After viewing the informational video, print the Steps to Bariatric Surgery.  In general, the steps to gastric bypass and gastric banding are:

Step 1- Call your Insurance Company

Before doing anything else, please first call your health insurance company to find out if your policy covers weight loss surgery when medically necessary.  If your policy has an exclusion for bariatric surgery, your surgery would be an out-of-pocket expense.  Some plans require that you try to lose weight with your primary care doctor for 3 – 6 months before you can be approved, so please check with your insurance before going any farther.

Step 2- Get Medical Records

Weight loss surgery is a last resort option for people who have been struggling with obesity for years.  Insurance companies want to see proof that you have struggled with your weight for at least 2 years before approving you for bariatric surgery.  A doctor’s note from an old office visit is the only acceptable proof.  Your weight shown on any kind of doctor’s note is what you need. 

Step 3- Psychological Evaluation

All patients must have a psychological evaluation before weight loss surgery.  We will provide you with a list of recommended doctors for this evaluation.

Step 4- Nutrition Evaluation

Call our office at 704-377-3900 to make your initial appointment.  Your surgeon will perform an initial assessment to make sure you are a good candidate for weight loss surgery.  He will also schedule your appointment with our nutritionist, who will walk you through how to eat differently after bariatric surgery.