I am going for my session Sept 10 and my consult Sept 14. I was wondering how long the whole process took for everyone. From consult to surgery. Also, what kind of testing needs to be done before surgery. I know that the session/consult will answer these questions but, I like to have a little knowledge ahead of time! Thanks!

Everyone is different. It depends on your insurance, or if your self pay.

I have Aetna and had to go through 6mth Dr. Supervised diet, psych eval, nutrition class. The time really went by fast and it gave me a lot of time to research and study how the band REALLY works.

Best of luck to you!!

5 months for me. could've gone quicker. But we had a summer vacation in between. My insurance doesn't require 6 month diet, etc. I am about to start my liquid diet very soon, last surgeons consult Tuesday! Woo hoo.

In total, I had to do the initial seminar, an initial surgeons visit for consultation/bloodwork. My physicians visit, my physicians physical, and a separate psych evaluation. Then pre-op testing - mine included bloodwork, X-rays, pulmonary (breathing tests) and an EKG. Then a visit with the surgery team and anesthesiologist. Oh and a nutrition class on lapband foods, Vitamins, etc. Whew!

So far so good, so excited! Good luck to you on your journey. Hope it goes by quickly.

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I have Blue Cross and it took 2 1/2 months from consult to surgery. Here is what I did:

-info session (early June)

-consult with surgeon (June 22)

-consult with psychologist (July 6)

-consult with nutritionist

-insurance approval

-consult with pulmonologist (July 24)

-nutrition class

-ultra-sound (august 6)

-started 15 day shake diet

-pre-op testing (August 15)

-final consult with doctor (August 20)

-Band day August 24!!

My doctor's group keeps you moving thru the process. Helps that I have Blue Cross who changed the pre-op requirements and didn't insist on months of diets pre-op. thry finally seem to realize that the surgery is what is life saving. I also didn't have any of the other co-morbities YET so that helped with the process. No extra doctors to release me for surgery. It was great because once I made the decision, there were few hurdles and not a lot of idle waiting.

Looking forward to sharing this journey. Good luck!

I have Anthem BCBS and did not have to do any doctor supervised diet. I went for my group consult on January 17 and was banded March 20. I received approval late February, but my surgeon was booked until late March.

The requirements by my insurance and by my Center of Excellence surgeon were:

- scheduled consultation with other WLS hopefuls going over types of surgery, expectations. We also took the psychologist test at this first meeting.

- metabolic testing

- sleep study

- initial complete blood panel, thyroid function, a week before surgery another blood panel was needed

- physical therapist visit

- dietician visit

- psychologist visit, including 400 question test

- surgical consult

- pre-op class

I got most of my testing done in the first two weeks after consultation.