Harrison General Surgery – Jason Harrison, MD, PA

Q. How do I qualify for weight loss surgery?
A. To be considered a candidate for weight loss surgery, you must fit the criteria for severe or morbid obesity. In most cases, this means that you are at least 100 pounds over your ideal body weight and have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher. Another consideration is if you have serious health issues due to obesity, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, or Type 2 Diabetes. Past attempts at medically supervised diets with little to no success is another qualification.

Q. What are co-morbidities?
A. Co-morbidities are medical conditions that often exist in direct relation to obesity. The diagnosis of co-morbidities can help qualify you for weight loss surgery. While there are a variety of co-morbidities, the most common include:

• Type 2 Diabetes–the body’s inability to correctly produce and utilize insulin.
• Sleep Apnea–frequent disruption of breathing during sleep, which can result in extreme fatigue and health risks associated with oxygen deprivation.
• Hypertension–abnormally high blood pressure.
• Weight related arthritis–joint pain and restriction due to weight.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)–a condition that causes stomach acid to enter into the esophagus and erodes the esophageal tissue.

Dr. Harrison can help you determine whether you have co-morbidities related to your weight, and whether the diagnosis of these health conditions makes you a strong candidate for weight loss surgery.

Q: How can weight loss surgery reduce other health risks?
A: Research shows that weight loss surgery can reduce or resolve many health issues that are directly related to obesity. Some of the most commonly documented health benefits include a drastic improvement or a complete cure of Type 2 Diabetes, as well as a significant decrease in hypertension and heart disease. In addition, most weight loss surgery patients find it easier to breathe, and find that they are more well-rested because their sleep apnea has stopped. For patients who previously suffered from arthritis or lower back problems, joint pain is often diminished as a result of the LAP-BAND® procedure or other weight loss surgery treatment. For patients who previously suffered from arthritis or lower back problems, joint pain is often diminished as a result of WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY.

Q: Will insurance pay for my weight loss surgery?
A: The best way to find out whether your surgery will be covered is to call your insurance carrier and speak with customer service. You can also look through your benefits booklet under titles like: weight loss surgery, bariatric surgery, or obesity surgery.

If you call customer service, be sure to write down the name of the representative you spoke with, and the date and time of your call. You should ask the customer service representative whether bariatric surgery is a covered benefit under your plan. If they say “no”, ask them why. They may say that it is an exclusion, or that it is not covered until you meet certain medical criteria.

Q: What if it is an exclusion?
A: If you have an exclusion to your health insurance plan, bariatric surgery will not be covered. But, don’t let that keep you from pursuing the healthier body and lifestyle that you deserve. First, you may be able to appeal the carrier’s decision. Another option is to pay for your weight loss surgery out-of-pocket. You can contact our office at 817-419-9200 to ask about the cost of surgery and financing options, as well as any special pricing plans that may be available.

Q: What is a “medical necessity”?
A: The definition of a medical necessity varies from each insurance carrier. To learn the specifics for your insurance provider, you can visit the carrier’s website and look for the policy description, or call customer service. Often, carriers require patients to prove medical necessity by documenting the history of your weight for the past 2-5 years, undergoing a dietician evaluation, following a physician supervised diet for 6-12 consecutive months, and finally, undergoing a psychological evaluation. Even if you have not yet visited our office for an evaluation, we encourage you to see your primary care physician and start a doctor-recommended diet as soon as possible to get a head start on insurance approval and get you on the road to a healthier life.

Q: How long will I be in the hospital after weight loss surgery?
A:Everyone’s post weight loss surgery hospital stay is different.  On average, if the Lap-Band&req; procedure is performed you should go home the same day. If the sleeve gastrectomy procedure is performed a one day stay is mandatory with the possibility of a 2-3 day stay. Shortly after your surgery, you will begin your new diet consisting only of sips of water and ice chips. You will be expected to walk around the first day, as this will help reduce potential complications. Before progression of your diet, you will have a radiology procedure called an Upper GI. This will insure correct positioning of the Lap-Band&req; or security of the staple line. Once this is ok’d by Dr. Harrison you will begin your clean liquid diet. Once nausea has ceased, a full liquid diet is started and you will stay on that diet until your two week post surgical office visit.

Q: What is the recovery time?
A:Recovery following laparoscopic weight loss surgery is considered ‘quick’. Each patient recovers differently, depending on comorbid conditions, pre operative weight and pain control. On average, most of our patients have returned to work in 4-7 days and resumed most normal activities in 2-5 days.

Q: What are the follow up requirements?
A:The follow up care after any weight loss surgery is vital to successful long term results. Adjustments are required for the Lap-Band&req; to work. Monitoring dietary and exercise habits along with making necessary adjustments to the tension of the band will help lead to success. These follow up’s are usually done every 4-6 weeks initially and once stable every 3-12 months. Though there are no ‘adjustments’ made with the sleeve gasterectomy, monitoring dietary, nutritional and exercise habits are very important. The regular follow up intervals for the first year after surgery is mandatory. Weight loss surgery is a lifestyle change. Education, support and reaching goals for your ‘changes’ are the keys to success.