Why Do I Have to Lose Weight Before Surgery?

[ScentsyLady 1]

Can someone tell me why I would have to lose weight before I can have surgery? Will it keep me from being approved for sleeve procedure? 6 months seems such a long time to wait! I love this forum and spend a lot of time reading some amazing stories! Thanks!

[seniorsleever 17]

If it is the insurance company requiring the weight loss, it is to be sure you are really serious about working toward you final goal. If it is the doctor's requirement, it is to shrink your liver so it will not be in the way during the surgery.

[ScentsyLady 1]

If it is the insurance company requiring the weight loss, it is to be sure you are really serious about working toward you final goal. If it is the doctor's requirement, it is to shrink your liver so it will not be in the way during the surgery.

Thanks for your reply! I guess I am just scared that I will go through it all and then have them tell me that oh well, if you can lose weight the regular way then you don't need the sleeve. I am so ready to do this and the thought that losing some weight could end my dreams of seeing this journey all the way through would come to a crashing halt. I will do what is asked of me and keep my fingers crossed that I won't get denied. Has anyone out there been denied after losing the weight for the insurance company or the doctor? Just wondering.

[Rootman 1,101]

It's a two edged sword. Some insurance carriers HAVE and DO disqualify people for succeeding in a preliminary diet. They will of course deny this. I have personal knowledge of one person who was told on the sly by their nutritionist that because he was losing weight during the required diet he would be DENIED the surgery. He had to eat enough to NOT lose weight but he also had to be careful as to not GAIN too much either or they might of disqualified because of psychological food addiction reasons. Their reasoning is that they are trying to weed out people that do NOT need this very expensive surgery - and therefore save the company money AND avoid a risk to the patient. Like ANY policy there have been people needing the surgery that have been denied and people perhaps NOT REALLY needing it getting it.

Unless you would consider the self pay route you will have to go along with them and try the prescribed diet.

Should you eventually qualify you will more than likely be required to take part in a pre-op diet for a few days or weeks before surgery. This is especially necessary for morbidly obese patients that typically have a very fatty liver which can physically obstruct access to the stomach via the laproscopic procedure.

Warning:IMNAD & IANAL