Question:
Can anyone tell me how long it takes from the time you decide to have surgery, and

you have the surgery. Will I have already finished weight supervisored progam, will get psyh evaluation on Dec 26, 2007. I was hoping to have surgery in Feb. or March. Gerry    — whitetiger58 (posted on November 30, 2007)


November 30, 2007
When I first decided to have the surgery I had been told that it would take about 8 months in total BUT from the first appointment witht the surgeon to operating day it was exactly 4 1/2 months. It really all depends on how quick you get all your doctors appts in and how quick the response is from your insurance company. It can be relatively quick or can take up to a year (I had heard). It will all depend on you and your insurance. Good luck, I hope it's quick for you!
   — KATHY1025

November 30, 2007
I had my first consultation with the surgeon on May 15 and finally had the surgery on November 19. About a month of that was related to insurance approval. My original surgery was scheduled for October 29, but the approval didn't come through in time. I treated the project like a "job" ( I'm retired), and sometimes had 3-4 medical appointments or tests in one week. I couldn't believe how many hoops I had to jump through in order to get the approval. Perhaps some of that was due to my age, and the results of my two sleep studies. ALso, my doctor is known to be a stickler for the details of the protocol, and is very busy, so there was his surgery schedule to deal with as well. Do you have to see a pulmonologist or endocrinologist? I had to be cleared by both. Good Luck, Gerry! Flora MusigalF
   — MusigalF

November 30, 2007
It depends on your insurance company. Most insurance companies that cover this surgery require an educational class of about 6 months duration, exams from multiple doctors, psychological exam to see if you are OK for surgery, etc. They want you to be as informed as possible about what you have to do after surgery. It sounds like if you're having the psych exam, you are within a month of surgery. The psych exam was the last thing I needed, and I had RNY surgery within 2-3 weeks. The time of surgery also depends on your surgeon's schedule. There are cancellations sometimes, and you can in quicker than normal.
   — Dave Chambers

November 30, 2007
It really depends on the type of insurance u have. My processs took 2 months. I am a year out now and happy as a lark. Good Luck
   — Porsha

November 30, 2007
I had my initial consultation with my surgeon on October 15th. They were luckily able to have my lab work done the following day along with my psych evaluation and nutritionist. Believe it or not, 15 days later I had my lap band surgery. Mine happened so fast because I was a self-pay and didn't have the insurance barriers to deal with. I'm still glad I had the surgery. Best decision I ever made! Good luck with yours. :)
   — Michelle661

November 30, 2007
It took me 17 months to get approved, one yr of insurance dr visits in, and paperwork, appeals, etc. but my sister paid cash for hers and waited only 2-3 months.
   — shalmar

November 30, 2007
Hi Gerry! Congrats on your empowering decision for your life already! =) Have you been approved already thru your insurance? From my first inquiry with my insurance company assuring me they would cover it and I was within the guidelines (BMI, etc) until the day I went to surgery was appx 4 months. But that wait time was only due to the fact that the surgeon I originally chose was booked up and busy and and.... so I found another surgeon, in a neighboring state, made sure he was a provider and he was able to book me just two weeks after my first contact with him... So, assuming you are pre-approved or self-pay, it really is the surgeon's schedule that will determine the delay! =) Good luck and Blessings!!! ChristiMNB
   — ChristiMNB

November 30, 2007
I wasn't covered by insurance and had to pay myself and so I met my surgeon and they scheduled my surgery 1 month later. I had to get a ekg, blood tests and meet with a psycologist with in the month. It was a little stressful going so fast but so worth it.. Good luck on getting your date..
   — gabbyjane

November 30, 2007
It could happen that soon should all of your pre-tests come out normal. It could happen.
   — the7thdean

November 30, 2007
From the time i went to my first appointment to surgery was 6 weeks.
   — Rebaboh

November 30, 2007
Although we all want to get it over fast, we were MO probably most of our life. Now the early days after WLS can be kinda rough. A long delay before WLS like 6 months weeds out those who truly arent commited. This reduces dramatically the number who regreat wls in the first weeks / months post op. So rushing isnt always a good thing....
   — bob-haller

December 1, 2007
Hi Gerry. You are writing the wrong place. Please ask your surgeons office. They have the schedules and know what is what. For me it was a 9 month wait because of their schedule, not because I didn't get my stuff done. I was ready in 8 weeks, but they weren't for 9 months. I think your schedule can work for you if your insurance approves and your program you are in now supports the decision, the final thing is your physical and your surgeons schedule. Check with them and they should be able to help you out with a "non commital" timeline. Take care. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

December 1, 2007
It took me 4 months. Good Luck
   — John C.




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