How long of a process?

Annie0341 · July 17, 2008

Hi everyone....

This is my 1st post! I am just starting my journey, went to my primary today for her approval (whew!). She will write my letter of necessity. My orientation seminar is sept 4th. About how long does the process take from the seminar to surgery? I'm sure all are different, but I'm hoping it's not months and months. I am getting remarried next October 9th, and REFUSE to wear a plus size gown!!

Good luck to all and thanks:thumbup:

Annie

238# (ugh)

losingjusme · July 17, 2008

hi Annie,

welcome to LBT. the timing depends on many factors including insurance and if your ins company requires anything and how busy your surgeon is.

best of luck to you.

dwrd73 · July 17, 2008

Welcome to the forum. You will find lots of valuable information and support here. I've been checking it almost everyday since I started the process as well.

To answer your question...it really depends on your insurance and the surgeons office. My local hospital has a bariatrics department but has a six month waiting period with all sorts of meetings. Once completed you can then be scheduled for surgery. If you miss a meeting you have to start all over with a new group and a new six month waiting period. In total it can be 7 - 9 months from beginning to end. My insurance does not require their time frame so I check out other hospitals and found one with a three month waiting period and one with no waiting period.

My first appointment with the surgeon was on July 2nd. Since I have hypertension I knew I would have to see my cardiologist so I actually went there first in June and got my EKG and Echo completed. My schedule was flexible so I was able to squeeze other appointments in quickly. I was finished with all my pre-surgery tests a week later and was approved by my insurance just a few days ago. My surgery is scheduled for August 25th. I was hoping for sooner but my doctor only does lap bands on Mondays and only 4 surgeries a day. The 25th was the first available date. But all-in-all from my first official appointment to the surgery it will be less then two months.

My wife is also getting banded. She is still waiting for some test results to come back. It will probably be another week or two until she is approved. She is hoping to have her surgery sometime in September.

Good luck with your surgery. I hope it goes quickly for you. If you read a lot of people's tickers and surgery date info in their signatures you will see that many people lost even over a hundred pounds in less then a year. You should be fine for your wedding.

msjessy · July 17, 2008

From Seminar to Surgery Date will be 4 months: beginning of May to end of August. It could have been just 3 months, but I had a few scheduling conflicts that resulted in pushing the surgery date.

There are so many factors that go into it, including whether or not you have to do a 6 month diet, how much flexibility/time you have to do the pre-requisite appts, and how busy the surgeon's office/staff is.

Just be sure to choose a surgeon, AND staff, that you are comfortable with. So many people just advise to be comfortable with the surgeon, but that's only part of it. You will have MUCH more interaction with the staff and if they are rude or not returning phone calls you'll have to re-evaluate whether or not you want to continue with them. You and the office will have a lasting relationship. It isn't just over once you have the surgery.

Good Luck on your journey!!!