I just finished my 6 month process and hope to be sleeved in May. Can anyone tell me how often and how many post-op appointments to expect? I will be losing my current insurance in June. I see my surgeon next week.

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They vary a little from practice to practice, but mine were:

10 days

4 weeks

3 months

6 months

1 year

2 years

Hopefully you'll still have some sort of insurance after you lose your current plan? For later appointments, a PCP should be able to take care of running and reviewing your lab work to make sure you are good there, checking your weight, blood pressure, etc. to make sure you are healthy. Good luck!

They vary a little from practice to practice, but mine were:

10 days

4 weeks

3 months

6 months

1 year

2 years

Hopefully you'll still have some sort of insurance after you lose your current plan? For later appointments, a PCP should be able to take care of running and reviewing your lab work to make sure you are good there, checking your weight, blood pressure, etc. to make sure you are healthy. Good luck!

Thanks, just wanted to know what to expect because I will pay out of pocket for a few appointments. I'm not exactly sure when I will get a new health plan.

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I didn't need any follow ups with my surgeon. I contacted his office a couple times with general questions the first few months, but never required an actual exam. He also has a nut available, free of charge, but I never bothered contacting her. My PCP did my bloodwork at 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and annually thereafter. I always get weighed and BP checked when I go in as well as at my annual OB/Gyn visits. Actually, she offered to do my bloodwork as well. I was self pay for surgery and I pay for all my own labs since insurance won't cover anything related to WLS. It's been worth every penny I've spent.

Many of the post op appts. are covered as part of the overall procedure, ask your surgeon which are covered and which are not. Once i reach my goal i am required to see my surgeon annually for life. Every program varies from what I've learned. I went at 2 weeks, 6 weeks (which I just had) and my surgeon wants to see me again in 6 weeks.

My required post op appointments:

1 week

1 month

3 months

6 months

9 months

12 months

18 months

24 months

and then every year forever. The surgeons office starts checking blood work at 6 months

Found out today post op visits will be coverd if surgery is approved. Everything was submitted to insurance today and they expect me to have an answer Friday or Monday. Geezz...what a long 6 months.

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Labs are the most expensive at 3 and 6 months out. Explain to your doc when you are losing insurance and be sure to get at least two checkups (and any lab work) under your belt before then. Maybe also your doc can give you a list of labs that you will need. Even if new insurance won't cover anything related to bariatric just tell your new doctor to code you for nutritional deficiency (since most of the labs are for vitamin levels and the others are for the most part an essential health benefit that would be part of an in depth physical exam).