To find out if you have coverage for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery:

• For Private Health Insurances ( ex: Priority Health, Blue Cross, Aetna, UHC, etc.) - Review your medical benefits summary plan description (SPD). The SPD was given to you during your annual enrollment. Employers may have a copy on their intranet site.

• For Medicare or Medicaid - Visit your program's website and review your benefits.

If you still have questions call the member services representative for your health plan (the phone number can be found on the back of your member ID card).  

Yes, every patient meets with the dietitian before and after surgery to provide education and guidance with the recommended dietary modifications.  It is important to follow the restrictions to allow for your new stomach / pouch to heal.  Nutrition is slowly advanced from a liquid protein diet to solid foods over an 8 week period of time.  Prior to any dietary change patients will meet with the dietician.  Some patients may take longer than others to progress their diet due to their tolerance of various foods.  Eating slowly and chewing food thoroughly is very important.

Yes, weight regain can occur after surgery.  Bariatric surgery is a tool, but following a healthy post-op bariatric lifestyle is crucial for a patient's success   Excessive snacking, consumption of high sugar/fat foods, fast foods, sugar drinks, or failure to commit to intentional exercise after surgery are all contributing factors to weight regain.  Many medications and health conditions can contribute to weight regain as well.  Regular long term follow up for lifestyle management and monitoring of overall health and nutritional status is essential to a patients success with weight management.  

Per the ASMBS website, "Weight loss surgery is very safe and decreases the chance of dying from obesity".  Large studies find that the risk of death from any cause is considerably less for patients after weight loss surgery than for those with severe obesity who have never had weight loss surgery. Laparoscopic weight loss surgery is generally considered to be safer than removing the gallbladder.  As with any serious surgical operation, the decision to have weight loss surgery should be discussed with your surgeon, family members, and loved ones.

This varies from person to person and depends on your individual healing time , type of surgery, and your job duties. Generally, it takes about 1-3 weeks to recover from laparoscopic surgery, but you will have weight restrictions for up to 6 weeks after surgery. 

You will have to avoid alcohol completely for 6 months after surgery to allow for your body to heal.  Drinking prior to 6 months can increase your risks of complications.  

Long term it is recommended that bariatric patients avoid / limit alcohol as it provides no nutritional value and it is high in calories and often contributes to weight loss stalls and weight regain. 

Alcohol can also promote gastrointestinal diseases including reflux, ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding after weight loss surgery.  Absorption of alcohol can change after bariatric surgery leading to increased intoxication and higher risks of Alcohol Use Disorders.  Bariatric patients should never operate vehicles or machinery after drinking alcohol.

Yes.  Research shows that pregnancies after successful bariatric surgery have less complications than pregnancies with women who have obesity.  However, it it is important to wait 12-18 months after surgery prior to conceiving a pregnancy.  Due to increased risks of fertility with weight loss, women of childbearing age are advised to use effective forms of birth control during the first 12-18 months after bariatric surgery regardless of any prior fertility difficulties. 

Often patients will experience thinning of their hair around the 3 month post-op period.  This hair loss may cause concern, but significant hair loss is rare and in general, the hair grows back.  It is important to meet your nutritional goals and take your bariatric supplements to reduce the risks and severity of hair loss.