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Which weight loss surgery works best for most patients?
|What you will read a lot in this section is that every person is different and will have a different result to a different operation. Every weight loss surgery is different and is different for each person. Gastric bypass surgery has the longest track record in the USA. The Lap Band is relatively new in the USA but quickly gaining on the Gastric Bypass. Both operations are very different and have very different results. Each requires patients to do things differently. There is no “best” operation. After very careful consideration of all the available information, each person should select the weight loss surgery that is best for them, not the one their friend or neighbor had.
How long does Gastric bypass operation take to perform?
Depending on the patients weight, size and medical conditions associated with their obesity, gastric bypass surgery takes approximately 1to 1&1/2 hours to perform. This is an average figure and can change based on the individual needs of a patient.
What are the most serious complications of weight loss surgery?
Weight loss surgery is as serious and important as heart surgery, brain surgery or transplant surgery. With weight loss surgery the internet is filled with horror stories. What is most important is your surgeons training and experience with weight loss surgery. Any major operation can have complications such as leak, infection, Band slip, blood clots, bleeding, vomiting, the need for repeat or re-do surgery and death.
How much weight will I lose?
Again, this is different for each individual. The patients ability to comply with the after surgery diet and participate in the after surgery exercise program determines a patients success with weight loss.
What if I hit a wall with my weight loss?
This is called a plateau. A humorous line used in weight loss surgery circles is “plateau’s happen”. Weight loss is not a continuous thing for everyone. Most people experience a stop in their weight loss for as long as 4 to 8 weeks. This can be scary but it is the bodies way of adjusting the drastic changes taking place. Many folks say that although their weight is not changing, they continue to lose inches. What is important is that if a plateau lasts for more than 8 weeks, get in touch with your weight loss surgeon.
How do I obtain authorization for my office visit for weight loss surgery to be covered by my insurance?
Insurance companies are becoming more difficult to deal with and are denying weight loss surgery in record numbers. If your insurance policy has an exclusion to weight loss surgery, it will not cover the office visit. The best way to find out this information is to call your insurance company yourself and ask them directly. Different policies have different rules. Read your insurance policy handbook and look in the “exclusions” section.
How do I start my insurance approval for weight loss surgery?
Good question. Call your insurance company. Have your insurance information at hand and start asking a lot of questions. Expect to be on hold for a long time and be ready to call them back a lot. Go to your insurance companies web site and find information there. Ask your Human Resource office for help. This will be the most difficult thing you do. Be persistent, make lots of calls, ask lots of questions and keep a written diary of who you have spoken to.
Getting information about your attempts to lose weight is very important. Insurance companies now demand copies of your primary care physicians office notes. The office notes must have your weight recorded for each A letter from your doctor is not enough.
What can I do to get bariatric surgery if my insurance company will not pay for it?
Many folks face this important matter. Many people must pay for their weight loss surgery on their own. There are a lot of financing plans available via the internet and possibly with your own bank. Capital One and Care Credit are examples of the many organizations providing financing for weight loss surgery. Type “patient financing” in to your search engine for more information.
Does weight los surgery require a commitment?
Yes, absolutely, yes! For weight loss surgery to work, it is imperative the patient be prepared to change their life as to how it relates to eating and exercising. It is of utmost importance that everyone understand that for any weight loss surgery to be successful, it requires surgery, change of diet and exercise. Without this no weight loss surgery will be successful.
What is the youngest age that weight loss surgery can be done?
Right now 18 is the youngest age recommended for weight loss surgery. There are scientific studies taking place right now in Canada and the USA looking at the effects of weight loss surgery in children between the ages of 13 to 17. The early results are promising, but the final results are not available.
What is the oldest age for weight los surgery?
Age really does not determine a persons ability to have weight loss surgery. It is their health. Some folks are too sick to have weight loss surgery. A 70 year old woman with obesity and high blood pressure can be a great candidate for surgery. A 55 year old man with obesity, high blood pressure, heart failure, asthma and kidney failure is a very poor candidate for surgery and likely will not have surgery. The number and severity of medical problems that a person has will determine if they are a good candidate for surgery.
Can weight loss surgery prolong my life?
The answer for that is not clear. What is clear is that weight los surgery definitely improves medical conditions that can shorten a persons life. Weight loss surgery definitely has an impact on diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, high cholesterol and arthritis. It is felt that if these problems are cured or better controlled a persons life can be made healthier and longer.
Is there a problem with loose skin after weight loss surgery?
There can be a problem. If a person is more than 100 pounds over their ideal body weight and they are successful at loosing all their weight after surgery, it is very likely that loose aprons of skin around the belly, arms and legs can be a problem. Many folks think they can get skin to shrink if they can tone it up by lifting weights. Exercising is always a good choice, but unfortunately it does not help shrink skin. Many weight loss surgery patients need the help of a plastic surgeon to help remove the excess skin.
Like weight loss surgery, many insurance companies will not pay for plastic body contouring surgery. Lots of folks read on the internet that if you donate your skin, the plastic surgery will be done for free, this is not true.
Who should think about having weight los surgery?
Weight loss surgery is not for everyone. It is recommended for folks who are obese or morbidly obese. These folks will also have medical problems associated to their obesity such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and other problems. Their medical conditions will become harder to treat or control. They will have tried to lose weight with the help of their doctor, dietitian or personal trainer. When all of these efforts do not produce enough weight loss to improve a persons health, then it is time to consider weight loss surgery.
How long does it take to lose weight after surgery?
This is different for every individual. Every person responds differently to weight loss surgery. With Gastric bypass surgery the average weight loss is 77% Excess Body Weight Loss (EBWL) two years after surgery. Their means that if a person is carrying 100 extra pounds, they will have lost 77 pounds 2 years after surgery. With the Lap Band it is 50% EBWL. These numbers are averages for large populations of USA patients. Many folks beat these numbers based on their dedication to their exercise and diet program.
Can weight lost with weight loss surgery be regained?
The answer to this is yes. If a weight loss surgery patient abandons their diet and exercise plan, they can and will regain weight. The teaching and lessons that are provided prior to the weight loss surgery are guidelines to be followed for the rest of your life. They will help keep you healthy and at a healthy weight.
Can weight loss surgery be reversed?
Yes. The Lap Band can be removed with another surgery. The Gastric Bypass surgery can be reversed, but it is a major surgery and is done in very rare circumstances.
Is it necessary to count calories?
Calorie counting is a very popular and unsuccessful way to lose weight. After weight los surgery patients are encouraged to count grams of proteins, numbers of meals and ounces of fluids. The grams of protein helps keep their body and immune system nourished, the fluids help keep them hydrated and the numbers of meals keeps them from getting hungry.
Can I drink alcohol?
It is recommended that weight loss surgery patient refrain from drinking alcohol for the first 3 to 6 months after surgery. After that it is recommended they resume doing so slowly and in great moderation. Gastric Bypass can reduce the amount of alcohol and the time needed to get drunk, inebriated or under the influence.
Will I have a scar after surgery?
All surgeries require the creation of a scar. Thankfully with advances in technology these scars can be much smaller than the “old days”. Various over the counter preparations can help reduce the appearance of scars. Many folks use Neosporin ointment, Mederma, Vitamin E or Aloe. Results are different for everyone.
Will I be able to eat sweets again?
This is a very difficult question to answer. Eating sweets became the problem for some folks who became obese. For others it is just a matter of enjoying the occasional desert. It is highly recommended that for the first year after surgery sweets should be avoided so there is no interference with the dietary program provided after surgery.
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