After spending a considerable amount of time searching for information regarding Kaiser Southern California and Lap Band surgery. I sent an email to my PCP (via www.kp.org) and to Member Services. My PCP's nurse referred me to the Positive Choice department and today I received the following detailed information from Member Services:

"Members who meet the medical criteria and are interested in having bariatric surgery enroll in 'Options', a 24-week bariatric surgery preparation program that prepares them physically and emotionally for surgery and for post surgical recovery. There are complex medical and emotional effects of gastric bypass as a treatment for obesity. Our total health philosophy emphasizes members taking an active part in their own good health. Topics covered in the Options program include :

Benefits and risks of surgery

Building healthy living skills

Depression and anxiety management

Fitness and exercise

Meal planning

Post surgery lifestyles

Proper nutrition

Stress management

Weight loss

After completing the Options program, the member is referred to a surgeon specializing in bariatric surgery.

Conditions for surgery

Bariatric surgery may be indicated for members with a body mass index (BMI) of 50 or greater, BMI of 40-49.9 with certain co morbidities, or BMI of 35-39.9 with special circumstances. BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared (kg/m2).

Types of surgery and procedures offered

We perform Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYDGB) surgery, the most commonly performed type of gastric bypass surgery. Gastric bypass is the separation of a small section of the stomach into an upper pouch that provides a smaller volume for food. The small intestine is rearranged to allow the small upper pouch as well as the larger section of the stomach to be connected to the intestine.

The Lap Band also know as the adjustable gastric banding is the insertion of an inflatable silicone device into the top portion of the stomach to create a small pouch that provides a reduced volume for food and slows food moving to the bottom of the stomach, providing a longer feeling of fullness.

Medical facilities offering the Options program

Members enrolled in Options may attend at any medical facilities where it is offered. These currently include :

Baldwin Park Medical Center

Bellflower Medical Center

Fontana Medical Center

Health Pavilion in Orange

Los Angeles Medical Center

Ming Avenue Medical Offices, Bakersfield

Panorama City Medical Center

Riverside Medical Center

San Diego Medical Center / Kaiser Foundation Hospital

South Bay Medical Center in Harbor City

Bariatric surgery

Bariatric surgery is currently performed at the Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center in Harbor City, CA. We also contract with local Centers of Excellence :

UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles

Pacific Bariatric Surgical Medical Group, practicing at Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego

Crown Surgery Medical Group, practicing at the Inland Valley Medical Center, Wildomar

Lancaster Community Hospital, Lancaster

If this surgery is performed your co pay would be $250.00 per admission.

Kaiser Permanente : Helping our members live long and thrive.

Marteesha Facen

Member Service Online Web site Support Representative

Kaiser Permanente

Phone : (800) 464-4000"

I hope this information is helpful.

Who has a So Cal PCP that will give thema referral. My PCP says he will not refer anyone for bariatric surgery. So I ahve to find a new Dr!

Hi :thumbup:

Are you going Thur Kaiser Bell flower/Imperial? If so the name of my Doctor is Dr. Danielle Tiongson. She did the referral the same day. I had to change Doctors for another reason, but this work out as for as the Lap band referral goes. I will be going to the orientation on 06/08/09 I will keep all interested in Kaiser (southern) posted. I been reading the threads also and it seems as if norther Kaiser is ahead of the game.Very little on So. Kasier

Cynthia

Who has a So Cal PCP that will give thema referral. My PCP says he will not refer anyone for bariatric surgery. So I ahve to find a new Dr!

I don't know what city you're in, but my doctor is at the Corona Office and is Dr. Lewis Ha. He thought about my referral for all of 30 seconds and said ya, I'll refer you for the lapband. It was that easy.

I use the Baldwin Park facility - Dr. Dinwiddie. He referred me after running tests - lab, sleep apnea, etc... I just had my orientation meeting on Friday. There were about 20 people in my group and some there want the lap band. We were told only Kaiser So Bay does the lap band and there is currently a 6-8 month wait after referral. She also told us that they are removing the bands as quick as they are putting them on due to complications. Kaiser So Cal also uses UCLA Bariatric and Pacific Bariatric Center in San Diego - the surgery is performed in SD, but they come to Anaheim and Riverside for checkups/follow-ups, so you're not always driving to SD. This was just our orientation with 20 weeks to go (they double up the classes), so I'm sure I'll have more information. :thumbup:

I use the Baldwin Park facility - Dr. Dinwiddie. He referred me after running tests - lab, sleep apnea, etc... I just had my orientation meeting on Friday. There were about 20 people in my group and some there want the lap band. We were told only Kaiser So Bay does the lap band and there is currently a 6-8 month wait after referral. She also told us that they are removing the bands as quick as they are putting them on due to complications. Kaiser So Cal also uses UCLA Bariatric and Pacific Bariatric Center in San Diego - the surgery is performed in SD, but they come to Anaheim and Riverside for checkups/follow-ups, so you're not always driving to SD. This was just our orientation with 20 weeks to go (they double up the classes), so I'm sure I'll have more information. :thumbup:

I went through Baldwin Park as well. Well actually I attended classes in West Covina, but the same difference. I just finished the 24 week classes in June. I am also doing the Lap Band and WILL NOT consider the RNY, even though most of my class was doing that one. The only facility presently doing the Lap Band is South Bay (Torrance/Harbor City). UCLA does the RNY and Sleeve and Pacific Bariatrics only does the RNY. The wait time for Pacific Bariatrics is only 6 weeks. Ucla is 2-4 months and South Bay is 5-6 months. I know I am probably repeating what you wrote, but I have a cold and didn't finish reading.. lOL .. Good luck to all. I get to call South Bay in November for a consultation .. Here's to waiting .. Good luck all!!

Hi Trompuda,

Why did you decide not to do the RNY? I'm curious. In my classes, we are just starting to get into the differences, slowly... but you can tell they prefer the RNY. Going into this, I was definite about getting the lap, but then the 1st meeting I heard about the complications and that Kaiser is taking them out as quick as they are putting them in, that I decided to have an open mind throughout the process and see how I felt at the end.

what clb825 says is true.

They DO prefer RNY. Their Chief of Bariatric Surgery there is considered to be an expert in problems with the Lap Band, and he DOES recommend the RNY. He opened my eyes to a lot of problems with the Lap Band. He is very, very good at what he does.

I would at least, as clb825 has decided to do, keep an open mind and go through their educational classes before you make a decision. You will see a lot of people on THIS site have had their band removed and changed to an RNY or, more recently, the Sleeve.

Also, keep in mind that you need to choose the procedure that will work best for YOU. In some cases that IS the band, but you need to look at all the option are available.

HH

Thank you Headhunter... I appreciate your feedback.:thumbup:

Hi Trompuda,

Why did you decide not to do the RNY? I'm curious. In my classes, we are just starting to get into the differences, slowly... but you can tell they prefer the RNY. Going into this, I was definite about getting the lap, but then the 1st meeting I heard about the complications and that Kaiser is taking them out as quick as they are putting them in, that I decided to have an open mind throughout the process and see how I felt at the end.

Hi CLB825,

The RNY is simply not for me. I am a single mother of 2 young children, and it simply would be to major of a surgery/recoup time. Also, I have family members who have had the band and can be a support system. None have had issues (thank god) and have lost HUGE amounts of weight. I am not ready for the risks assiciated with the RNY either. The band seems safer and more of a TOOL for me. Its slower weightloss. UPDATE: I have recieved a call from Kaiser Harbor city and got a consultation date for Sept 21. I am so excited as I though this would take much longer. I hope this is good luck as this is also my youngest daughters birthdate. My consultation is with Dr. Zane ( HEADHUNTER) knows him well. I just hope that I can convince him that the Band is what is right for me. The other procedure I would consider would be the sleeve. Still have to do some homework on that one though. Good luck to all. :thumbup:

i'm going to start classes on Sept. 14th at Kaiser Baldwin Park...i have been reading the posts and i'm kinda scared...so kaiser so cal does not do the lap band or do you have to go to outside contracted facilities?! I've heard a lot of people say they were pushed into gastric bypass...i just dont want to waste my time in going to the classes and end up not getting what i want. uggh! sorry i was really excited when they called me, now i'm feeling uneasy about it. Can someone help me feel better about it?

Hi Charlakat,

Kaiser does do the lap band, at Kaiser South Bay only. The classes are geared for getting you to change your lifestyle, but most talk is about Roux-en-y, but our moderator talks about lap band too. We are not and I haven't felt pushed into anything... she is constantly telling us to do the research and it will be our decision, although the surgeon may have input when we get to them. You won't be wasting your time with the classes, they are great and pretty indepth. I look forward to them, and I like having others in the group that have good questions and know that we're all there for the same reason. Just keep an open mind. WHen I got the call, I knew for sure I wanted lap band and know I really have an open mind and doing the research, that I'm on the fence about what I want, but I have time to consider. I hope this helps... Good luck.

Cher

Thanks Cher for the info. I hope that all is well. I will begin the options classes Oct. 6th. I was concerned about the posts that say that LapBand is no longer offered by Kaiser. I am excited about starting the classes. I would appreciate any tips or ideas that you would like to share :scared2:

So, is this how it works:

You go to 24 weeks of Options then get scheduled for surgery? So, five months of classes THEN another however many months waiting for surgery?

So, is this how it works:

You go to 24 weeks of Options then get scheduled for surgery? So, five months of classes THEN another however many months waiting for surgery?

Yep, that's it exactly. And during those 24 weeks you will be expected to lose 10% of your body weight to qualify for the referral to surgery (the Options program is now only 20 wks though). And you can't miss a single class without making it up. It sounds stupid, but it really does help you prepare. I can see the benefit of it now, but at the beginning I just wanted to get my surgery asap. I honestly think I wouldn't have been as successful if I'd had it back then. Now i know what to expect, and I've actually decided to have the Sleeve instead of the LAP-BAND®. If I had rushed in to it, I might have made a wrong decision.

thanks mb20mom!

i just got my options packet in the mail. they're asking for documentation that i've been in a weight loss program for at least six months BEFORE i come to my options orientation meeting. are they kidding? does this mean i have to dick around with jenny craig for half a year, then do options for five months, then maybe have surgery?