How long does it take to be approved for weight loss surgery?
The entire process, from consultation to surgery, generally takes about six months to complete. It often depends on you and your insurance requirements.
Do I have to wait 6 months for gastric sleeve?
On average, bariatric surgery recipients lose more than 25% of their body weight regardless of preoperative wait time, according to a recent study. These findings contradict current insurance mandates that require patients to lose weight in the 6 months prior to bariatric surgery before the procedure is approved.
How do I get approved for weight loss surgery?
Guidelines to qualify for gastric bypass surgery
- Efforts to lose weight with diet and exercise have been unsuccessful.
- Your body mass index (BMI) is 40 or higher.
- Your BMI is 35 or more and you have a serious weight-related health problem, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or severe sleep apnea.
How long does it take for insurance to approve gastric sleeve surgery?
two to four weeks
How painful is gastric sleeve surgery?
Sleeve gastrectomy is surgery to remove part of the stomach to help with weight loss. The surgery limits the amount of food your stomach can hold. You will have some belly pain and may need pain medicine for the first week or so after surgery. The cuts (incisions) that the doctor made may be tender and sore.
How much do you have to weigh to get stomach surgery?
To be eligible for bariatric surgery, you must be between 16 and 70 years of age (with some exceptions) and morbidly obese (weighing at least 100 pounds over your ideal body weight and having a BMI of 40).
How much weight do you have to lose before gastric sleeve?
Amount of pre-surgery weight loss
Some patients are required to lose 10 percent of their weight before weight-loss surgery is performed. For other patients, losing just 15 to 20 pounds right before surgery is enough to reduce the risk of complications.
Can I pay cash for gastric sleeve?
Gastric sleeves or the sleeve gastrectomy procedure has become popular for cash pay patients. Gastric bypass can cost $25k for cash pay patients. Gastric sleeves cost between $10k and $18k and may produce results better than gastric banding without the need to see the doctor for follow-up fills.
What does a leak feel like gastric sleeve?
Because a gastric sleeve leak results in digestive fluids escaping from your stomach, pain is one of the most noticeable and telltale symptoms of gastric sleeve leak. Signs include abdominal pain, chest pain, and even pain in the shoulder. More noticeably, the pain will intensify every day, rather than resolve itself.
What medical conditions disqualify you for bariatric surgery?
These conditions can include, diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, sleep apnea, incontinence, reflux, asthma, headaches, and many others. These conditions do not typically impair your surgery eligibility.
Is the gastric sleeve worth it?
Gastric sleeve surgery is permanent and can lead to positive health outcomes for obese people who have struggled with achieving and maintaining weight loss. And overall, gastric sleeve is considered safe when compared to other commonly performed surgeries.
How overweight do you have to be for surgery?
Learn your body mass index
A BMI range of 18-24.9 is considered optimal. Morbid obesity is defined as a BMI score of 40 or more. You typically qualify for bariatric surgery if you have a BMI of 35-39, with specific significant health problems like Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea or high blood pressure.
How can I get my insurance to pay for gastric sleeve?
Getting Your Insurance to Pay for Weight Loss Surgery
Most major insurance companies will require: Proof that surgery or medical intervention is medically necessary. Your surgeon can help provide your medical history and documentation of your weight-related health problems.
What is the safest weight loss surgery?
Gastric Banding
This the simplest and safest procedure of the bariatric surgeries. The weight loss is lower than the other surgeries, however. Also, individuals with gastric banding are more likely to regain weight in the long run.