If you’re just beginning to research bariatric surgery, the number and variety of the types of procedures may seem a bit confusing. That’s because hospitals and surgical clinics follow strict protocols in terms of which patients qualify for the different types of bariatric procedures, both for the safety of the patient and the prognosis for success.
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To begin with, let’s look at the medical guidelines. To qualify for the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, or Lap-Band surgeries, you must:
In addition, some patients may qualify for certain bariatric procedures if they have serious weight-related issues and a BMI between 30 and 34.
Please note: The requirements for the gastric balloon are different. Learn more about the gastric balloon procedure.
If you believe you may be a candidate for bariatric surgery, you will undergo an extensive medical and psychological screening before being approved. Your medical team may include a surgeon, nutritionist and a psychologist; their combined efforts are an attempt to determine:
Some mental illnesses contribute to obesity or make it difficult to follow through with the maintenance required after weight loss surgery. These may include:
Having one or more of these conditions doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t have the surgery, but your doctor may want to postpone a procedure until they are certain you’ve been treated and that your condition is being properly managed.
Most of the guidelines above are consistent with insurance company requirements. An insurance provider may also want to see a letter from your physician stating that the surgery is medical necessity, and/or proof that you completed a doctor-supervised diet for six months sometime within the last two years without success.
Dr. Naim and the staff at Soma Weight Loss are committed to your success. Please reach out if you have more questions about bariatric surgery or wish to schedule a consultation — call 855-SOMA-411 (766-2411) or contact us online. We are here for you!
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