Questions about paying CASH for lapband!

[AngelMommy 0]

Do you still have to do the 6 month diet? I'm really confused about this. I will be paying cash for the surgery and wondered if anyone knew what all I would need to do on my end before the surgery. :thumbup:

[RestlessMonkey 7]

The surgeon you choose will probably require some preop tests so that s/he knows your status before the surgery. What those tests might be depends on you, your health, your surgeon. They MIGHT be things like Upper GI series, chest x-ray, abdominal ultrasound, various blood tests, cardiologist clearance, psychologist clearance, nutrition clearance. That's not a complete list, nor does it mean you'll have to do all of it. Your surgeon may just require some blood tests preop. It all depends.

The 6-month diet is a requirement of some insurance companies and it won't apply if you are self pay.

[maestrita 43]

I am also self-pay, and I do not need to go on a six month. I do have to go on a low-carb 10 days before surgery to shrink the size of my liver. Hope this helps.

[Totallytater 1]

It depends on the Dr. Mine did not require any pre-op testing and I only had to do a 10 day low carb diet to shrink liver also.

[MissBS 3]

I was also self pay. I went to my initial consultation on August 13th. I had to have an EKG and blood work done, and my surgery was scheduled for September 12th. I had to go on a 2 week pre-op diet to shrink my liver too. The process was fast, easy, and painless. Good luck to you!!! Becky

[jet9999 0]

I am also doing self pay (some my cash the other financed through a medical financing company).

My requirements are:

Get an EKG (done)

Do a stress test (this Monday 2/2)

See a psychologist (make sure I'm as crazy as I think I am)

:thumbup: Will do this sometime in mid-Feb

What is still to be decided is whether I do an Optifast-type diet two weeks before surgery or do something along the lines of the SouthBeach diet. This will be discussed between me and doc and nutritionist late Feb.

Planning for my surgery mid-March 2009.

These are my doc's requirements; yours will tell you what he/she wants you to do.

Good luck to you!

Addendum: I've seen a lot of discussion about whether insurance companies cover WLS. After a lot of research I've determined that it's really not whether the insurance covers it but whether the company who has the insurance covers it.

Our benefits handbook explicitly states no WLS surgery of any kind. Which is too bad because if I had done this last year when we were owned by another company my out of pocket would have been $1000, instead of the thousands it's going to be now.

Just treating it like paying off a new car, except it's the bod that's going to be new (or would it be a "certified pre-owned)

Edited February 1, 2009 by jet9999
fixed couple of spelling errors, then gave up :-)