Hi Everyone,

I am new to this site, AND new to the process. After conducting about 3 weeks of research on all of my options, I am sold on banding. I have scheduled a meeting with our local hospital (3 hour meeting with dietician, surgeon, insurance person), and hope that that will be the start of this journey. I'm wondering how long it took most people from that first meeting to surgery - 6months? One year? I am trying to guage from looking at the signatures, but I can't really come to a conclusion.

I look forward to participating in this forum.

Hi Gpmom....I started the process on 4/26 and was banded on 8/16.. my insurance (bcbsil) required 3 month diet before and phych eval. I am 1 week post op and feeling pretty good. I am very happy with my choice. Good luck to you.

So many variations on time frames. It depends on method of payment, the surgeon, and your body!

My insurance required a 6 month nutrition program so in total, had my seminar in december and didn't get banded until 1.5 wk ago! Also had to do a psych eval and various pre-operative testing the doctor required.

Self pay folks look like they get thru fairly quickly once all pre-operative testing has been completed.

Good luck! Trust me, even after waiting all those months, it went by SOOOOOOOOOO FAST!

As the other poster said, it really varies a lot! I was a private pay patient, and from my first inquiry to my surgery, it took under two months. My preop testing occurred the day before my surgery. I know that sounds fast, but once I'd made up my mind, I was ready to get going.

I'm now almost 2 years post-op and am loving banded life. It's totally changed my life in so many positive ways. I hope you have the same experience.

Best wishes,

Catherine

I would expect 4-6 months depending on your insurance and any required testing, dieting, etc... I started the process in March and was banded last week.

My best wishes to you. Let me know if you have any questions along the way. I am more than happy to help.

As you can tell, it varies.

If I wasn't flying at the end of September, my whole process (from first PCP visit) will take around 3 - 4 weeks.

I was told it'll take the insurance around 2 weeks to verify and approve everything so I'd break it down 2 weeks for tests and meetings and 2 weeks for approval.

I only had to do PCP visit, psych eval, dietitian meeting, surgeon consult. No diets or x-rays or anything.

It's all been a very pain-free process... :}

I just got told by my surgeon's office that it would take a week just to find out if my insurance covered it! I don't buy that. I found out in like one 10 minute phone call that they cover it!!

I don't understand why it takes so long for everyone to get moving!