How do your patients decide which weight-loss surgery is right for them?

People chose a specific weight-loss surgery for various reasons:

• How much weight they want to lose is an important factor
• Also, their health problems going into surgery can affect their choice
• Insurance coverage also weighs into the decision.

How I reached my weight loss surgery procedure decision:
 

When I had my first procedure — gastric band surgery — I was single, really wanted to get married and have a baby – and that was my top priority.

Gastric band surgery is safest for future pregnancies. That’s not to say that gastric sleeve and gastric bypass are not safe – and yes, you can have healthy babies after those procedures. But the band is probably a little bit safer.

Diabetes can play a big role in the decision.

If you’ve had diabetes less than five years, we know that both the sleeve and bypass will help with diabetes, but the bypass has a better chance of getting your blood sugar under control and getting you off all your medications.

If had you’ve had diabetes for 10-plus years, however, it is unlikely that surgery will completely get you off medications – but the weight loss will improve your blood sugar control, so it’s still certainly worthwhile.

Acid reflux is another issue that patients face. If your acid reflux is severe, and one of the goals of surgery is to reduce acid reflux, gastric bypass surgery is a better option than the sleeve.

Might you want to reverse it someday?

For some people, there’s another big issue. Can the surgery be reversed or not?

The sleeve is not reversible. We remove part of the stomach, and we can’t give it back.

If you’re not willing to consider that fact, the gastric sleeve is off the table — as well as variations of the sleeve.

I chose the sleeve, in part so I could be pregnant in the future.

For my second surgery, I wanted the safest operation — and the sleeve is a safer operation for future pregnancy. There is also less risk of long-term vitamin and nutritional deficiencies. Because I did not have heartburn and reflux, this was the perfect option for me. The fact that the surgery could not be reversed did not matter to me. I felt very comfortable with my decision.

These proved to be the right choices for me, I’m happy to report. I had a perfectly normal pregnancy and delivery with a lap band, and have had no nutritional problems.

Lacking insurance to cover the procedure? So did I.

Regarding insurance coverage, my insurance would not cover my surgeries, so I paid for them myself. I wrote here about why I decided the procedure was worth the money. You might be in a similar situation.

We suggest contacting your insurance company directly to find out what coverage your insurance plan allows. Once you have all the facts, you can make the right decision for your specific situation.

Whatever your circumstances, we can help you sort through which type of weight loss surgery is the best option for your life and goals.

Is it time to schedule an appointment to discuss bariatric surgery? We look forward to meeting you and helping you on your weight loss journey.