How do I qualify for weight loss surgery?
To qualify for a Lap-Band or a Gastric Bypass, you must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 or greater.  This can be calculated using the BMI calculator.

Do I have to be rich to get weight loss surgery?
No, not at all! Most insurance companies pay for these procedures.

What insurances do you take?
Although Dr. Mehta is non-par, most insurance companies cover the cost of the surgery including hospitalization, anesthesia, and part of Dr. Mehta’s fee as long as you have out-of-network benefits.

Do you take Medicare or Medicaid?
Yes to Medicare. No to Medicaid.

How do I get my insurance company to approve this surgery?
You don’t have to.  Our office handles all the phone calls and the paper work required to get approval.

How long does the Lap-Band procedure take to perform?
About 40 minutes.

How long is the hospitalization for Lap Band?
Most people go home the same day

How painful is the lap-band surgery?
There is mild discomfort from the lap-band procedure.  It’s performed under general anesthesia, and I numb up the incisions and the surrounding muscles before you wake up.  Most people go home with a narcotic, usually oxycontin, which is all they need.

When can I return to work after the Lap-Band procedure?
Most people go back to work within 3-4 days.  Heavy lifting work will require more time.

How long is the hospitalization for Gastric Bypass?
2 nights

How painful is the Gastric-bypass surgery?
This procedure has improved over the last several years and the pain associated with it has also decreased.  It’s performed laparoscopically, so you will not have the pain of a large incision.  There will be several small incisions instead.   The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and the incisions are numbed up with a local anesthetic before you wake up.  Additionally, I use an automatic pain pump which continuously injects a low dose of morphine into your incisions. 

This significantly reduces pain following surgery, making the patients fairly comfortable.  In addition I also use a Patient Controlled Anesthesia pump (PCA) which leaves the patient with a button in their hand that they can press to deliver morphine directly into their vein.  Not to worry; this pump is automatically regulated so you cannot overdose.  I leave these pumps in until the patient is ready to go home in 2 days.  Then they get oxycontin tablets. 

When can I return to work after Gastric Bypass?
Most people go back to work within 2 weeks.  Heavy lifting work will require more time.

Do I need to have a previous Gastric Bypass to have the StomaphyX Procedure?
Yes.  StomaphyX cannot be performed on people who have not had a previous Gastric Bypass.

How much weight can I lose from the StomaphyX procedure?
Generally, patients can lose from 20-40 lbs from the procedure

How long is the hospitalization for StomaphyX?
Most people go home the same day

When can I return to work after StomaphyX?
Most people go back within 2 days

Does Insurance pay for tummy-tucks (abdominoplasty)?
Yes, insurance companies usually cover abdominoplasty if it’s causing a skin rash or is restricting normal daily activity.

How long is the hospitalization after a tummy-tuck?
Usually 1 night.

How do I get started on the process?
The easiest thing to do is to call my office for an appointment.  Feel free to ask my office manager, Lulu, any insurance related questions you may have.  She is very knowledgeable in this field. 

What do I need to do before seeing you for a consult?
Nothing at all.  People often waste many months going to see certain specialists or getting certain testing that they think they need.  Since I treat everyone as an individual patient, no standard tests are required for all newcomers.  During our first meeting, we go over your medical and surgical history, your concerns, goals, and so on.  Then we decide on what testing is needed.  Some people need very little pre-operative tests since they are healthier than others. 

Is a 6 month diet program required by insurance companies?
Cigna, Aetna, United Healthcare and Blue Cross- Blue Shield require a “6 month medically supervised diet program.”  Oxford does NOT require this.  If you have another insurance, you can call our office and find out.

The 6 month diet program entails going to a doctor once a month for 6 months and having him/her specifically help you lose weight using diet and exercise regimen.  Some companies do not require this.  We offer this program in the office, and can often do some follow-ups over the phone.   I also highly recommend that you do this program at our office since we have a 100% approval rate for surgery if you do the 6 month program here. 

I’ve had patients who have done this with their primary medical doctors and have gotten refusals from the insurance company, only to have it repeated for another 6 months at my office.  This is only because they are very specific on what they are looking for from the doctors running this program. If even a month is skipped, or notes not properly documented, they can refuse to approve the surgery.  Insurance companies also continue to change their guidelines, and we continue to adapt to them. Just play it safe, and do it here.

Can I do the 6 month diet program with a dietician?
Only if the dietician is working with a doctor.  You will need to see them both monthly and the program has to be used in conjunction with an exercise regimen.

Does Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig’s count towards this 6 month diet program?
No.  No program that is done without the supervision of a doctor is considered adequate by most insurance companies.