I have a goal to get into the 250's BEFORE the surgery (Possibly set in Sept/Oct). I'd like to lose more, of course, but I'm unsure how much I can lose before I put in the referal for the surgery it's self and still be approved. I will be checking with my Surgeon on my next visit as I have to do 6 months of check ins before my surgery will approve it.

I'm just curious what everyone's time frames were between deciding to be banded and getting banded, and combined with how much weight they lost pre-surgery?

No pre surgery diet was required so no loss. I decided over a year in advance to get banded. 6 month nutrition counseling required but that requirement by BCBS was dropped near the end of the 6 months. I wasted about 3 months with a surgeon whose staff couldn't find their butts with a butt map.

tmf

Ask your surgery team but I was concerned about falling out of a higher bmi and insurance not approving me after the 6 months as well. But the doc said he submits the paperwork with my beginning weight and it all worked out. I lost 14 pounds on my own and another 14 or so on pre-op.

Good luck to you.

Okay - shall do then! I've heard two different stories, yours, Spaness2012, and someone else who said when their nutritionist submitted the paper work they had lost 10 lbs and was denied because they didn't have a bmi of 40 or higher at that point. So I'll definitely be talking with my Surgeon about it, since I believe he submits the referral.