Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does the band work?
2. How long are you in the hospital?
3. How heavy do you have to be?
4. How do you know if you're a candidate?
5. What is the diet program like?
6. How much weight can you lose with this procedure?
7. What are the risk and complications of the procedure?
8. Can the band be removed?
9. How is the band adjusted?
10. When should I expect the first band adjustment?
11. How to start the insurance paperwork process?
12. What Insurance do you take?

Question: How does the band work?
Answer: It creates a small pouch which can hold only a small amount of food and makes you feel full longer.

Question: How long are you in the hospital?
Answer: It's an outpatient procedure so you will be discharged the same day.

Question: How heavy do you have to be?
Answer: At least 75 pounds more than your ideal weight.

Question: How do you know if you're a candidate?
Answer: You must be 18 years or older, or be at least 75 pounds over your ideal body weight. You have been overweight for 5 years and you have only short-term success with serious attempts to lose weight.

Question: What is the diet program like?
Answer: You will be on liquids for the first 5-10 days, advancing to soft regular foods from 10-14 days, then once eating, we strongly recommend the South Beach Diet, Phase III.

Question: How much weight can you lose with this procedure?
Answer: The average weight lost is 1-2 pounds a week or 6-8 pounds per month.

Question: What are the risk and complications of the procedure?
Answer: There could be complications with placement, movement, infection, or leakage of the band. Some patients experience more nausea and vomiting than others.

Question: Can the band be removed?
Answer: It's a permanent device and not meant to be removed.

Question: How is the band adjusted?
Answer: It is adjusted be injecting fluid into the port or removing fluid from it.

Question: When should I expect the first band adjustment?
Answer: The first adjustment is 3 months after surgery, the second is 1 month after that, and the third is 2 months after the second adjustment.

Question: How to start the insurance paperwork process?
Answer: fill out the application linked at the top of this page and someone from our office will give you a call.

Question: What Insurance do you take?
Answer: We accept most insurances such as United Healthcare, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Unicare, First Health, Beech Street, PHCS, Definity Health.