Weight Loss Surgery FAQ’s

Our caring medical team is here to answer your questions and assist you in any way we can. We recommend that you start by learning all you can about weight loss surgery by attending one of our free, informational weight loss monthly seminars at Sebastian River Medical Center in Indian River County. The next step is to set-up an appointment with Dr. Domkowski or Dr. Radecke. During your initial consultation, your surgeon will evaluate your medical condition and determine if you are a good candidate. The surgeons at Riverside Surgical and Weight Loss Center have successfully perfromed hundreds of bariatric surgeries.

Many of our patients chose either the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy or the laparoscopic gastric bypass. These are very safe operations and have a great long term weight loss profile. The metabolic benefits include resolution of type II diabetes, hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea.

How do I know if I qualify for weight loss surgery?

Weight loss surgery may be right for you if:

Your BMI is 30 or higher. (Use our BMI Calculator)
Your BMI is 30 or higher and also suffer from one or more health problems such as Type II Diabetes or Hypertension.
You have been overweight for more than 5 years.
Your serious attempts to lose weight have had only short-term success.
You do not have any other disease that may have caused your obesity.
You are prepared to make substantial changes in your eating habits and lifestyle.
You do not drink alcohol in excess.

We recommend that you set-up an appointment with one of our doctors for a consultation as soon as you have attended one of our free monthly seminars or webinars.

Will health insurance cover my bariatric surgery?

Many private insurance companies provide coverage for the laparoscopic gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy surgery. Some insurance companies require a 6 month physician supervised weight loss program prior to approving surgery. Our office will provide 6 months of consecutive monthly physician visits that address this requirement. Otherwise surgeries are approved after patients complete all necessary steps in our program. This includes a psychological and nutritional evaluation. Sometimes medical clearance is also needed prior to surgery.

Coverage depends on an individual’s policy. This in turn is determined by your employer. If you work for a medium to large size company encourage your employer or human resources department to have a bariatric benefit added to the insurance policy. Bariatric surgery positively benefits the health of a company.

How much does each operation cost if my insurance does not cover it?

Sebastian River Medical Center does offer private pay prices for patients without insurance coverage for bariatric surgery. Prices vary depending on the type of surgery you undergo, but all surgeries include 6 months of follow up visits with the bariatric surgeon. If additional testing or procedures are needed after surgery the price increases. Contact our office for more specific information on surgery pricing.

Which surgery is best for me?

People considering bariatric surgery have typically done a great deal of research prior to making a decision about which surgery to chose. In fact it has been estimated that the average person takes 2-3 years before making a decision for bariatric surgery. Therefore most patients have a pretty good idea which surgery they want when they come and see us in the office. Determining which operation will give you the best long term success depends on several factors. Initial BMI, goal BMI, existing comorbid disease such as a type II diabetes, hypertension, and fatty liver disease all influence which surgery is best for you. In addition, age and level of daily activity also influence which surgery to chose. We will go through all options with each patient. You and your bariatric surgeon will make the best decision together that will give you the long term success both from a health and weight loss perspective.

How long does it take for me to recovery from bariatric surgery?

It depends in part which surgery you undergo. Patients undergoing the lap sleeve or gastric bypass typically are in the hospital 2 days and are fully recovered within three weeks.

What if you have already had bariatric surgery?

All patients that have already had bariatric surgery should be following up long term with a bariatric surgery center. Whether you had the gastric bypass ten years ago or a similar surgery, you really need follow up. This helps optimize long term success and monitor important nutritional and mineral levels in your body. Dr. Domkowski, Dr. Radecke and Dr. Stone are happy to see patients that have had their bariatric surgery somewhere else and need follow up. call our office today and schedule an appt.

Riverside Surgical & Weight Loss Center, llc