Weight loss surgery

BMI compares weight and height to calculate body fat levels to potentially identify obesity. Calculate your BMI and learn more about what it means for your health.

You must be 18 years old or older to qualify for weight loss surgery. Other qualifications for surgery include:

• Having a BMI greater than 40
• Having a BMI greater than 30, with one or more additional obesity-related health conditions
• Not being able to achieve a healthy body weight for a long period of time, even with medical weight loss intervention

Weight loss surgery is very affordable if you compare it to the amount of money spent on obesity-related factors, such as:

• Food costs, including dining out and monthly groceries
• Expenses for nonsurgical weight loss programs
• Out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, such as over-the-counter drugs and co-pays for doctor visits, lab work and specialty care visits
• Prescription co-pays for medications used to treat conditions related to obesity, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes

If you are interested in bariatric surgery, our bariatric patient coordinator is readily available to explain our array of financial options for both self-pay and insured patients.

Contact your insurance provider to see if they will cover the cost of your bariatric surgery's cost.

We also recommend you write down the name of the individual you spoke with and the date/time of your conversation. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact us, and a bariatric coordinator will assist you.

Make sure you and your physician follow these steps:

• Visit your primary care physician and ensure they weigh you and document your weight in your medical chart.
• Have your physician recommend an exercise and/or diet regimen, and make sure these recommendations are documented in your chart.
• Receive weigh-ins at your doctor's office at least every four weeks, and have your doctor document your progress and advise on how you might improve your progress.
• If the recommended diet and/or exercise regimen is not helping you lose weight, go see your physician again and request an alternative weight loss program. You will continue your in-office weigh-ins, which must be frequent, consistent and documented in your chart.

Have copies of all these records when you come to see a bariatric surgeon.

Self-pay patients

If you choose not to receive financial assistance from your insurance company, we offer affordable self-pay options. Our financial counselors are available to help navigate this process and aid in budgeting for the procedure.

Obesity severely strains the body and increases your risk of developing additional medical conditions (comorbidities). These conditions can lower your quality of life and lead to serious disability. You may be a candidate for bariatric surgery if you are obese and have a combination of several of these conditions:

• Arthritis
• Certain types of cancer, such as breast, colon, kidney, liver, and pancreas
• Diabetes
• Gall bladder disease
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Liver disease
• Reproductive dysfunction, such as menstrual irregularities and infertility
• Respiratory and pulmonary dysfunction, such as sleep apnea