! I am in the beginning stages with Kaiser's process. I'm doing it in Riverside county, I was wondering if anyone could clarify for me: I was told at seminar that the day of seminars weight is your starting weight for the process. She said to start losing weight now, I tried asking if we lost too much where our BMI fell out of the qualifying BMI range, if we wouldn't be able to go through with surgery; she didn't understand me so I was wondering if anyone knows that if you lose too much weight while going through the 12 week options course, can you end up not qualifying come surgery time? Thanks for any info!

You need to find out this information from your INSURANCE specialist because everyone is totally different!

My specific plan called for 6 months of nutritional visits. I choose to have those with my surgeon's on-staff nutritionist. The surgeon didn't care if I lost or gained weight. HOWEVER, my insurance was very specific. My approval was based on the WEIGHT at my last of those 6 month visits. I had a BMI of over 45 so I wasn't in danger really of "slipping" below the line, but my bariatric case manager was very honest with me. If I fell below 40.0 at the end of 6 months then I wouldn't qualify as I had no other co-morbidities.

Edited December 12, 201312 yr by M2G

I have Kaiser and just had surgery at Saint Bernardines in San Bernardino on 12/12/13. Went through the options program in Fontana. My experience was cool I knew I didn't really want to do the surgery right away so I didn't really start losing any weight until 1 month pre op. I lost 10 pounds. Some people lose more. I think it's up to you. From what I know the more you lose the better it is for you over all. But if you are barely making the weight goal possibly once you complete the classes going through Riverside you might not need the surgery. Some people do really well and don't end up having it. Good luck. Sorry...Not very helpful just more so what I did.

Hey there. I'm a kaiser gal that had surgery in May. My understanding is once you qualify, your in, no matter what your weightloss prior to the surgery. I was a revision patient and didn't lose a whole bunch pre surgery. However, the pre surgery diet is really about preparing you in a couple of ways. 1) are you committed to the change in lifestyle? Losing weight prior to surgery begins you on a path for continued success. 2) prepping the body for surgery. To complete the surgery your liver needs to downsize and losing weight prior to surgery will do this. It's like a win-win! I would think if you still desire the surgery, then it will still be a go. Just my 2 cents. :-)