Lap Band Surgery Cost & Procedure Information

We will explain in a little bit how the lap band surgery can actually be covered by some insurance providers or type. In general there is no right price for this procedure. It depends upon many different variables such as geographical location, doctor expertise, and your personal situation. There are many fees that can be lumped into one final cost for the lap band surgery. These fees include surgeon fees, anesthesia fees, hospital or clinic fees, post operation lab fees, x ray fees, travel expense, and others. Also there are fees for your lap band adjustments or fills which can range from $40 to $200.

There is a wide gap when it comes to the range of fees for the lap band surgery in the United States. The fees can range from as low at $12,000 to over $20,000 depending upon the variables previously mentioned. As we have told others, don’t substitute quality over price. This is a very important surgery that will impact your life in many ways so don’t pinch pennies.

One of the ways patients are saving money is going to other countries to have their surgeries done. Mexico is gaining in popularity as the destination for all things plastic and elective surgery. The lap band surgery is being done there for approximately $8,000 to $10,000. We do not recommend that you go this route. If something goes wrong your doctor is very far away, so you will incur a lot more costs to get the botched surgery fixed here. Also you are supposed to see your doctor for fills or adjustments which will cost you time and money to travel down to Mexico.

Payment: Which Methods Are Available?

There are 4 methods that can be used to pay for your lap band surgery. Some of them require immediate out of pocket cost, while others are paid in time or paid by insurance.

• Cash- If you have the money in your account you can definitely pay cash or preferably a check to your surgeon to cover the costs of your lap band surgery. Most people are not in a position to do this so the other methods are more effective. 
• Credit Cards- If you don’t have the cash you can always whip out the good old plastic. If you are using this method, make sure you have a low interest rate and have the ability to pay it off in a timely fashion. Taking too long to pay it off increases the total cost of your surgery due to the interest that is accrued. 
• Surgery Financing- Ask your doctor if they know any medical financing companies. Most doctors work directly with multiple companies to ensure that they patients can get the surgery they need. Just as with credit cards make sure you can pay it off in a timely fashion. 
• Insurance- The lap band surgery is one of the only elective surgeries that can be covered by some insurance companies. Check with your specific carrier to see if they cover it. You might not have to spend any money to have the surgery done. It is important to know that some companies specifically say they do not cover obesity related surgeries. New legislation that is being enacted will make this surgery pretty much not covered by insurances. So check with your provider soon if this is a method you want to pursue. 

Lap Band Surgery Basics :

Bariatric surgery, commonly known as weight loss surgery, is not considered a cosmetic procedure. It is a gastrointestinal surgery that is undergone by patients whose obesity puts them at risk of health problems and even death. The Lap Band surgery is the brand name of a procedure that uses adjustable bands in the gastrointestinal surgery. This procedure is FDA approved for both safety and effectiveness in losing weight. The actual lap band is a belt or collar made of silicone that is placed around the top of your stomach. This surgery is actually reversible which makes it much different than the traditional bypass surgery that has been used for weight loss. Once the collar is placed, your stomach will be roughly the size of a golf ball and be able to hold approximately 1 ounce of food. Once this is done you will feel less hungry, you will eat less, and then lose weight.

One of the main features of this procedure is that it is adjustable. Your doctor and either constrict or loosen the bands to enable you to eat less or more. This is achieved by using a “port” that sits under your skin. The surgeons use a saline solution to fill the bands to the desired level. They have the ability to add more as well as remove saline depending on your situation.

Are you a candidate for Lap Band?

Even though the lap band surgery is safe and effective for weight loss, it is not for everyone who is overweight. This is actually something that you and your doctor must come to the conclusion together. There are a few guidelines that can help to determine if your doctor will advise the surgery.

• You are over 100 pounds overweight or double your ideal weight 
• You have been overweight for more than 5 years 
• You are between the ages of 18 and 60 
• You have been unsuccessful losing weight with diet and exercise 
• You do not consume a lot of alcohol 
• You can follow directions and are committed to a new you 
• You do not have a disease, like a thyroid problem, that caused your weight 
• You have a BMI of over 40 or over 30 with obesity related health issues 

One of the biggest indicators on this list is the BMI or Body Mass Index which is the measure of body fat based off height and weight. It is important to note that this calculation does not differentiate between fat and muscle. So if you have a large amount of muscle you might have a higher BMI, but it does not necessarily mean you are overweight or obese.

The equation to figure out BMI is: weight in pounds x 703/height in inches squared. Once you have figured out your BMI we can look at the chart to see where you fit in:

• Normal Weight- This means you have a BMI of 19 to 25 
• Overweight- You have a BMI from 25 to 30 
• Obese-Your BMI is from 30 to 40 
• Morbidly Obese- Any BMI over 40 

Even with the criteria we presented, the choice will still be between you and your doctor regarding this procedure. If the doctor feels that you are a not a good candidate they will generally recommend another plan or method for your weight loss.

Pre Surgery Information:

The lap band surgery is not the “get rich quick” version of the weight loss industry. You cannot have this surgery and go back to your old habits and expect to lose weight. There will be things you must do before and after the surgery to ensure it is a successful procedure. One of the first things many doctors recommend is that you start eating several small meals a day for weeks before the surgery. This will help you get accustomed to the new way of eating. You will also want to get rid of in between meal snacks as they will not be allowed after the surgery. Another important thing is to sip 8 cups, which is 64 oz, of fluids throughout the day. These liquids need to be low calorie or no calorie and non- carbonated.

If you are a smoker you will also have to quick smoking. The main reason for this is that smoking actually inhibits your body’s natural ability to heal itself after the surgery. If you have the ability, it is recommended to start an exercise program. Any weight lost prior to the surgery is a win- win for you. A study done by the Archives of Surgery found that if you lose five to ten percent of your excess body fat prior to surgery you will heal quicker. In addition, you will lose your remaining weight faster than someone who does not exercise prior to the surgery.

When consulting with your surgeon it is very important to let them know exactly which medications and supplements you are taking. Certain drugs, even over the counter ones can actually increase your risks of certain problems. For example aspirin and some anti inflammatory drugs can increase your risk of bleeding. We recommend writing out a list of all the prescriptions, over the counter drugs, supplements, vitamins, and mineral you are taking so that your doctor will no. This is by no means a recommendation to stop taking a prescription without your doctors approval.

The Procedure:

Luckily this procedure has become minimally invasive due to modern medical advances. It will require the use of a general anesthesia to put you under. This minimally invasive surgery is known as a Laparoscopic procedure. With this method small incisions are made in your abdominal wall. Through the incisions your doctor will insert narrow hollow tubes. The purpose of these tubes is to facilitate the entry of the camera into your body. This camera takes snapshots of your abdomen and they are viewed on a screen so your doctor can see your stomach.

Then the surgeon inserts the Lap Band into your body and places the band around your upper stomach. It is created in a ring shape and is fastened so it will not slip or come undone. Then the access port (where the doctor can add or remove the saline solution) is connected to the lap band with tubing and is placed inside your abdominal wall.

More doctors are using this procedure over the traditional methods. The more traditional method is opening up your stomach completely to do the surgery. The benefits of the Laparoscopic procedure are fewer complications, faster recovery time, and much less pain.

Lap Band Recovery:

As with any surgery requiring anesthesia, you will be very tired and out of it after the procedure. You will need to arrange for a ride home once you are cleared by the doctor. There will most likely be soreness since the procedure required an incision in your abdominal wall. Your doctor will prescribe pain medication to ease the discomfort. If you have ever been put under before you know the dreaded cottonmouth you feel. You are not allowed to grab liquids and guzzle them down after your surgery. You can only have very limited sips of water or you can suck on an ice cube.

Once home you will want to rest for a bit, but doctors recommend that you get as much walking in as possible. The movement actually decreases your chance of getting a dangerous blood clot. Normally you will be able to return to work within a week of the surgery. The only way you will not be able to is if you have a very physically demanding job. Also do not lift anything heavy until your doctor says you can. The abdominal muscles are used in every type of lifting so you do not want to injure yourself. Most people can return to normal activity, including exercise, in approximately 4 to 8 weeks.

Eating After The Lap Band:

One of the biggest changes in your life after the surgery is the way you eat. You will not be able to gorge yourself on large amounts of food simply because your stomach can no longer hold it. After your procedure your stomach will be swollen so you will not be able to eat solid foods. For the first two weeks you will be on a liquid only diet. The types of liquids you can drink are low calorie or no calorie non-carbonated drinks. Sometime your doctor will have you eating semi solid or blended food for the next 2 weeks to a month. Normally after about 6 weeks you will be able to start eating solid foods. Your surgeon will be able to give you a recommended diet plan for after your surgery.

Results: How Quick Does The Weight Loss Happen?

It is really important that you have realistic expectations about your weight loss from the lap band surgery. You will not instantly drop 30 or 50 pounds just because the surgery was completed. The weight loss you will experience will be gradual and consistent. You can lose 2 to 3 pounds a week for your first year, but the average among patients is about 1 pound. After about 1 year or 18 months the weight loss will start to slow down. Depending upon your situation, your doctor might make a fill or adjustment to help further the weight loss. They will only do this if they feel it is necessary. Generally speaking you can lose approximately 40% of your excess weight in the first year after surgery. This is a very big number, and some people need to have elective surgery to fix the excess skin from the weight loss.

Lap Band Surgery Risks and Side Effects:

As with any surgery there are complications or risks that may come up post surgery. Some of them are minor and inconsequential, while others are much graver. Let’s start with the more common and less risky complications:

• Heart Burn 
• Bloating 
• Vomiting 
• Gastritis also known as upset stomach 
• Ulcers 
• Nausea 
• Dehydration and constipation 
• Weight gain 

Not everyone will experience these things, but they are definitely viable and common side effects of this type of surgery. You can minimize the chances of getting these things by eating slowly, not drinking while eating, drinking six to eight cups of water in between meals, and by eating small meals spread out through the day.

Now, as mentioned above, there are some risks that are more serious than others. They are less common, but still something that should be known. These risks are:

• Internal bleeding 
• Vomit induced slippage of the lap band 
• Stomach acids eroding the band 
• Leaking of the band which leads to deflation 
• Infection 
• Stomach blockage 

Now with some of these risks the only option is to have an open surgery to correct them. Also you should talk to your doctor about issues involving the anesthesia. Some people react badly to the anesthesia so ask the surgeon about what kind of things you can expect. In general this is a safe and effective program. We just like everyone considering the procedure to be aware of things that can happen even if the possibility is small.Follow Up: Lap Band Adjustments and Fills

There are many visits to your doctor in the first year after your lap band surgery. They are designed to track your progress and make any adjustments to your lap band. There is a term you will hear called fills. After your stomach heals the doctor will need to “fill” your lap band with more saline solution to ensure that your stomach size is small. This will allow for you to have continuous weight loss. After your first year they recommend you visit the doctor once a year. The purpose again is to see how your weight loss is going, and to make any adjustments needed to help you achieve the desired weight loss goal and keep the weight off.

Conclusion:

The lap band surgery has been completed by over half a million people here in the U.S. It is one of the safest and most effective ways to combat obesity and obesity related problems. Again it is not a weight loss tool for everyone. It is designed for a certain type of patient that diet and weight loss have not worked for. These individuals need a more drastic procedure to be able to get their weight under control. Make sure when deciding to get your lap band surgery that you meet with a few different surgeons until you find one that you are comfortable with. Once you have secured your payment method you are ready to start your new life. Listen to the advice of your doctor and follow it exactly. By doing so you will speed up your weight loss time and hit your goals faster.

You are a short period of time away from a brand new you. With the weight gone you will look better in clothes, your confidence is going to increase dramatically, and most importantly you are going to prolong your life. Obesity is a very dangerous thing to your health and it needs to be corrected immediately. This transformation is going to spill over in all areas of your life from your work, family and love life. I want you to imagine the newer and leaner version of yourself who can accomplish anything that you want. We wish you good luck on your journey and are excited for you to start this new stage of your life.