I know each doctor is different, but just courious: How long was the time frame from seminar to doctor appointment to actual surgery? I'm hoping to have this done ASAP, but from what I am reading, it's month(s) before actual surgery. Am I hoping too much? D'

Hey,

I think the time frame depends on your insurance or if you are self pay. My Blue Cross insurance requires a 6 month Dr. supervised diet, where you actually have to visist a doctor for 7 months to be weighed in. Then my surgeon requires that you attend a Lap band seminar, have a consultation with him and then insurance requires a nutritional consult and a physical therapy consult. It was a long drawn out process but it gave me time to really make up my mind and decide that this was what I really wanted to do.

Really depends if your going through Insurance or Self Pay. If your Self Pay - the process can be extremely fast , Insurance however may have certain requirements that could delay your surgery (ie - 6 month supervised diet / tests / etc). Suggestion, if you plan on going through Insurance - contact them immediately and find out their Policy on Weight Loss Surgery / Bariatrics.

There are so many factors that determine the time frame. Insurance is certainly one of them. It also depends on how quickly you manage to get your other appointments completed. Usually, you need to meet with a therapist, a nutritionist, etc. For me, with insurance and all, it was about a month and a half. Not too bad. My mother was ready in three weeks. Her insurance approval came through a bit quicker and the surgeon had more openings as well.

I've been approved, have my first seminar this Thursday. But I'd like to do this by the 20th of the month. I have time off at work. But maybe I am wishing too hard for this. I will call my insurance company and ask those questions. Thanks for offering that information.

I think you might be moving a little to fast... You should probably go to seminars and group classes and what not.

I was private pay and I went to the first class in November. 2nd class in December. Could have been banded over the holidays, but chose to wait till January.