losing weight before approved for surgery

Mommy07 · September 23, 2008

I am from Maine and having the surgery at Souther Maine Medical Center.

I weighed in at 270 with my dietician on the 10th of October. I started eating they way she told me to and I have lost 7 pounds in two weeks. I am affraid that if I lose too much weight my BMI and my weight won't be high enough to have the surgery approved by my insurance.

Any suggestions?

cella · September 23, 2008

I also had the same problem but my surgeon said the weight that i initially started at which was the first appt. with my surgeon is the weight they go by. I lost about 14 lbs by myself the month of the surgery but all was ok and went as planned. I was banded Aug 19th and have lost 22lbs I have not had a fill yet so it is all worth the hoop jumping that they sometimes make you go through. My first fill is 9/26/08.

Mommy07 · September 23, 2008

hey thanks! Good luck with your fill! :confused:

Apples2 · September 23, 2008

I had to do the 6 mo. medically supervised diet which was required by my ins. company. I was told by my surgeon that the initial weigh in weight was what is used when paperwork was turned into ins. company.

I would do the 6 mo. diet all over again, even if not required. It gave me time to wrap my head around what I was in for with the band. I was able to lose over 50lbs during that time period. I worried about feelings of deprivation after surgery if I was not prepared prior to surgery.

Good luck to you with your approval and the entire process. I can honestly say that the lap band is one of the best things I have ever done and treasure the fact that I will hopefully have it with me for a lifetime.