Gastric Bypass & Self Pay: Timeline from Consult to Surgery

[devotion 41]

Hello, I had a lap band in 2008 and it was essentially a failure. I've spent years going up and down with my weight and have finally come to a decision to have gastric bypass. I am really nervous but excited that I'm about to start on this journey. I have my first consultation with a bariatric surgeon this week (July 22). I am self pay because my health insurance has a specific exclusion for bariatric surgery. Given that I don't have to go through any insurance loopholes, I'm wondering how quickly it will be before I can schedule the surgery. For self pay patients, what is the average time from consultation to surgery?

[Elidh 238]

I was self pay. My initial consult was in January 2020 and my surgery date was scheduled for March 2020. So it can happen pretty fast, depending on the facility (I used Cleveland Clinic)

(Of course, COVID happened, and the surgery got postponed 4 months, but that is not likely the case now)

[devotion 41]

1 hour ago, Elidh said:

I was self pay. My initial consult was in January 2020 and my surgery date was scheduled for March 2020. So it can happen pretty fast, depending on the facility (I used Cleveland Clinic)

(Of course, COVID happened, and the surgery got postponed 4 months, but that is not likely the case now)

thank you so much for the information. glad you finally got your surgery after such a long wait!

[STLoser 1,085]

I was self pay.. I started the process in March 2020. Then the pandemic hit, and my testing got delayed. I had my EGD in May 2020 as elective procedures reopened then in my area, but then they laid off my surgeon, so I went to a different hospital and new surgeon. I met him June 15th. My surgery was July 23rd, 2020, so it took just a little over a month.

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[Sleeve_Me_Alone 654]

I consulted with a US surgeon and timelines from consult to operation were: using insurance = 9-12 months, self-pay was around 3 months. I ended up going with a surgeon in Mexico going the self-pay route; consult was mid-June and surgery is booked for 9/21, putting it right at the 3 month mark.

[Wahinebythesea 49]

Self pay in Canada. My original surgery date was 6 weeks from first contact but a la COVID it actually took 3 months.

[kk217715 3]

I was self pay - had my initial consult on April 1 and was sleeved June 4th!

[Officially Not Fatty Matty 459]

I did self pay. Called a dr in Mexico, had surgery two weeks later. It would have been one week but I just missed the last appointment he had that day.

[HappinessBurger 1]

Self pay.. consultation 2nd Feb 2021.. surgery date was 27th Feb 2021. In hindsight I think that turn around was too fast.

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[ShoppGirl 3,341]

It really just depends on the surgeons schedule. I know someone who was self pay at my clinic and they were sleeved within 2.5 weeks of Their initial consult. I think that was just so they could do the preop diet.

[Ladidi 11]

Wow I got my lap band in 2008 also. Just starting the revision process. Am prepared to self pay but hoping my insurance will cover surgery. My weight loss center staff is very good with working with insurance companies. Keeping my fingers crossed and doing a lot of praying.

[newsam1154 36]

I'm heading into month two of my initial consult on revision with my surgeon with being self pay. I'm hoping I can get a surgery date soon but really the time has been scheduling discrepancies. So like many have said, I think it really all depends on your surgeon/scheduling. Good luck!!!

Edited November 9, 2021 by newsam1154