't go into effect til the 1st of the year. I went from *** to ppo

[depressed_bandster 72]

I'm in California...Southern California.

Surgery went well & I'm feeling good. The only discomfort I have at all is from that darn they use. I read today someone used gas-x strips right after surgery and they aren't having any gas discomfort at all, so you might want to get you some! I'm going get some later today. I don't have any pain in my abdomen or at the incision sites (maybe has something to do with the pain meds). I walk around every couple of hours and move around my arms/shoulders and that helps with the gas pains too.

If you have any questions, feel free to message me!

[FLORIDAYS 3,040]

What is generally the process timeline for the Lap Band? How long from the Orientation does it take to get to surgery?

It took me about 6 weeks....

[Matt Z 4,140]

My orientation was June 19th, my Surgery will be Nov 18th, so 5 months for me.

[GLove 44]

To Accox4: where in So Cal? Im in Riverside. Expecting a Feb surgery date. Surgeon is Dr. Suh.

[Lollicatt 36]

Took me about 7 months.