How Long Can PRE-OP Be??

[vacationgirl1 6]

I am researching the Lap-Band and a surgeon right now. I am wondering how long pre-op can take. How much weight or percent of your weight do the doctors want you to lose? I see people who are waiting one month for surgery from the beginning of finding a surgeon and some waiting 3 or 4 months.

I am emotionally ready if I get doctor approval and just want to get started!

Please comment if you can. Thanks much!

[TattooBeauty 47]

I had to wait almost 7 months.. (1 for paper work and 6 months nut. suppervision)

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

It all depends. If it's an insurance required diet it can take up to 6 months. If it's a doctor require diet it can be anywhere from 1-4 weeks. Then, there's some don't have any pre-op diet at all.

How much you need to lose depends entirely on your doctor and your insurance company.

Best wishes.

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,721]

pre op depends on your dr and insurance

same with the wait at seminar to surgery

many variances.

[vacationgirl1 6]

Thanks Tatoo and Missy. My insurance says it will cover it if I get my primary care doc approval, a psych approval, and a nutrition approval, plus 3 months on a weight loss plan.

I have been on WW many times and currently have been on WW for 4 months yo-yoing. I have a nutritionist for Diabetes. So, I need to get in touch with them this weeks for approval. Then, I guess I need to find out if insurance is going to add more weight loss time. I will call them to see.

Sorry Tatoo about your 7 month wait. Insurance is a pain!

Thanks!

Vacationgirl

[vacationgirl1 6]

I really need this done before June ends because I have paid my $6000 deductible and don't want to pay again in July!!!!

[readyforthin 28]

My insurance doesn't cover any bariatric surgeries. I am having a hiatal hernia repaired at the same time that I'm banded so that will help cover some of the surgery cost. But since there are no insurance loopholes, I actually only have a 2 week wait. Had my consult on the 21st and my surgery is on the 7th.

[vacationgirl1 6]

Good luck, Readyforthin! I wish you all the best!

[ShannaS 63]

My journey was pretty quick. I went to surgeon seminar on 12/17, first consult was on 1/11. The program and my insurance required the one psych and nutrition visit that I had on 2/5. My insurance approved right away and surgery is on 3/7. My pre-op is a 10 day liquid diet and I don't have an amount needed to lose before surgery. I hope this helps. Good luck with your journey and navigating the insurance process!

[vacationgirl1 6]

Thank you, Shanna! I am going to Dr. Glasgow's seminar on Tuesday, 2/26! I'm sure you like Dr. Glasgow. How experienced is he? Is he very involved in pre and post surgery care?

I hope my insurance is a fast! I have to have a nutrition consult and psych too. I hope my new primary care will be on board with this. I am calling her tomorrow.

Good luck on 3/7!

Vacationgirl

[ShannaS 63]

Thank you, Shanna! I am going to Dr. Glasgow's seminar on Tuesday, 2/26! I'm sure you like Dr. Glasgow. How experienced is he? Is he very involved in pre and post surgery care?

I hope my insurance is a fast! I have to have a nutrition consult and psych too. I hope my new primary care will be on board with this. I am calling her tomorrow.

Good luck on 3/7!

Vacationgirl

It is so great to meet another Dr. Glasgow patient. I am very impressed with Dr. Glasgow, his staff, his practice and his program. He is very experience and all he does is LapBand surgery. He is the head of the bariatric surgery department at the hospital. He is very involved in every aspect of his patients' journey. They have a great follow up program that includes online chat groups weekly, and bi-weekly in office support groups. He is also a surgeon who is truly "there" for his patients. He tells stories about how many times he has come back from vacations or met a patient in the ER or office when they are having problems. All patients have his personal email to get in touch with him in a hurry if needed. His whole practice is great. I hope you enjoy the seminar at his office and decide to go forward with him. You will be in good hands.

What insurance do you have?

[vacationgirl1 6]

Thanks Shanna! This is great to know. I have Cigna. He is covered!

I will go to the seminar on Tuesday and call my doctor tomorrow. I am anxious to start this process to see if it's a go!

[ShannaS 63]

Thanks Shanna! This is great to know. I have Cigna. He is covered!

I will go to the seminar on Tuesday and call my doctor tomorrow. I am anxious to start this process to see if it's a go!

Good luck. Keep me posted on how its going. I am sure you will like him.

[Redesigned_Curves 312]

Thanks Tatoo and Missy. My insurance says it will cover it if I get my primary care doc approval' date=' a psych approval, and a nutrition approval, plus 3 months on a weight loss plan.

I have been on WW many times and currently have been on WW for 4 months yo-yoing. I have a nutritionist for Diabetes. So, I need to get in touch with them this weeks for approval. Then, I guess I need to find out if insurance is going to add more weight loss time. I will call them to see.

Sorry Tatoo about your 7 month wait. Insurance is a pain!

Thanks!

Vacationgirl[/quote']

I was required to see a nutritionist & exercise person for 3 months. I wasn't required to loose weight so much as I was required to show I could change habits & improve lifestyle. They did tell me though if I had already been on a doctor supervised diet they could possibly used that to speed the process alone. I had, but it had been a couple yrs prior so it didn't wk for me. I was required to do a 10 day liquid pre-op diet, which i am sooo thankful for!! It is making post-op so much easier. The process still went fairly quick. Went to the seminar on 10/17/12 & was banded on 2/6/13. The time will fly, trust me!! Good luck in your journey.

[vacationgirl1 6]

Thank you. I have been on WW for 5 months, and have lost 10 pounds. So slow! Up and down too. I hope this will help my process go faster!