As a bariatric surgeon and director, one of the most common questions I receive from patients is, “How quickly can I get bariatric surgery?” The timeline for bariatric surgery varies depending on several factors, including medical, insurance, and program-specific requirements. While it’s natural to want to undergo surgery as soon as possible, it’s important to understand that at least some of the process is designed to ensure your safety, success, and long-term weight loss. Here’s what to understand about the timeline and waiting period for bariatric surgery, and how quickly you can expect to make it happen.
Initial Consultation and Assessment
The process typically begins with an initial consultation with a bariatric surgeon or a weight loss surgery team. This appointment involves a thorough assessment of your medical history, current health status, and whether you meet the criteria for bariatric surgery. During this time, you’ll discuss your weight loss goals, available surgical options, and any potential risks or benefits of the procedure.
Timeframe: Depending on the availability of the surgical team, this initial consultation can happen within days to a few weeks of your decision to pursue surgery. However, this timeframe varies by location and demand.
Pre-Surgical Requirements
Once you are deemed a candidate for bariatric surgery, there are a number of pre-surgical requirements that must be completed before scheduling the surgery. These requirements are theoretically designed to ensure that patients are physically and mentally prepared for the procedure and the lifestyle changes that follow. Unfortunately, a lot of these requirements are unnecessary hurdles the insurance companies have put in place as obstacles to care. They typically include:
Nutritional Counseling and Weight Loss
Most bariatric programs require patients to meet with a dietitian for nutritional counseling and to initiate a medically supervised weight loss program. In some cases, a modest amount of weight loss is required prior to surgery to reduce liver size and improve surgical outcomes.
Timeframe: This can take 1 to 6 months, depending on the program, your individual progress, and–you guessed it–your insurance plan and how many months of delay they require.
Psychological Evaluation
A psychological evaluation is a helpful step to assess your readiness for the lifestyle changes required after bariatric surgery. This evaluation helps identify any psychological or emotional factors that could you could work on to improve your ability to be healthy and adhere to the post-surgical diet and exercise regimen.
Timeframe: The psychological evaluation is typically completed in 1 to 2 sessions, which may take place over a couple of weeks.
Medical Testing
You will need to undergo various medical tests and screenings to ensure you are physically prepared for surgery. These tests may include blood work, an EKG, a sleep study for sleep apnea, and, in some cases, a gastrointestinal evaluation or cardiac clearance.
Timeframe: Depending on the tests needed and the availability of specialists, this process can take a few weeks to a few months.
Insurance Approval
If you are using insurance to cover your bariatric surgery, the waiting period is also influenced by your insurance provider’s requirements. Most insurance plans require documentation of previous weight loss attempts, such as diet and exercise programs, and a specified period of supervised weight management.
Timeframe: Insurance approval can take anywhere from several weeks to several months. It is important to work closely with your bariatric team to ensure all documentation is submitted correctly and promptly.
Scheduling the Surgery
Once you have completed all the necessary pre-surgical steps, and insurance approval is obtained (if applicable), the surgery can be scheduled. Availability of the surgeon and operating room schedules may vary, but once all other requirements are met, the surgery can usually be scheduled relatively quickly.
Timeframe: After all pre-surgical requirements are met, surgery is typically scheduled within 1 to 6 weeks.
Program-Specific Waiting Periods
Some bariatric programs have their own specific waiting periods based on factors such as the volume of patients, the availability of operating rooms, and the resources of the surgical team. These factors can affect how quickly you can proceed to surgery.
Total Estimated Time Frame
In general, from the initial consultation to the day of surgery, the total waiting period for bariatric surgery is usually around 4 to 6 months. However, this timeline can vary widely based on individual circumstances, the requirements of the bariatric program, and insurance factors.
When individuals are paying cash for the procedure, the time frame is shortened greatly to a few weeks or a month or two in most cases. This stems from elimination of the non-evidence-based, insurance-required, steps such as six months of documented clinic visits.
The Bottom Line
Bariatric surgery, like any elective medical procedure, should be carefully considered. It’s not a quick fix, but rather a tool to improving the quality of your life. If you’re researching weight-loss surgery, it’s important to ask questions to learn whether you’re a good candidate. We invite you to contact the team here at Nevada Surgical today to learn more.
