Advanced Bariatric Center follows the National Institute of Health Guidelines for selecting gastric bypass patients. Each candidate must meet the following criteria:

• Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater (100 pounds or more above your “ideal” body weight)
• OR have a BMI between 35-40 with significant co-morbidities such as: diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, cardiovascular disease
• And have no psychological or medical conditions that would be contraindications to surgery (risk of surgery outweighs the benefits)
• Documented serious attempts at non-surgical weight loss with traditional diet programs and or physician supervised diet programs
• Be willing to make necessary lifestyle changes and participate in long-term follow-up care

Process for pursuing gastric bypass surgery at Advanced Bariatric Centers, PLLC®

Step 1- Be Informed. Carefully review information about obesity and Advanced Bariatrics patient manual.

Step 2- Check Insurance. Before purchasing the patient manual, call your health care insurance company to determine if weight loss surgery is a covered benefit, what procedures they will approve, and if you can select the surgeon you want. If it is not a covered benefit, we offer a self-pay option. For more information call our office. To verify that weight loss surgery is a covered benefit by your insurance, please review your health insurance plan book, consult a human resources representative at your workplace, or request a letter from your insurance company.

Step 3- Consultations. There are three consultations that are required by our office.

• Initial consultation. During your first appointment, you will meet with the nurse practitioner and surgeon. They will assess and discuss your current knowledge of bariatric surgery, perform a complete history and physical, and provide information on gastric bypass as well as answer any questions you may have at that time (You must complete the medical history form and bring it with you at the first appointment).
• Dietary consultation with a registered dietician who is knowledgeable in bariatrics. (We do offer this consultation at our office). The dietitian will need to obtain a complete diet and weight loss history, assess past eating habits, and instruct you on the new bariatric diet and eating habits that will be for the rest of your life.
• Psychological consultation is needed to assess your current and past life experiences and how your weight has affected you choices in life. It also is needed to explore your emotional readiness for surgery and your mental ability to be able to adjust to major lifestyle changes associated with weight loss surgery. If you are currently seeing a mental health provider, you may want to have them complete this evaluation for you. We do offer this consultation at our office.

Step 4- Referral letter from primary care physician.

Step 5- Once all consultations are completed, reviewed by the surgeon and approved, a letter of medical necessity will be generated. All information will then be submitted to the insurance company. Approval can take anywhere form 4 weeks to 6months depending on your provider. Please call the office for updates.

Step 6- Once approved, you will make an appointment to see the surgeon to discuss in detail the risks and benefits of gastric bypass surgery and sign the surgical consent. You must bring a significant other, family member or close friend with you at this visit.

Step 7- Pre-admission testing and history and physical will be scheduled approximately one week prior to your surgery date. Please bring your insurance cards, a list of current medications with dosages and schedules. You will be instructed what medicine you can take with a sip of water the morning of surgery.