Whether you undergo Lap-Band placement or gastric bypass surgery or you simply enroll into our weight loss program, you can lose substantial weight.  If you decide that weight loss surgery is right for you, please review these program requirements.  The first step is to attend a free seminar that will review in detail, the comparisons between gastric banding and gastric bypass procedures, and the risks and benefits.  At our seminar, you will meet Dr. Patel or Dr. Adeyeri (depending on which seminar you attend), who will be your presenter.  This seminar has limited seating and you must register prior to attendance.  Once you attend our seminar, and you choose to enroll into the program, you must meet all requirements outlined below, before you will be considered eligible for submission to your insurance company for approval of  surgery for weight loss. 

 After enrolling into our program, you will be required to:

• Verify your benefits with your insurance company
• Attend support group for 6 consecutive months
• Be seen by Dr. Patel or Dr. Adeyeri at least twice prior to your surgery
• Undergo all pre-operative testing (this will be determined by your surgeon on your 1st visit with him)
• Sign a written consent for surgery
• Take a Lap-Band test prior to surgery
• Quit smoking (testing is performed to check this, smokers must quit at least 6 weeks before surgery)
• Have a BMI not greater than 59, and not less than 35-with life threatening co-morbidities

If your BMI is 60 or greater, you may still enroll into our program however, you must lose weight to bring your BMI down to 59 or less, prior to being eligible for Lap-Band surgery.  Anyone whose BMI is 35-39 must have life threatening obesity related illnesses such as Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Sleep Apnea, High Cholesterol, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver, Osteoarthritis, Hyperlipidemia, or Clinically diagnosed Depression in order to be eligible for Lap-Band surgery. 

If your BMI is less than 35, you will not qualify for Lap-Band surgery, but you may still enroll into our program for non-surgical treatment of obesity.