Frequently Asked Questions About Bariatric Surgery

Am I qualified for bariatric surgery?

To be eligible for bariatric surgery, you must:

• Have a history of trying other diet methods unsuccessfully, including medically supervised dieting
• Have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more (100 pounds or more over weight), or have a BMI of 35 with one or more weight-related conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

Is bariatric surgery covered by insurance?

Most insurance plans cover bariatric surgery that’s used to correct serious medical conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. However, insurance plans vary regarding requirements for surgery and amount of coverage provided. Our expert insurance verification team can help you check for your plan’s bariatric coverage. Metabolic and bariatric surgery is also a health expense that you can deduct from your income tax.

How much weight could I expect to lose with bariatric surgery?

Weight loss varies depending upon the type of procedure performed, plus other factors like your health and weight before surgery and how well you adopt new eating and exercise habits after your procedure. Usually, you can expect to lose weight quickly during the first few months, and then pounds are shed more slowly. Maximum loss is typically about 60 to 85 percent of excess weight and takes about 12 to 18 months.

How long will I need to stay in the hospital after surgery?

Your hospital stay will depend upon what type of surgery you have. Typically, hospital stays after surgery are between one to two days. After you leave the hospital, you’ll be able to take care of your personal needs but will require help with other tasks, such driving, lifting and caring for children.

How soon can I return to work and regular activities after surgery?

Your time away from your job will depend upon the type of surgery you get and the kind of work that you do. Generally, you can expect to take two to four weeks off work following your surgery. During that time, your focus will be on establishing healthy eating and drinking habits. You should be back to regular activities in three to five weeks.

What will happen during my first appointment? How long will it take?

After you’ve attended our informational seminar and are ready to proceed, the next step will be an appointment with a surgeon. This appointment will take about two hours. Your surgeon’s team will perform an extensive physical and evaluate your medical history to determine if you are a candidate for surgery.

What changes will I need to make after surgery?

It’s important to remember that weight loss surgery is a tool to help you lose weight, but keeping the weight off will depend on changing eating and exercise habits for the rest of your life. That’s why we offer a mind and body approach to surgical weight loss. Our team of experts will partner with you to help you adjust to the physical and emotional changes you can expect after your surgery.

Can I get pregnant after weight loss surgery?

We strongly recommend that women wait at least 12 to18 months after surgery before becoming pregnant. It’s safer for both you and the baby to hold off pregnancy until your nutritional needs have stabilized.

Financing

We are pleased to be able to offer laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, laparoscopic gastric bypass, and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for some of the most affordable prices in the country. Our Center of Excellence Uinversity of Miami Hospital pricing is affordable due to our cost-effective technique in the operating room.

Financing Options

Get a decision in two minutes or less! University of Miami Hospital has partnered with American Healthcare Lending to offer low monthly payment plans to cover your weight loss surgery.

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Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Pricing

• Surgery
• Anesthesia
• Up to a two-night stay at the hospital

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Pricing

• Surgery
• Anesthesia
• Up to a two-night stay at the hospital

Insurance Requirements

A Letter of Medical Necessity and weight loss history are necessary to obtain prior authorization for obesity surgery. A Letter of Medical Necessity states why significant weight loss is medically necessary for a patient and usually includes the following information:

• Patient’s weight (BMI more than 40 or more than 35 with severe associated medical problems to qualify)
• List of medical problems associated with obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, etc.
• Number of years patient has been overweight (which should be at least five or more)
• Documentation of failed weight loss programs attempted for a minimum of six months in the past two years

Not every insurance carrier will cover bariatric surgery. For those considering the self pay option, please consider:

• The money spent toward the surgery may be tax deductible. Please consult your tax advisor. After your tax refund, the surgery may come out to 2/3 the amounts listed above ($10,000 to $11,000). Health care expenses incurred outside the U.S. are not deductible on your taxes.
• You can have surgery right away without having to meet all insurance diet history requirements.