Weight loss surgery

Bariatric surgery, also known as weight loss surgery, is currently the only long-term effective weight loss solution for those who are suffering from obesity. The need for bariatric surgery in New Jersey has never been greater and new procedures and techniques have offered patients less invasive surgical options that were not available just a few years ago. For those that qualify, bariatric surgery may be a life-changing procedure, offering an opportunity for patients to change their lives for the better.

Advanced Surgical Associates New Jersey

The Advanced Surgical Associates (ASA) bariatric surgery program, based in Springfield, New Jersey is committed to helping the ever-growing population of obese Americans that may benefit from weight loss surgery. The ideal result is the possibility of a healthier life through weight loss and disease resolution or improvement. Bariatric surgery has been shown to improve or eliminate many of the diseases associated with obesity including type-2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and sleep apnea. Individual results will, of course, vary.

The Weight Loss Center of Oklahoma is a premier bariatric surgery facility serving those suffering from obesity in the Oklahoma City Metroplex and surrounding areas. By offering potentially life-saving procedures such as gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y), gastric sleeve, gastric banding (Lap-Band® and Realize® Band) and a new procedure called iBand, or Imbricated Band, patients have the opportunity to improve or resolve many of the diseases associated with obesity. These diseases, also called co-morbidities can range from adult-onset diabetes to sleep apnea, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Dr. Russell Gornichec, MD, FACS

Dr Russell performs bariatric surgery in Lakeside Women’s Hospital in the State of Oklahoma. In the following video he explains some of the benefits of Lap Band Weight Loss.

Georgia joined Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania recently as another state to cut a surgery from its public healthcare insurance coverage for cost-related reasons. According to Georgia, it cut its coverage of bariatric weight loss surgery because the costs were too high for its public healthcare program.

The Costs

According to Georgia, in the almost 3 years it covered bariatric surgery, 1,577 public insurance members had the surgery. It cost the state about $31 million dollars; this puts the cost to the state at about $20,000 per surgery.

Should Public Healthcare Insurance Pay the Cost?

On a recent debate on whether insurance should pay for bariatric surgery, Dr. Antony Youn, MD, plastic surgeon mentioned an interesting fact (watch video below):

Obese people spend on average $2,200 more a year in health care versus non-obese people. Bariatric surgery costs $10,000-$25,000, but this “investment” is paid off within 5-10 years because after bariatric surgery medical expenses are significantly lower because people are now healthier.

Obesity is now considered to be an epidemic problem which can lead to some serious health conditions. It appears that, weight loss surgery is now recognized to effectively treat obesity amongst teenagers. Researchers have also found out that these surgeries are more proficient than the nonsurgical alternatives.

The treatment of obesity amongst the teenagers should be a national concern since obesity can trigger other health issues such as cardiac disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, joint pain and hypertension. Some doctors are hesitant to advise weight loss surgery, as an option for obesity treatment for teens but a lot of researchers are now coming out with the efficacy of the surgical procedures.

Growing Awareness of Bariatric Surgery

There has been a documented steady increase of obesity in teens, for that reason researchers and people’s interest in weight-loss surgery is growing too. With this verifiable truth, there will also be an increased demand for nutritional support, exercise physiology support and weight-loss surgeries.

According to bariatric surgeons, when adolescent patients have reached a bmi of over 35 and have failed at traditional weight loss methods, the only hope for a normal adolescent social experience is weight loss surgery.

Paying for weight loss surgery can be a frustrating process. You know what you need to do to create a healthier life for yourself, but you may not be able to afford it, particularly if your insurance won't pay.

On average, a gastric bypass costs between $18,000 and $35,000, and an adjustable gastric band costs $17,000 to $30,000. Clearly, those costs prohibit many people from getting weight loss, but there are several payment options you can use to pay for your weight loss surgery. You may even be able to use a combination of these methods to cover the cost of your surgery.

Insurance

Because weight loss surgery is often such a necessary step to improving overall levels of health, it may actually be covered – or at least partially covered – by your health insurance provider. If your doctor considers weight loss surgery to be medically necessary for you and if you meet the National Institutes of Health requirements, your insurance provider may cover most or all of the cost of your weight loss surgery.

A weight loss surgery may cost several thousand dollars. Can medical insurance cover the cost of bariatric surgery?

Those who have been through the process know that getting a physician's approval for weight loss surgery (i.e., bariatric surgery) can be challenging. Because of the risk of complications and the rare chance of death, doctors generally only give the nod for the surgery for:

• Men who are about 100 pounds overweight with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more
• Women who are about 80 pounds overweight with a BMI of 40 or more or
• Men and women with a BMI between 35 and 39.9 and a serious health problem connected to their obesity.

Even if a person meets these candidacy requirements, they must have tried to lose weight by all other means possible, and often must undergo a psychological evaluation and receive nutrition counseling.

Weight loss surgery can save lives, especially in patients who are severely overweight and have obesity-associated diseases. Surgical options are only reserved for individuals who meet the candidate policies for each bariatric surgeon.

Often times, your general physician won’t even refer you to a specialist until you have shown documented proof of trying to lose weight with traditional methods. Some physicians even want patients to have had at least two full years of trying to lose weight, but failing, before you see a specialist.

Getting past your general physician is only one step though. Your bariatric physician might not suggest weight loss surgery as an option for your obesity. Maybe you didn’t meet the necessary BMI requirements or you at too much risk for bariatric surgery. But if you are suffering from obesity and are at a higher risk for diseases or co-morbidities - your physician will likely suggest bariatric surgery.

Options and Risks of Weight Loss Surgery

UNJURY is a protein supplement developed by a registered clinical dietician. It comes in powder form with five flavor options: unflavored, chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and chicken soup.

Unjury is designed for people who want to lose weight, seniors, pregnant women, cancer patients and people who want to lead a healthier lifestyle. Doctors usually recommended to bariatric patients.

How Does UNJURY work?

Studies show that protein satisfies hunger and leaves us feeling full longer. One serving of UNJURY contains 20 grams of protein. When we are less hungry, we eat less, and are better able to lose weight. The makers of UNJURY claim that whey protein satisfies hunger more efficiently than other sources of protein.

UNJURY is superior over other protein supplements because it is made from whey protein isolate, as opposed to the whey protein concentrate commonly found in similar products.

Apparently, whey protein isolate contains more highly concentrated protein, and less lactose than whey protein concentrate. This may make it a good option for people who are lactose intolerant.

Gastric sleeve has soared to popularity heights among other types of weight loss surgery. David Kim, a Dallas weight loss surgeon, explains how vertical sleeve gastrectomy is performed. In addition, he explains the advantages and disadvantages of this innovative weight loss technique.

For some individuals, going through bariatric surgery is an easy decision. However, finding a way to finance it is a different story.  You need to work with an insurance company and that may be challenging. What are the available financing options?

Karen works for a bariatric surgeon and gives helpful information to consider and specific ways to get financing that some may have a hard time finding. Here is what Karen advises: