Insurance

It is your responsibility to verify your coverage and criteria with your individual insurance plan.

Questions to Ask Your Insurance Provider

• Is bariatric surgery covered under my insurance plan?
• What are the plan-specific requirements needed to obtain authorization for bariatric surgery? (request in writing)

Note: If insurance changes during the process, you will need to re-confirm plan cover and requirements, and alert office.

Your Hospital Stay

Your hospital stay is dependent on many factors and may not be the same for everyone. If you're having a laparoscopic (minimally invasive) procedure, you generally can expect to be in the hospital for one day. If you're having an open procedure (one involving making an incision in the abdomen), you generally can expect to be in the hospital for two to three days.

Your coordinator will help you prepare for surgery, but you should plan to bring things like:

• A small overnight bag with toiletries (toothbrush, glasses, etc.)
• CPAP machine (if you have sleep apnea)
• Insurance cards
• A list of current medications and doses
• Photo ID

Post-Operative Activity

It is very important that you are moving shortly after surgery to prevent blood clots, pneumonia and your overall recovery process. You will be getting out of bed on the day of your surgery. The goal is that you spend more time out of bed than in bed.

To prevent blood clots, compression stockings will be placed around your legs. A pump, attached to the stockings, inflates from time to time to provide gentle pressure on the legs to help circulation. It also is important to move your legs and do ankle twists when you are in bed or sitting in a chair.

• Breathing Exercises: You will be provided a device to help you take deep breaths called an incentive spirometer. Deep breathing exercises are very important to prevent congestion and pneumonia. If you use a CPAP machine, bring your machine with you to the Medical Center. Make sure you mark the machine with your name and phone number.
• Pain Control: We are committed to making you as comfortable as possible after surgery. You will be sore for the first few days, the soreness will decrease each day.