My Bariatric Life

There are many options when it comes to affording bariatric surgery and getting FREE or reduced-cost weight loss surgery is possible. There are many options when it comes to paying for bariatric surgery. Let's explore them. Click on each hyperlink to learn more on the topic. Having health insurance does not mean that weight-loss surgery is covered in your policy. About one quarter of people seeking weight-loss surgery will be denied three times before they receive weight-loss surgery insurance approval. If you have insurance coverage for bariatric surgery and are denied, you have the right to contest the decision and write a bariatric surgery insurance appeal letter. Since many health insurance plans exclude weight loss surgery, this leaves people faced with the decision to self-pay for bariatric surgery or to forgo what could very well be a life-saving procedure given the devastating effects of obesity and obesity-related diseases on health. An option is to take out a medical loan for weight-loss surgery. However, bariatric surgery is expensive if health insurance will not cover the surgery. And many people seek bariatric surgery outside the U.S. and engage in the process of weight loss surgery medical tourism. Thousands of individuals head to Mexico for Bariatric Surgery to realize excellent quality care, fast wait times, and attractive prices. With the question of safety of weight loss surgery in Mexico being being top of mind, I turned to Alex Brecher founder of BariatricPal Hospital MX for further exploration. Alex Brecher opened the BariatricPal Hospital MX in 2017 after having run a Mexico medical tourism business for 10 years. As far as free bariatric surgery in the US, while it will no doubt be a challenge, free weight-loss surgery is within the realm of possibility. Free or reduced cost WLS grants and charity care are available. There also are bariatric surgery clinical trials for surgical weight-loss candidates. Use our Match to Clinical Trials in 60-seconds widget on the bottom right column of MyBariatricLife.org to locate a trial near you.

There are many options when it comes to paying for bariatric surgery. Let's explore them. Click on each hyperlink to learn more on the topic. Having health insurance does not mean that weight-loss surgery is covered in your policy. About one quarter of people seeking weight-loss surgery will be denied three times before they receive weight-loss surgery insurance approval. If you have insurance coverage for bariatric surgery and are denied, you have the right to contest the decision and write a bariatric surgery insurance appeal letter. Since many health insurance plans exclude weight loss surgery, this leaves people faced with the decision to self-pay for bariatric surgery or to forgo what could very well be a life-saving procedure given the devastating effects of obesity and obesity-related diseases on health. An option is to take out a medical loan for weight-loss surgery. However, bariatric surgery is expensive if health insurance will not cover the surgery. And many people seek bariatric surgery outside the U.S. and engage in the process of weight loss surgery medical tourism. Thousands of individuals head to Mexico for Bariatric Surgery to realize excellent quality care, fast wait times, and attractive prices. With the question of safety of weight loss surgery in Mexico being being top of mind, I turned to Alex Brecher founder of BariatricPal Hospital MX for further exploration. Alex Brecher opened the BariatricPal Hospital MX in 2017 after having run a Mexico medical tourism business for 10 years. As far as free bariatric surgery in the US, while it will no doubt be a challenge, free weight-loss surgery is within the realm of possibility. Free or reduced cost WLS grants and charity care are available. There also are bariatric surgery clinical trials for surgical weight-loss candidates. Use our Match to Clinical Trials in 60-seconds widget on the bottom right column of MyBariatricLife.org to locate a trial near you.

Eat Right Now® is an Evidence-based program developed from over 10 years of groundbreaking medical research by Dr. Judson Brewer MD, PhD while he was at Yale University School of Medicine’s Therapeutic Neuroscience Clinic and UMass Medical School’s Center for Mindfulness. Oh if the weight loss surgery fixed our "brains," too. Or wherever it is that originate the preoccupation with food, the gnawing in the pit of our stomachs, and the loud voice that says, "I want that!" Unfortunately our brains are WIRED FOR ADDICTION according to research. Each time we eat something sweet or salty or crunchy our brains release “feel good” chemicals – the same chemicals that drive other addictions like smoking, alcohol and even cocaine. Fortunately, we can learn to differentiate between real hunger and emotional craving, and to identify the triggers that drive our cravings. Psychiatrist Judson Brewer's A Simple Way to Break a Bad Habit was the 4th most watched TED Talk of 2016. Psychiatrist Judson Brewer is a thought leader in the “science of self mastery,” having combined nearly 20 years of experience with mindfulness with his scientific research therein. An internationally known expert in mindfulness training for addictions (he wrote the book The Craving Mind), Judson has developed novel treatments to help individuals with substance abuse and eating disorders. And these same principals can work to stop cravings and bad eating habits. To learn more about the mechanism of habit development and discover a simple but profound tactic that might help you beat your next urge to snack, check out Dr. Brewer's app Eat Right Now®. Eat Right Now® is an Evidence-based program developed from over 10 years of groundbreaking medical research by Dr. Judson Brewer MD, PhD while he was at Yale University School of Medicine’s Therapeutic Neuroscience Clinic and UMass Medical School’s Center for Mindfulness. The app can change people’s unhealthy relationships with food and help them break the cycle of craving-related eating, according to a study published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Brewer is joined by experts Kara Nance, MD FACP, a leading nutrition and weight management expert, and Ashley E. Mason, PhD, an expert in food craving and addiction. According to a study from UCSF, participants in the Eat Right Now® program reduced their food-related cravings by 40%. You can learn about the Eat Right Now app on the program website and sign up for a 7-day free trial. Note that this is NOT an affiliate link.

Since many health insurance plans exclude weight loss surgery, more people are opting to self-pay and turning to Mexico for bariatric surgery at facilities like the BariatricPal Hospital MX in Tijuana. That is because the cost of weight loss surgery in Mexico can be significantly reduced from the costs for surgery in the USA and Canada. But is it safe? My heart breaks for morbidly obese people whose health plans do not cover bariatric surgery. With health plans that exclude weight loss surgery, if they deem it a medical necessity then you may be able to successfully fight for surgery coverage. I don't know what the success rate is for people who attempt this but it is surely worth trying. Since many health insurance plans exclude weight loss surgery, this leaves people faced with the decision to self-pay for bariatric surgery or to forgo what could very well be a life-saving procedure given the devastating effects of obesity and obesity-related diseases on health. Accordingly, more people are opting to self-pay and turning to Mexico for bariatric surgery at facilities like the BariatricPal Hospital MX in Tijuana. That is because the cost of weight loss surgery in Mexico can be significantly reduced from the costs for surgery in the USA and Canada. For others, the preconceived notion of Mexico being an undeveloped country filled with sub-par "everything" and drug cartels has banished any thoughts of traveling there for bariatric surgery. But I can tell you from personal experience that Mexico is not like that. I drove through Mexico last year from the US border to the Belize border, throughout the Yucatan Peninsula and most of the eastern states. I spent about 5-weeks living there. And I even received healthcare from a gastroenterologist at StarMedica in Merida. It was a very good experience... a wonderful experience. And both the healthcare and the facility were on-par with -- if not better than -- that which I have experienced in the USA. Mexico is largely like the USA with cities and infrastructure and shopping malls and hospitals. Of course there are isolated rural areas, but I did not encounter problems with safety even there. What I did encounter was a very warm and friendly culture that I would one day like to revisit. With the question of safety of weight loss surgery in Mexico being being top of mind, I turned to Alex Brecher founder of BariatricPal Hospital MX for further exploration. Alex Brecher opened the BariatricPal Hospital MX in 2017 after having run a Mexico medical tourism business for 10 years. I am sure that my interview with Alex Brecher of the BariatricPal Hospital MX will further set your mind at ease. Our entire discussion is about safe surgery.

My heart breaks for morbidly obese people whose health plans do not cover bariatric surgery. With health plans that exclude weight loss surgery, if they deem it a medical necessity then you may be able to successfully fight for surgery coverage. I don't know what the success rate is for people who attempt this but it is surely worth trying. Since many health insurance plans exclude weight loss surgery, this leaves people faced with the decision to self-pay for bariatric surgery or to forgo what could very well be a life-saving procedure given the devastating effects of obesity and obesity-related diseases on health. Accordingly, more people are opting to self-pay and turning to Mexico for bariatric surgery at facilities like the BariatricPal Hospital MX in Tijuana. That is because the cost of weight loss surgery in Mexico can be significantly reduced from the costs for surgery in the USA and Canada. For others, the preconceived notion of Mexico being an undeveloped country filled with sub-par "everything" and drug cartels has banished any thoughts of traveling there for bariatric surgery. But I can tell you from personal experience that Mexico is not like that. I drove through Mexico last year from the US border to the Belize border, throughout the Yucatan Peninsula and most of the eastern states. I spent about 5-weeks living there. And I even received healthcare from a gastroenterologist at StarMedica in Merida. It was a very good experience... a wonderful experience. And both the healthcare and the facility were on-par with -- if not better than -- that which I have experienced in the USA. Mexico is largely like the USA with cities and infrastructure and shopping malls and hospitals. Of course there are isolated rural areas, but I did not encounter problems with safety even there. What I did encounter was a very warm and friendly culture that I would one day like to revisit. With the question of safety of weight loss surgery in Mexico being being top of mind, I turned to Alex Brecher founder of BariatricPal Hospital MX for further exploration. Alex Brecher opened the BariatricPal Hospital MX in 2017 after having run a Mexico medical tourism business for 10 years. I am sure that my interview with Alex Brecher of the BariatricPal Hospital MX will further set your mind at ease. Our entire discussion is about safe surgery.

In this article I interview Alex Brecher founder of BariatricPal Hospital MXabout the safety of weight loss surgery in Mexico. http://www.mybariatriclife.org/bariatricpal-hospital-mx-qa-safe-bariatric-surgery/

I just love Dr. Winslow. I cannot say enough good things about her. I have to add that she went to the Oklahoma City Bombing and was reconstructing the faces of the children who suffered injuries. G-d bless Dr. Winslow. xoxo

Good idea about taking melatonin. Thanks!

What are the pitfalls that you've encountered on this journey? Night time eating is a big one for me. I always was a late night binge eater. Although I don't binge eat any more the habit of craving food at night is a monkey on my back. There are times I can go virtually all day without eating but at night there are times when I'll be starving for food. There is actually a syndrome related to nighttime eating categorized as either night eating syndrome (NES) or the sleep-related eating disorder (SRED). NES is characterized by evening hunger, abnormally increased food intake after the evening meal, nocturnal awakings with ingestions, morning anorexia, and insomnia. Unlike binge eating, excessive amounts of food are not eaten. Ironically, one of the treatments for NES is to eat regularly throughout the day and include protein at every meal. If you suspect that you have NES then get yourself to a therapist who specializes in eating disorders. The National Eating Disorders hotline can be a good starting point: 800-931-2237.

It is a dream for most people to have full, thick hair especially when they notice that thinning hair and/or hair loss is visible. Most bariatric surgeons will tell you the hair loss is only temporary -- but most patients will become quite alarmed to see the many strands of hair at the bottom of their bathtubs day after day. You can take the following steps to slow or stop hair loss and thinning hair... It is a dream for most people to have full, thick hair especially when they notice that thinning hair and/or hair loss is visible. Most bariatric surgeons will tell you the hair loss is only temporary -- but most patients will become quite alarmed to see the many strands of hair at the bottom of their bathtubs day after day. Causes of Hair Loss and Hair Thinning Following weight loss surgery, our bodies must adjust to a lesser amount of calories. Only those organs that require nutrients the most will receive them. Hair is not among those organs. Hair strands also retreat into a state of temporary suspension after weight-loss surgery and do not produce new strands. The condition is temporary, and you don’t need to be concerned about losing all your hair. Likewise, thinning hair is caused by deficiencies in our nutrition; for instance, low iron levels in the body causes hair loss. Treatment for Fuller Thicker Hair The causes of hair thinning and hair loss can be treated using natural elements like supplements and essential oils. Additionally, remedies for thinning hair or loss include reducing stress, having balanced hormones, eating a great diet and so much more. Read these articles to learn how to slow or stop hair loss with natural treatments: Stop Hair Loss After Weight Loss In the first 6-months it's common for patients to experience hair loss after weight loss surgery. You can take the following steps to slow or stop hair loss... 10 Home Remedies for Thinning Hair Here are 10 natural remedies for thinning hair that include: reducing stress, having balanced hormones, eating a great diet, using supplements and much more...

It is a dream for most people to have full, thick hair especially when they notice that thinning hair and/or hair loss is visible. Most bariatric surgeons will tell you the hair loss is only temporary -- but most patients will become quite alarmed to see the many strands of hair at the bottom of their bathtubs day after day. Causes of Hair Loss and Hair Thinning Following weight loss surgery, our bodies must adjust to a lesser amount of calories. Only those organs that require nutrients the most will receive them. Hair is not among those organs. Hair strands also retreat into a state of temporary suspension after weight-loss surgery and do not produce new strands. The condition is temporary, and you don’t need to be concerned about losing all your hair. Likewise, thinning hair is caused by deficiencies in our nutrition; for instance, low iron levels in the body causes hair loss. Treatment for Fuller Thicker Hair The causes of hair thinning and hair loss can be treated using natural elements like supplements and essential oils. Additionally, remedies for thinning hair or loss include reducing stress, having balanced hormones, eating a great diet and so much more. Read these articles to learn how to slow or stop hair loss with natural treatments: Stop Hair Loss After Weight Loss In the first 6-months it's common for patients to experience hair loss after weight loss surgery. You can take the following steps to slow or stop hair loss... 10 Home Remedies for Thinning Hair Here are 10 natural remedies for thinning hair that include: reducing stress, having balanced hormones, eating a great diet, using supplements and much more...

I did not have surgery in MX but I did have treatment at StarMedica hospital in Merida for IBS. And I found just as you did that the quality of care and the facility were as good if not better than I have gotten in the USA. I don't speak Spanish but did not have too much of a problem communicating with people during the month that we were in MX. Many speak English, and Google Translate app on my mobile phone was helpful when I encountered people who did not. How is your aftercare being managed? Do you attend any support groups?

How much did it cost? Do you have to go back to Mexico for the aftercare? We do not live anywhere near the border. But we are considering living in MX for the Winter.

I am very glad that my friend prepared me for this! And I am very glad that I went with Dr. Winslow! Holy cow she does amazing work!

I am so glad that a woman who had been through it gave me the insider tips on my facelift. I owe her big time for: 1) convincing me not to have my face done by the bariatric plastic surgeon who did our body lifts, and 2) preparing me that I would look like monster after my facelift. In the end, I got the most incredible amazing life-changing facelift from a FACIAL plastic surgeon, Dr. Catherine Winslow, and she was cheaper than my body contouring plastic surgeon wanted for the facelift who never could have done the work that she did. And I did not have an emotional breakdown when I woke up form surgery and looked like a monster... and slightly inhuman for weeks afterwards. Although it was quite a shock to my family! I repeat: Be prepared. If you get a facelift by a facial plastic surgeon s/he is likely to do a whole lot more to maximize the improvements to your facelift after weight loss than a bariatric plastic surgeon is able to do. Thusly this extensive amount of work might leave you looking slightly inhuman for a week or more, as it did me. And, like me, you may not look like yourself for months. Now I will prepare you just like my friend prepared me. Here are a couple of photos from the early weeks after my facelift. I look slightly inhuman or at least like someone beat me up. And you will, too, so be prepared for this and avoid a panic attack after your facial plastic surgery! This links to my blog post. http://www.mybariatriclife.org/my-facelift-after-weight-loss-and-looking-slightly-inhuman/