Bariatric Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about Dr. Weber's surgical treatment for
obesity
Many
women have had successful pregnancies after weight loss surgery.
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Bariatric Frequently Asked Questions
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Many
women have had successful pregnancies after weight loss surgery.
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Bariatric Weight loss surgery FAQ's |
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Q: Will insurance cover the cost of my operation? A: We will work with you to obtain coverage from your insurance company should they be reluctant. This is, after all, not cosmetic surgery, but surgery to improve your health and longevity. Some insurance companies specifically exclude coverage for any aspect of weight loss in their policies. In this case, it will be impossible to convince the insurance company to cover the surgery. Some patients change insurance companies in order to gain coverage. It is advisable to confirm your insurance coverage before contemplating weight reduction surgery. Q: Will there be a delay before I can have my surgery? A: There often is a delay, and this is usually the time required to get "preauthorization" from the insurance company. It is not uncommon to have a delay of a few weeks while we work on this. Q: Where will my surgery be done? A: Your surgery will be done at White Plains Hospital Center, White Plains, NY 10601. White Plains Hospital is accredited by the JCAHO and New York State. Q: How long will it be before I can get back to work? A: Every individual is different. Patients commonly take four weeks off from work, but some patients can go back sooner, especially if they are self-employed, or work at home. Patients who have physically demanding jobs may take longer to resume work. Q: I am afraid of anesthesia. Is this justified? A: There is always some risk to having anesthesia. We are fortunate to have anesthesiologists who are Board Certified and experienced in administering anesthesia to the overweight. If you have concerns about the anesthesia we can put you in touch with the anesthesiologist at the time of the initial evaluation. Q: Will I have pain after surgery? A: Some pain after surgery is inevitable. We try, usually successfully, to keep pain to a minimum by using one of the modern pain treatment methods, such as patient controlled analgesia (PCA), or intrathecal morphine. Q: Should I have a private duty nurse after surgery? A: White Plains Hospital nurses have received training in the postoperative care of the overweight patient. A private duty nurse is not necessary or advisable. Q: What about a support group? A: A support group for patients meets every other week at White Plains Hospital. The support group is professionally run, and is a valuable opportunity for patients to compare their experiences. The support group is currently for postoperative patients primarily. Once surgery has been scheduled for surgery, however, attendance at a support group meeting is encouraged, but not required. There is no charge for attending the support group meetings. Q: Is there an age above which New York Bariatrics will not perform weight loss surgery? A: New York Bariatrics does not adhere to a rigid upper age limit. If a patient is in reasonably good health and does not pose an unacceptable surgical risk, then surgery will be offered. The oldest patient having weight loss surgery at White Plains Hospital was in her seventies and has had an excellent result. Q: May I have an opportunity to speak to a patient who has already had the surgery? A: Once you have met with New York Bariatrics for the initial evaluation, he can arrange for you to talk with one of his postoperative patients if you wish. Q: Where should I phone to arrange my initial evaluation for weight loss surgery? A: New York Bariatrics will perform the initial evaluation during an office appointment. Q: I am thinking about getting pregnant. Will I be able to have children after weight loss surgery? A: Many women have had successful pregnancies after weight loss surgery. There is nothing per se that would prevent pregnancy. We recommend, however, that you wait until your weight loss is complete before becoming pregnant. This may take a year or more. The effect of rapid and prolonged weight loss on the developing fetus is unknown but it could have dire consequences, and pregnancy is not recommended until a stable weight has been attained.
A: New York Bariatrics does not use a nasogastric tube on any weight loss surgery patients during or immediately after the surgery.
A: Every patient is individualized, of course, but in general, invasive monitoring techniques are not used during surgery. Arterial blood gases are monitored by an external device, which fits over the finger, blood pressures are measured by a blood pressure cuff, and intravenous access is maintained by a peripheral IV. Any invasive monitoring device has its own potential complications and is avoided if possible. Q: Will I require arterial blood gases to be performed before my surgery? A: Arterial blood gases
are not routinely - in fact are seldom - performed before weight loss
surgery. In patients in whom very poor respiratory function might compromise
the safety of the operation, preoperative blood gases might be considered.
Phone: 914-948-1000 to set up
an appointment.
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Information About Bariatric Weight Loss Surgeries: [New York Bariatrics -
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