Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
There are two main indicators on whether or not you have become a victim of morbid obesity: BMI (Body Mass Index) and being overweight. If your BMI is more than 40 and you are around 100 pounds heavier than you should be, you should be worried. It is not only the “not so attractive looks” that should be worrying you. Morbid obesity causes serious diseases and heart issues called co-morbidities, conditions which are a result of all that excess weight, and which can sometimes even cause death. Today, more than 10 million Americans are considered to be morbidly obese. The number has doubled in the past 30 years. There is always a solution. Let NJ Bariatric Surgery help you with fighting obesity.
Yes, Medicare should cover your weight loss surgery.
Please Contact our office for further details.
More than 6 million Americans suffer from morbid obesity, so the need for weight loss surgery has become more apparent. Morbid obesity brings a lot of health issues that can shorten one’s life if left untreated. Morbidly obese adults are twice as likely to have an early death as compared to a non-obese adult.
To determine whether you are a candidate for surgery or not, it is necessary to determine if you are morbidly obese. There are two main criteria, which can determine that. Perhaps you are 100 pounds or more over your deal body weight, or your BMI is over 40. If you have been struggling with weight for more than five yrs. without any success and/or if your BMI is 35 to 40, but with some other health issues like diabetes or heart disease, you should consider yourself a candidate. Compute your BMI with our calculator.
Please Note: It’s important to remember that weight loss surgery is not the answer for everyone who suffers from obesity. The operation is an elective procedure so it’s imperative that you are well informed on the potential risks and benefits involved. Also, the surgery is not a guarantee to produce and maintain long term weight loss. It’s only the beginning of a lifelong commitment to healthy living that is required if you are to succeed. Following the operation, you will begin the process of making important lifestyle and behavior changes in order to increase your chances of experiencing lasting weight loss and continued good health.
Life changes are a must if you want to make your weight loss surgery successful. You need to change the way you eat; for example, don’t drink alcohol, don’t eat food with plenty of fat, chew slowly, don’t eat snacks between meals, and avoid sugar at all costs.
After the surgery you will have to “lay low“ for a couple of weeks. No physical activity for at least six weeks after the surgery, and you could probably return to work after 1 to 3 weeks. The type of procedure you have undergone will most likely determine your post-surgery physical activity.
For the first 18-24 months after weight loss surgery it’s important that women of childbearing age do not conceive. Pregnancy can be taxing on the body and the potential for fetal damage increases. During this waiting period, it’s important to give the body time to heal and recuperate. For this reason, a surgeon will typically advise you to take every precaution necessary to reduce the chances of becoming pregnant.
In some cases a Revisional Bariatric surgery is needed. Sometimes, the desired weight loss was not achieved or there were some complications after the first surgery. We are here to help you every step of the way, whether you need advice on how to deal with your post-surgery problems, or to advise you if a Revisional Weight loss surgery is needed.
It’s extremely important to have the support of your family and friends. It will also be very important for you to get in touch with other patients in a similar situation. You can locate them in various support groups in which you can share your stories and experiences.
Every surgery is considered to have some risk, and bariatric surgery is no exception. But the technology has developed so much that it’s safe to say it’s a relatively safe way to deal with your problem. It’s also important that the doctors here in New Jersey Bariatric Surgery know everything about your medical records before the procedure, to ensure everything goes well. The decision to have this procedure is up to you, so you should think it through carefully before deciding. There are two different types of bariatric surgery, Gastric bypass and Gastric sleeve. It is also important to choose which one you will be getting. Ask NJ Bariatric Surgery about anything you need to know.
Weight loss procedures can be expensive, so you need to know some facts before determining whether or not it is covered by your insurance. Some helpful tips on how to understand you insurance policy are these:
- Keep track of your doctor visits. Also it would help if you save your bills from different fitness programs, diet centers, weight loss drugs etc.
- You need to carefully read your “certificate of coverage“
- Last but not the least, get a copy of your medical records from your physician.
There are a lot of different insurance policies and you need to know all of the facts regarding yours. Insurance companies usually ask questions about your weight and height, proof that you are 100lbs or more overweight, your complete medical history, a psychiatric evaluation or even your dieting and exercise routine.
The only thing to do after submitting your claim is to wait for an answer. You can appeal for a decision if your claim is denied, and the denial can be just a minor setback to your path to being healthy again.
If you have any questions about the insurance process, please ask us. Our great medical team led by Dr. Naveen Ballem will help you with everything you need.