Planning for Surgery?

Planning for Surgery?

Gastric Bypass Surgery | Augusta | Greenville | GreenwoodMany patients visiting this website have already decided to undergo bariatric surgery, and have now moved on to planning a safe and effective procedure. The decision to undergo surgery should not be made hastily. These procedures involve major surgery which means the risks and complications should be considered as well as the benefits. Choosing to have bariatric surgery should be a decision you make for yourself, not because someone else thinks it’s something you should do. Your goal should be to lose your excess weight and keep it off for a lifetime while living a healthier, longer life. This section will help patients plan their treatment and understand the steps required by our program which we feel are necessary to achieve the best possible results.

  • Step 1 Contact Premier Surgical Services through our website or call us at 864-227-8932 and sign up for one of our free Bariatric Information Sessions
  • Step 2 Attend our Information Session. If you decide to proceed with weight loss
    surgery, go to Step 3.
  • Step 3 If you will be relying on insurance to pay for this procedure, please contact your insurance company or human resources/benefits coordinator prior to scheduling an appointment with the Bariatric Program Coordinator of Self Regional Healthcare in order to determine the following:
    • Is weight loss surgery a covered benefit under my plan? If so, is it covered under medical necessity?
    • What criteria must be met to be eligible for coverage?
    • Is weight loss surgery listed as an exclusion? If so, determine if you are going to proceed with the surgery and be a self-pay patient or explore financing options through Care Credit or your bank. Please note that any financing is between you as the patient and the financing company/bank.

If you know that your insurance company covers weight loss surgery, or if you will be a self-pay patient, request the night of the information session to set up your initial appointment with Self Regional Healthcare’s Bariatric Nurse Coordinator, or you may contact the Bariatric Nurse Coordinator later by calling 864-725-7051. While you are waiting for your appointment, complete Steps 4 & 5.

  • Step 4 Complete medical history form (which will be mailed to you from the hospital once your appointment is scheduled).
  • Step 5 Gather all documentation pertaining to any medical problems from your primary care physician or any other physician actively treating you at this time which are caused by your severe or morbid obesity (high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, arthritis, high cholesterol, heart disease, shortness of breath, stress incontinence, etc.) from your primary care physician or any other physician actively treating you at this time. Please have copies of this information for your meeting with the Bariatric Nurse Coordinator. Some insurance companies require documentation of previous attempts at weight loss (some require this to be physician-supervised). Gather any documentation from any weight loss program you have tried in the past (i.e., Weight Watchers, SLIC, Healthy Weigh, Carolina Medical Weight Management, The Bariatric Clinic, a physician, etc.) and bring this with you to your appointment with the Bariatric Nurse Coordinator.
  • Step 6 Meet with the Bariatric Nurse Coordinator. Please plan to meet for 1 – 1 ½ hours. Appointments for the Nutritional Consultation, Psychological Evaluation, the Exercise Fundamentals Program and History & Physical will be scheduled. Also during this appointment, your medical documentation will be reviewed, your current height, weight and BMI will be recorded and an overview of the surgeries will be discussed. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions or discuss your concerns.
  • Step 7 Once all appointments are completed and paperwork is received, that information, along with the medical records you gathered are reviewed by the Bariatric Outreach Coordinator at Premier Surgical Services PA. If you are relying on insurance to pay for your surgery, this information is submitted to your insurance company with an accompanying letter of Medical Necessity generated by Dr. Rapp. If you are a self pay patient and your records are acceptable, you will be scheduled for the first available consultation appointment with Dr. Rapp.
  • Step 8 While you are awaiting approval from your insurance company or waiting for an appointment with Dr. Rapp, you are welcome to attend a Weight Loss Surgery patient Support Group. These meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at the Optimum Life Center in Classrooms A & B. Call 864-725-7051 to confirm the schedule and discussion topics.
  • Step 9 Once insurance approves you for surgery, you will be given an appointment to see Dr. Rapp. If you are denied by insurance, you will have the opportunity to begin an appeal process or determine if you would like to proceed as a self pay patient.
  • Step 10 At your appointment with Dr. Rapp, he will discuss in-depth your surgery
    along with risks and benefits of surgery. You will meet with the surgical
    scheduler and she will be setting up the following appointments for you:
    • Surgery Date
    • Pre-op Date: this is required for all patients prior to any type of
      surgery. This is a pre-op interview with a nurse at the hospital. They
      will be doing necessary lab work, x-rays, EKG, etc. prior to surgery. They will
      also discuss anesthesia with you at this time.
    • Gastric Band patients will be scheduled for an Upper Endoscopy prior to surgery.
    • Gastric Bypass patients will be scheduled for an Upper Endoscopy and Colonoscopy prior to surgery.

You will also be scheduled for a pre-op appointment with the bariatric coordinator and the nutritionist at the hospital.

  • Step 11 At your pre-op appointment with the bariatric coordinator and the nutritionist, you should expect to spend an hour going over your bariatric handbook and
    your pre-op liquid diet.
  • Step 12 Gastric Band patients should expect to spend one night in the hospital
    after surgery and Gastric Bypass patients should expect to be there for a
    few days after surgery.
  • Step 13 You will be required to keep all of your scheduled follow-up appointments
    after surgery. It is very important to be followed by a physician for the rest
    of your life after having bariatric surgery.

While your road to surgery may seem very long and frustrating at times, it is important for you to understand how vital each step is in your ultimate success after surgery. At Premier Surgical Services, your health and safety are our primary concerns. By being dedicated to completing all the steps in the process, before you know it, you will be on your way to a healthier, longer life.

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