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The following steps will guide you through the process of getting surgery approved and scheduled. You should first verify that bariatric surgery is a covered benefit and not an exclusion (by your employer) by calling your insurance company. Questions about insurance can also be answered by representatives in our office at (800) 283-5483.
The 5 steps to surgery are as follows:
Informational Seminar
The 2-hour presentation on obesity and obesity surgery is a free seminar headed by a surgeon and includes talks from a dietician and a patient representative that has had the surgery. The purpose of the seminar is to give you an overview and understanding about gastric bypass surgery and other options. You will learn about the benefits and risks of the surgery to better enable you to make an informed decision about whether or not surgery is the right option for you. The patient will watch a patient education video, fill out personal information and insurance forms, answer extensive questionnaires, have his/her “before” surgery photo taken, receive a Surgilite Patient Information Folder, and spend time talking with the surgeon as the surgeon goes over the medical aspects of the surgery, the potential complications of the procedure, and what to look for post operatively to prevent complications. You may call our office for the schedule of our upcoming seminars or go to the Schedule of Events page on this website. Most patients combine the informational seminar and first visit with the surgeon and they should set aside at least 4 hours for this initial visit.
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First Visit & Referral to a Surgeon
During the First Visit (which usually happens on the same day as the informational seminar) the surgeon sees the patient on an individual basis. The surgeon will go over the patient’s medical history, prior weight loss attempts, family history and any medical problems the patient may have. During this time, initial labs will be done. Labs include: CBC with platelets, Chem 13, Lipid Panel (HDL, LDL, Trig. Cholesterol.) Liver Panel, Thyroid Panel (T3,T4, TSH), H-Pylori, Iron, TIBC, Insulin & Glyosylated Hemoglobin. Echocardiogram is an option, which, if not done on the first visit, should be done during the Preoperative Testing day.
It will be determined if surgery is medically necessary for you.
Insurance Approval /
Schedule Surgery
If you have insurance and the procedure is medically necessary, a letter of medical necessity will be sent to your insurance company for approval. The waiting time for the approval or denial takes anywhere from two weeks to many months depending on the insurance company and other criteria they require. Often insurance companies require additional supporting documentation such as a nutrition evaluation, a psychological evaluation, or evidence for the completion of a medically supervised weight loss regimen. We will inform you of what your insurance company requires and we will assist you in obtaining the information needed.
As soon as we receive an approval from your insurance company we will contact you and work with you to set up a surgery date that is good for you.
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Preoperative Tests
Both Sacramento and Los Angeles area patients should have their preoperative tests done in their respective areas (local hospitals). We will help you schedule your tests at your local hospital, or for Los Angeles patients, we can schedule your tests to be done at City of Angels hospital where the surgery will be performed. The tests that need to be done are: Glucose Tolerance test, ABG (arterial blood gas), Upper GI, Bleeding time, Chest X-ray, Abdominal X-ray, Protime PTT, Urinalysis, Blood Type, Pregnancy test (females only), Ferritin level, Magnesium, B-12, AM & PM Cortisol, Folic Acid, Serum Ferritin level, and Amylase. These tests must be done 2 weeks prior to your surgery date.
Day of Admission
On the day of admission (day prior to surgery) you are to come to our office for the following: blood pressure, weigh in, and to sign a consent for the surgery. Then you are off to the hospital for admission. In-house at the hospital you will have consultations with the Internist, Pulmonologist, Psychiatrist, Cardiologist, Physical Therapist, Nutritionist, and Gastroenterologist. The Surgeon will also consult with you and go over your preoperative lab results with you. An Upper GI endoscopy will also be done on the day of admission.
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