Gastric bypass surgery may be the right solution for you to attain permanent weight loss and begin a new life with a restored health and self confidence.  This web site provides the information you need to make an informed choice about the cost, risks and types of  procedures that fit your current condition.  Gastric bypass or lap band surgery has helped many morbidly obese individuals successfully lose 100 or more pounds. This bariatric procedure is recommended by many surgeons as a weight loss option for medical reasons rather than cosmetic.

Losing such a significant amount of weight improves many of the very serious health risks associated with this level of obesity.  Many insurance companies will pay for the procedure if you choose the right program which understands the needs specific to you

PROCEDURE FOR THE "ROUX EN Y"  GASTRIC BYPASS

Gastric Bypass Surgery via the Roux-en-Y is considered to be the best surgical procedure for the treatment of morbid obesity. The functional portion of your stomach will be reduced to a small pouch that is about one ounce in size and then a small opening between the stomach and the intestine will be created.

The size of your new stomach will cause you to feel full after eating only a small amount of food. Since it will also take longer for your stomach to empty, you will also feel full for a longer amount of time.

What to expect after bypass surgery

In a very short time after the bypass procedure you are able to move around without too much discomfort, can take food in by mouth, and can do without injected pain medication - you will be ready to leave the hospital. You will be given specific instructions regarding what you can eat and when you will need to come back for your follow-up visit. Immediately after the surgery you will be on a liquid-only diet. Within a few weeks you will work your way up to eating regular food in small amounts.

Risks of gastric bypass surgery

At one point, statistics had shown that 1 in 300 patients died from gastric bypass surgery. As with any surgical procedure, different reactions to stress, trauma and medications can sometimes cause unpredictable negative results. This surgery should only be considered after many other attempts with diet control and exercise have failed. Keep in mind though, that diet and exercise will play a large role in your life after the surgery.

Other medical conditions can also complicate the surgical procedure as well as the recovery period. Make sure you discuss the risks of gastric bypass with your doctor. Since morbid obesity usually causes other serious medical conditions, the higher your BMI is, the more likely that these other conditions will exist.

Benefits of the bypass procedure

The benefits of gastric bypass surgery can very much outweigh the risks. Patients are expected to lose 75 - 80% of their excess body weight. Over 70% of patients with hypertension will be off medications and over 90% of patients with type II non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus are expected to be off medication. Medical conditions that expect to be drastically improved, if not completely resolved include: sleep apnea, asthma, joint pain, arthritis, reflux, fatigue and shortness of breath.

Candidates for bypass surgery

Surgery using the gastric bypass procedure is only recommended for people who are 90 pounds or more overweight and have serious medical complications that will be helped or cured by substantial weight loss.

While weight loss surgery is not for everyone, there is a large number of people for whom losing a lot of weight is imperative. This includes those who are suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, heart trouble, shortness of breath, arthritis and orthopedic problems with their legs, hips or back.

It is also important to understand that if you consume large quantities of soft drinks, junk food or fried foods and do not believe that you can switch to diet drinks and healthier foods, then you may not be an ideal candidate for gastric bypass surgery. If these types of foods are consumed after the surgery, then it is very likely that the surgery will fail. To find out if you are a gastric bypass candidate, please contact us for more information.

The cost of surgery
The cost of gastric bypass surgery varies according to where you are having the procedure done. A typical procedure can cost between $20,000 and $35,000 including hospital fees as well as the surgeons and other professional fees. Although weight loss surgery is an elective procedure, it may be covered by your insurance company. Many health insurance companies will pay for some or all of the costs. However, some do not cover the procedure at all. It is important that you understand what is covered in your policy.

Insurance Coverage for the surgery

Since morbid obesity is a life threatening disease, most insurance companies will cover gastric bypass surgery when it is considered medically necessary. Any insurance company covering surgical procedure will require you to meet several different criteria. It is important that you understand your policy and what needs to be documented before the surgery will be approved.

Aetna Insurance asks for the patients entire medical work-up along with the pre-authorization request as well as documented weight loss attempts supervised by a physician for the last 2 years. Many times you must also be able to show a documented weight history for the last 5 years.

Insurance Appeal Process

If you insurance company has denied your claim for gastric bypass surgery you may still be able to qualify through an appeals process.   Let our qualified staff evaluate your personal situation.  Many times we have gotten those who have been denied qualified for both gastric bypass and lap band surgery.   Click here to find out more.

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