If you carry around at least 100 extra pounds and have tried diet and exercise without success, you might be a candidate for bariatric surgery. Stomach banding--also called lap banding or gastric banding--is the least invasive type of weight loss surgery. The surgeon places an adjustable silicone band around the upper part of the stomach to create a small pouch that limits the patient's food intake, helping her to lose one-third to one-half of her excess weight, according to the National Institutes of Health. Many resources are available to help you find a bariatric surgeon if you are interested in the procedure.
Step 1
Ask your primary care provider for a recommendation for a surgeon who performs stomach banding procedures.
Step 2
Ask your health care provider to calculate your body mass index. Based on your height and weight, the BMI is a measure of obesity. In general, the minimum BMI accepted for weight loss surgery is 40, which indicates morbid or extreme obesity. However, a patient with a BMI between 35 and 39.9 may also qualify if she has serious obesity-related conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Step 3
Contact your health insurance carrier for a list of bariatric--weight loss--surgeons who accept your insurance. Although some health insurance plans exclude weight loss surgery, many cover part or all of the cost if you meet their criteria and select a surgeon on their provider list.
Step 4
Contact the agency that licenses physicians in your state for the names and addresses of bariatric surgeons in your geographic area. The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, a national organization of weight loss surgery professionals, also maintains a database of members and specialties.
Step 5
Ask friends and family members for recommendations. Even if they have not had the procedure, they may know of someone who had a positive or negative experience that could help you in making a decision.
Step 6
Contact the office of each surgeon you are considering. The bariatric coordinator will be able to provide information about the surgeon's criteria for stomach banding patients; if she is accepting new patients; where she operates; and whether the office will assist you with the insurance coverage process. If you are younger than 18 years old; drink alcohol or use illegal drugs; have a complicated medical history; or do not have a long-term history of unsuccessful weight loss attempts, the surgeon may not consider you a good candidate for stomach banding, according to the LapBand System website.
Step 7
Attend a no-cost seminar to meet the surgeon and her staff and learn about weight loss surgery. Many bariatric surgeons offer monthly seminars for prospective patients and their families to answer their questions and help them decide if surgery is the right choice for them.
Step 8
Determine the distance between your home and the office of each of the surgeons you are considering. You may need five to eight adjustments or fills during the first year, so factor travel time into the decision-making process, according to the LapBand System website.
Tips and Warnings
- Bariatric surgeons often practice in cities, so patients in rural areas may need to travel several hours to be seen. Stomach bands require frequent adjustments, so ask your health insurance carrier if your travel expenses may be reimbursed. Although your health insurance plan may cover 100 percent of the cost of the surgery and followup visits, many do not cover the nutritionist and psychologist consultations that the surgeon requires. The Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery suggests looking for a surgeon who has performed at least 100 procedures; is board certified by by the American Board of Surgery or the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery; operates at a Center of Excellence where at least 125 bariatric procedures have been performed; and offers support groups and other services to postoperative patients.
- Stomach banding is not for everyone. Successful patients make a lifelong commitment to exercise and eat a healthy diet. The band is a tool, not a quick fix. If you are accepted as a weight loss surgery patient, the surgeon may recommend a different procedure for you, including gastric bypass, gastric sleeve or duodenal switch.
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