FAQ’s
Certain medical conditions may prevent you from having bariatric or weight loss surgery, and our surgeons evaluate each patient to determine if bariatric surgery is an option. We are happy to discuss your individual situation with you.
Unfortunately, some insurance companies do not cover bariatric surgery due to an exclusion in the plan. Below are some options to consider in the event you do not have benefits for weight loss surgery.
Your employer may offer more than one insurance plan at open enrollment time. If so, find out if any of those plans provide coverage.
You may have the opportunity to purchase benefits on a spouse’s plan. If your primary plan has an exclusion for weight loss surgery, your secondary plan may cover your surgery.
You may pay for the surgery without insurance coverage. Call us at 361-826-5740 for cash pay pricing information.
It is important that you have realistic expectations regarding your weight loss goals when considering bariatric surgery. For people who have been obese, a healthy target BMI is often higher than the “normal” BMI of 18.5-24.9 and may be closer to the range of 20-28, depending on the person. The majority of weight is lost in the first year but continues over a period of 2-3 years.
The following is an average weight loss of excess body weight for each procedure:
Sleeve Gastrectomy: 60 – 70 percent of excess weight
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: 70-75 percent of excess weight
The amount of weight you lose is affected by the procedure you choose, but more importantly your commitment to a healthy diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes. We have found that patients who are successful in losing weight and keeping it off long term, change their eating habits and follow dietary guidelines, are physically active and exercise daily, and attend scheduled follow up appointments.
Pregnancy is not advised during the first year when the most rapid weight loss is occurring as it may deprive the fetus of essential nutrients that it needs to grow. Because weight loss may improve fertility, it is imperative that a reliable form of birth control be used following surgery. Women who are contemplating bariatric surgery and future pregnancy should discuss this with their obstetrician/gynecologist.
We will be glad to help refer you to board-certified plastic surgeons who can help with problems of excessive skin or aesthetic harmony, symmetry and proportion after significant weight loss.
Our patients also describe to us an improved quality of life and the ability to participate in activities that were too difficult before their weight loss.
If you are considering weight loss surgery, you should understand and be willing to make the lifestyle changes needed for successful weight loss and to improve your overall health.
Risks of bariatric surgery include but are not limited to bleeding, infection, pulmonary embolism, gastrointestinal and injury to surrounding organs.
The surgeon will discuss the benefits and risks of surgery during the educational seminars and again at your office consultation.