Okay after researching and becoming a member of LapBand Talk yay... I've decided to get banded. I don’t plan on doing it until January since I'm using my flex spending account to pay for the out of pocket expenses. My insurance covers 80%. I have signed up for a seminar...and made a apt with my doc to get the pre-determination that my insurance company is requesting. Is there anything else I should prepare for?

You're right on target. At the seminar, they will take your insurance info, so by the time you see the doctor, you will know if you've been conditionally approved.

The doctor will fill you in on the "conditions." Generally, you have to be cleared by a handful of specialists: cardiologist, pulmonologist, psychologist. Sometimes, a sleep study is required.

Also at your first meeting, you'll find out if your insurance OR doctor require a period of preop supervision. My insurance covers banding at Bariatric Centers of Excellence, but requires 3 months of diet supervision. This amounted to monthly weigh-ins at the doctor's office---no specific diet, just the requirement that I lose 6 pounds within the time frame. (If I'm not mistaken, the weight lost was a physician requirement, not an insurance requirement.)

When you do see the doctor, you might want to ask about the preop education and aftercare provided. Who will see you postoperatively? (In my doctor's office, it's the surgeon, each time; I like this.) What kind of postop followup (in addition to band adjustment) is offered? Is there a support group? That sort of thing.

In our zeal to get banded, we sometimes forget that we're choosing someone with which we're going to have a very long-term relationship---so choosing the surgeon and practice carefully is well worth the effort.

How do you find out about the pre-op seminars? Where can I search in my area?

You can search for a surgeon in your area by clicking on the Surgeon link above. From there, view their profile and their websites. Most will list their info seminars on their websites. Look for a center of Excellence surgeon. Good luck.

Read your insurance policy bulletin. There are specific guidelines you must meet or they will not pay. Things like recorded visits stating specific things. You may need to see a dietician or have behavior modification or get on an exercise program. Find out what you insurance has to know to pay the claim. Good Luck

Contact your Ins. Company, and see who they like to work with. They will tell you there top picks, or tell you to go to a Center of Excellence. That's what you want anyway ! But they will help you out.

Also find out all the stipulations for being Banded while your on the phone.

My wife was banded a couple months ago. I plan on using her's, but I still have 5 weigh-in's. I'm going to a seminar this month.

If you doctor does not required therapy sessions on mindful eating find a psychologist who specializes in eating disorders. I had three group sessions and they were much more helpful than I would have expected. Being banded is at least 50% mental. I view the band as eating like a normal healthy thin person. Start that journey now. You need to develop healthy eating habits. And they are habits. The more you live these habits the more automatic they will become.