I am in VA and my surgery will be performed through Norfolk Surgical Group. I am required to get a "White Light Scan". The way it was explained to me is that it scans your body mass and then you back every so often and get re-scanned and it compares kinda like a "shrinking woman" picture. Has anyone else participated in this? Could you give me more info or tell me what to expect???

Wow, seems neat.

But required? I hope you aren't paying for that...seems like an optional perk...and not medically necessary.

Hey, if you do get them is there any way you can post them?

Wow, seems neat.

But required? I hope you aren't paying for that...seems like an optional perk...and not medically necessary.

Hey, if you do get them is there any way you can post them?

No I don't have to pay for them... it is free (well included in my program fee which covers all pre-op stuff) But yes, my surgeon is requiring that we do it.... don't know if I will share, because I think i will be nude... and I KNOW ya'll don't wanna see all that!!!!! LOL If it is like an outline or something, then i will... that is why I'm asking so i know what to expect!!!

Are you part of some clinical trial program? I've never heard of a test like this. Is is to measure bone density?

Are you part of some clinical trial program? I've never heard of a test like this. Is is to measure bone density?

No, no clinical study...Here to get the LB or GB you have to be "accepted" into the program, which I think is great, because these are not surgeons that will operate on just anyone who has the money or insurance that will cover it. You pay a program fee of $495 which coveres your visits with the surgeon, co-pays and all pre-op testing. They also have this white light scan which was optional, but now is mandatory... I think it is a way to measure your progress.

No, no clinical study...Here to get the LB or GB you have to be "accepted" into the program, which I think is great, because these are not surgeons that will operate on just anyone who has the money or insurance that will cover it. You pay a program fee of $495 which coveres your visits with the surgeon, co-pays and all pre-op testing. They also have this white light scan which was optional, but now is mandatory... I think it is a way to measure your progress.

Same for the center I am using but the fee was almost $700! I don't have to travel out of my town though, my surgeons office is located in the hospital, all fills are 5 minutes from my work

This should help you out

BVI - Body Volume Index - Home

The BVI Scanner is a new medical device created to develop a new anthropometric measurement for healthcare; The Body Volume Index.

BVI has been created from a pool of experience gleaned from scanning over 23,000 men, women and children using 3D white light Body Scanners. The BVI Scanner is specifically designed to calculate the risk factors associated with a person's shape, gleaned from where the weight is on their body by part body volume analysis.

Using camera & light technology, our scanners are non-invasive, quick, safe to use and do not use radioactive means to obtain the measurements.

Edited March 24, 200818 yr by Brandy~

What are the Acceptance" guidelines by this center? Why are some people not accepted into the program..

Sure sounds like they are part of a "study" program where they track all participants for statistical purposes.

Interesting.

What are the Acceptance" guidelines by this center? Why are some people not accepted into the program..

Sure sounds like they are part of a "study" program where they track all participants for statistical purposes.

Interesting.

Well, you have to have a BMI of 40 or higher or 35-39 with at least 2 comorbities. Obviously have to get medical clearence, psychological clearence, etc... You have to attened health and wellness classes, suppport grups, etc...Yes they do keep statistics on all patients, and i guess this white light thing is a way to do that. But this is not a study program. This particular group of surgeons have been practicing WLS for a long time and they are a "center of excellence". Not that there is anything wrong with a "study program" but I would be too scared to to be part of a "clinical trial" or something.

I just think it's good that they have a criteria set up. I mean obviously you have to meet your insurance guidelines, but for those who are self pay, they can't just come in because they are overweight (not obese) and pay a doctor to have this surgery... they have to meet the same criteria as the and go through the same process as the rest of us.

My doc has this and I just had my first one done last week. It's a hoot! Yes, you go into it naked as a newborn, and you hear a pleasant voice talk you through how to stand (holding handles with feet in correct place), and then there are a set of lights that go on and off in a sequence.

The hilarious part is when they play this bizarre circus music :biggrin: (I swear that's what I thought of, but that may not be the music used everywhere) -- because I kept visualizing that I was the fat lady in the circus freak show at that point.

Then it's over, you get dressed and you can see your body scan on the computer. It shows so many measurements! And no, you can't see anything graphic, it's just more silhouette-like. At this point it was just plain scary-looking (I'm so fat!), but it apparently provides a lot of positive reinforcement when you see yourself shrinking as the months go by. :cursing: Not painful at all, just shocking if you don't spend a lot of time looking at yourself naked in a mirror.

My doc has this and I just had my first one done last week. It's a hoot! Yes, you go into it naked as a newborn, and you hear a pleasant voice talk you through how to stand (holding handles with feet in correct place), and then there are a set of lights that go on and off in a sequence.

The hilarious part is when they play this bizarre circus music :biggrin: (I swear that's what I thought of, but that may not be the music used everywhere) -- because I kept visualizing that I was the fat lady in the circus freak show at that point.

Then it's over, you get dressed and you can see your body scan on the computer. It shows so many measurements! And no, you can't see anything graphic, it's just more silhouette-like. At this point it was just plain scary-looking (I'm so fat!), but it apparently provides a lot of positive reinforcement when you see yourself shrinking as the months go by. :cursing: Not painful at all, just shocking if you don't spend a lot of time looking at yourself naked in a mirror.

Thanks Chica!!! I feel much better now! I was getting worried! That is too funny! i hope my experience is as comical as yours was!!!!

I just got a call requesting that I come in for the white light scan, and I will be doing that on Friday, June. It is a requirement for all new patients, and I am sort of excited about this new technology. There is no additional fee for this. Anyone who will be having surgery at Richmond Surgical Group will be having this scan.