Our Approach to Surgery

Your life-changing, surgical weight-loss journey starts with 10 steps.

Step 1: Attend a Free Weight-Loss Information Session

One of the best ways to learn if you’re a bariatric surgery candidate is to attend one of our information sessions. Here, our team will discuss the bariatric surgery process with you, the risks and benefits of each type of weight-loss surgery, and answer any questions you may have.

Step 2: Call Insurance Provider to Check Coverage

Before scheduling your bariatric surgery, you should call your insurance provider to be sure the surgery is covered. You can give them the following CPT code of the procedure to find out if it will be covered.

  • Roux-en-y Gastric Bypass: 43644
  • Sleeve Gastrectomy: 43775

Step 3: Meet with the Nurse Navigator

The next step in your weight-loss journey is to meet with our nurse navigator to discuss your in-depth medical history, eligibility for surgery and what your insurance policy requires for surgery. If you’re eligible and approved by insurance, the nurse will help you set up additional appointments to begin your weight-loss journey.

Step 4: Meet with the Surgeon - Initial Appointment

After your consultation with the nurse navigator, you will meet with a bariatric surgeon. The surgeon will evaluate your condition, discuss your options, determine if surgery is needed and answer any questions you may have. If surgery is right for you, we’ll develop a pre-surgical plan that’s catered to your needs and fits your lifestyle.

Step 5: Meet with a Registered Dietitian

Your next step to bariatric surgery is education. The registered dietitian will provide you with resources and materials surrounding nutrition, exercise, instructions on how to prepare for surgery and postoperative materials for after surgery. The dietitian will also assess your readiness for surgery, ensuring it’s the right decision for you. Depending on insurance requirements, you will receive three to six months nutritional sessions with the dietitian to support you throughout your journey.

Step 6: Complete all Specialist Appointments

We want to be sure you are set up for success. Before your surgery is scheduled, you will meet with other specialists including an endocrinologist, pulmonologist, psychiatrist, cardiologist and a primary care provider to complete necessary testing and receive clearance for surgery.

Step 7: Receive Insurance Approval

After you have met with our team and received clearance for surgery from our specialists, we will sit down with you to make sure all requirements have been met for you to move forward with surgery. After review, we will need to receive insurance approval (pre-authorization) for your surgery. Your program records, office notes, program completion and approval request are provided to your insurance. Your surgeon’s office will notify you once your insurance is approved.

Step 8: Meet with your Surgeon – Pre-Surgery Appointment

Surgery is an exciting and life-changing step in your weight-loss journey. There are many different types of bariatric surgery, so we’ll make sure you know what to expect before, during and after and answer any questions you may have prior to your surgery.

Step 9: Surgery

Typically, you will be admitted to the hospital the morning of your surgery and will stay in the hospital for one to two days for monitoring. Your surgeon will decide when you are well enough to return to work, usually within two to three weeks.

Step 10: Follow-Up Care

While this may be the last step in our approach, consistent weight loss is an ongoing journey. And we’re still with you every step of the way. Our follow-up care is personalized to meet your needs, keep you on track and help you overcome any physical, emotional and mental challenges that may arise. Our team is always here to support and help you.