I am new to the board and to Lapband. I have just desided to have it done. I have an appointment with my MD friday, to get the ball rolling. I read on here that one guy see his surgeon last sept and will be having the lapband done in Aug. Is that normal I was hoping a couple months. Any other info anyone wants to share will be nice. Like what steps will I be looking at in the next few months? Do I have to go to the seminars?

I am very excited and a little scared.:whoo:

Hi! I'll bet that person had to wait so long due to trying to get insurance together. If you are looking into this and want insurance to pay, now is the right time to start talking to them to get right approvals. Once you have approval it goes fast from there.

I was self pay, had my first meeting with the dr in May and surgery in June. I was the one who put it off because I needed to wrap my head around it. I could have had it done within weeks.

Ask LOTS of questions. Make sure you understand what you are getting into, and yes, go to the seminars. Hear what questions other people have.

Good luck! This is exciting!!

From what I've gathered, it varies. I've read some self payers getting it done within a couple weeks to some taking a year or more. I think it's the requirements set up by insurance companies slowing most people down. Some insurance companies want 12 months documentation and some need 6 months. From what I've seen on the posts most surgeons want you to attend the seminars, get pysch evaluations, and visit the nutritionist etc... prior to surgery. Once you talk to your doctor/surgeon and attend a seminar and contact your insurance company, you'll have a better ideal. (Your health will also play a big role)

Good luck and keep researching!

Thanks for both of your replys. I am using my ins. I called them first after I did all my research and weighed all the pros and cons and try and try to lose on my own. My ins told me I have to have to talk to shrink and a list of all my 101 attempts to loose. She told me my first step is my Dr. So four more Days.