Introduction to Lap Band Surgery

Introduction to Lap-Band Surgery

Lap-Band Surgery is a revolutionary new procedure for those struggling to combat dangerous weight problems. Like a gastric bypass, it also reduces the size of the stomach so that the patient feels fuller faster and after consuming far fewer calories. Unlike a gastric bypass, however, the Lap-Band is adjustable and offers a degree of flexibility and customization unheard of before—they can even be easily removed in the future. Lap-Bands are also less invasive and thus lower the potential risks that may arise from typical weight loss surgeries. For morbidly obese patients with a BMI in dangerous zones, the Lap-Band is a wonderful solution if other methods of weight loss have failed.

Costs of Lap-Band Surgery

Including postoperative costs and hospital fees, Lap-Band surgeries in the US currently cost anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000. This lump sum can seem intimidating, but the benefits usually outweigh the costs: if not dealt with, the potential problems associated with obesity grow into a long and frightening list. Heart disease, strokes, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and kidney problems are just a few of the complications that can arise, all of which are both pricey and life-threatening.

Will My Insurance Help?

The good news is that the cost of a Lap-Band procedure doesn’t have to be your burden to carry alone. For those patients who fulfill a set of requirements, including morbid obesity and previous failed attempts to lose weight, insurance companies are often willing to pitch in for all or part of the surgical costs. It’s an investment for your healthcare providers as well as for yourself—taking the potential co-morbidities associated with obesity into consideration, the success rate of the Lap-Band procedure is a bet that many providers are willing to take.

In order to formally make an appeal to your insurance company, you will need your doctor to provide a Letter of Medical Necessity. This document should state the medical reasons for recommending the Lap-Band procedure. In additional follow-ups with the healthcare company, your doctor may also be called on to provide further evidence of your health condition, as well as evidence of previous attempts to lose weight using more traditional methods.

Non-Surgical Costs

While insurance companies are often willing to lend financial assistance for the Lap-Band procedure itself, there are other costs to take into consider that may add to your bill. Medical tests, screenings, and even drug treatments or therapy can sometimes precede the Lap-Band surgery. Afterwards, there is the requisite post-op stay as well as additional checkups. For this type of weight loss surgery in particular, your surgeon will want to meet with you several times after recovery in order to adjust your Lap-Band to suit your lifestyle and dietary needs.

Don’t forget the long-term lifestyle effects of the Lap-Band as well. Your diet may need to be supplemented by pills and medication, and the dramatic weight loss can have unintended consequences on the look of your body. Many weight loss surgery patients seek out cosmetic surgery to tighten loose skin or tone muscles, procedures that insurance usually does not cover.