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Your Bariatric Surgery | Our Guidance
WE WILL GUIDE YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY GET STARTED ON YOUR WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY TODAY!
The National Bariatric Link is a free bariatric advocacy organization; with the sole purpose of guiding you through your entire weight loss journey, and beyond. Losing weight, especially when needing to lose more than 100 pounds, is an incredibly difficult process when doing it alone, but with our guidance and expertise, you’ll never be alone on your weight loss journey. Our Bariatric Counselors and Patient Coordinators will guide and assist you step-by-step throughout the Pre-Surgery and Bariatric qualification process, by:
- Finding a surgeon who will accepts your insurance in our network of Bariatric Surgery Centers and Hospitals
- Scheduling for you a local bariatric seminar, and consultation appointments
- Assisting with Insurance requirements
- Arranging for your pre-surgery’s psychological evaluations as required by insurance
The National Bariatric Link is your personal liaison between you and the hospital ensuring all aspects relating to your weight loss’ goal, go smoothly and timely. Best of all, our services are FREE OF CHARGE TO YOU.
Bariatric Surgery Consultation
At your surgical consultation, our bariatric experts will provide you with comprehensive information on the procedure you are having, including what to expect physically and mentally, following the surgery. You are encourage to prepare a list of questions and concerns you have about the surgery, which your bariatric surgeon can answer for you. Keep in mind that asking questions can help you feel more comfortable about the bariatric procedure and can clarify the sort of lifestyle changes you will need to make in order to achieve your weight loss goals. Some of the most common questions are:
- How is bariatric surgery performed?
- What should I do to get ready for bariatric surgery operation?
- Which type of bariatric surgery is best for me? Gastric Bypass Surgery, Gastric Sleeve, Gastric Banding
- How long will it take to recover from this bariatric procedure?
- What will I be able to eat following my bariatric surgery?
- What sort of health improvements can I expect after bariatric surgery?
- How much weight can I expect to lose post bariatric surgery?
- Are there other factors about bariatric surgery that I should know about?
Bariatric Surgery Overview
Most people begin researching information on bariatric surgery because they feel as if ‘they have hit a dead end with their weight loss efforts and feel socially inadequate and uncomfortable in their skin for many years’. In many instances, the obesity problem has started to cause serious obesity-related health concerns, or/and medical conditions that can lead to multiple life-threatening co-morbidities; including cancer, stroke and heart disease.
If you are overweight (30+ BMI) and haven’t been able to lose excess weight through traditional diet and exercise plans, you may elect to have bariatric surgery. Bariatric procedures are classified according to their mechanism of action: restrictive, malabsorptive, or a combination of restrictive and malabsorptive.
There are several types of bariatric surgery options, which include:
Health Benefits of Bariatric Surgery
You may feel that Bariatric Surgery is a drastic weight loss medical procedure, but the many health benefits following bariatric surgery should out-weight your concerns and uneasiness into taking the step to long term weight loss.
If you have lived with obesity for a long time, you are well aware that the problems caused by carrying excessive weight are not limited to your physical appearance. Overweight and obesity can have negatively impact every system in the body, and eventually leads to a host of health and medical problems, as well as limiting quality of life and shortening life expectancy. The social stigma carried by obesity can have a significant and detrimental effect on self-esteem and mental wellbeing, while the negative physiological changes associated with obesity can lead to serious life-threatening co-morbidities (medical issues associated with being overweight).
As many serious obesity-related health issues take time to develop, seeking help right away is important for optimal outcomes and getting the full health benefits of bariatric surgery. Even those who have been obese for many years can obtain significant physiological and psychosocial improvement from bariatric surgery. There are a number of medical benefits to bariatric surgery, such as:
- Patients typically lose more than 50% of their excess weight after bariatric surgery
- Obesity-related diseases markedly improve after bariatric surgery
- Reduction of cardiovascular risk
- Life expectancy improvement
- Long-term significant weight loss
- Improvement of physical factors that lead to heart disease
- Greater self-esteem
- Quick weight loss
- Added quality of live and longevity
Cost of Bariatric Surgery
The Cost of bariatric surgery will vary by region. Surgery fees are typically higher in urban areas, such as California, New York, and other metropolitan cities. This is because of medical overhead costs are higher in such areas. As well, surgeons are in greater demand in more densely populated areas. However, the top surgeons in every region typically demand/and receive higher fees. They are often more skilled, have performed more surgeries and have a better record of successful results.
CASH PAYMENT FOR BARIATRIC SURGERY
The cost of bariatric procedures varies from type to type, but a general range is between $12,000-$35,000. The payment amount for bariatric surgery depend upon factors such as:
- Type of procedure performed
- Whether the bariatric surgery was preformed laparoscopically or open surgery
- Hospital that performs the surgery and if it was a Center of Excellence
- Length of hospital stay
- Area of the country where the surgery is performed
- Occurrence of medical complications
This cash payment / out of pocket amount for bariatric surgery usually includes the surgeon’s fee, the cost of the hospital stay, and fees for anesthesia, X-rays, and pre-op lab tests. Following your surgery, there will be additional costs for diet and exercise plans, nutritional supplements, and possibly plastic surgery needed to remove excess skin as well as behavior modification therapy.
Links of interest:
INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR BARIATRIC SURGERY
Most Insurances pay for gastric bypass, lap band and gastric sleeve surgeries. Approval for bariatric surgery depends on showing that the procedure is medically necessary. Getting insurance coverage for the surgery is more likely if your doctor can verify that you have certain co-morbidities, which are medical issues due to your weight. If you have insurance, our insurance coordinator can verify your insurance for bariatric surgery coverage.
Risks Associated with Bariatric Surgery
At this point you might be thinking, “ok, but what are the risks and side effects of Bariatric surgery”. All surgeries have risks during the procedure itself and post surgery complications from bariatric surgery can happen. Depending on the type of bariatric surgery you choose, the side effects differ.
Most bariatric surgeries are done with robotics or laparoscopically. The safety of bariatric surgery has greatly increased over the last decade. You will have to personally weight the risks of having bariatric surgery against the dangers of not having bariatric surgery. The co-morbidities you are suffering from, and how they are impacting your life. If you choose to have bariatric surgery, you are choosing a life-long commitment to pursuing a healthier lifestyle.
Links of Importance:
Ways to minimize bariatric surgery risks
Bariatric Surgery Complications for Gastric Sleeve
Gastric Banding: Lap Band
Gastric Sleeve
Gastric Bypass
Pre-Surgery Bariatric Diet
Bariatric Surgery Insurance Coverage