Free Information Seminar
We conduct regularly scheduled seminars reviewing the entire bariatric surgery program which are free and open to anyone.
Prospective patients are encouraged to reserve a seat at one of these seminars as an initial step in their bariatric surgery journey.
These sessions are also valuable for patient’s spouses or other family members interested in assisting and supporting the patient in the process.
The seminars are offered in our office and pre-registration is strongly encouraged as space is limited. Reserve your place at an upcoming seminar by calling our office,
or click here to register online.
To Start Your Application Process
Patient Education
The decision to undergo bariatric surgery should not be made without a thorough understanding of the disease of morbid obesity,
the surgical options, and the risks and benefits of each option. At the Surgical Clinic of Louisiana Bariatric Surgery Center,
we are committed to helping you achieve success in your weight loss journey, and that journey begins with education.
Thorough knowledge of the diet and lifestyle changes is in many ways more important than the surgical procedure itself.
Our bariatric nurse coordinators are specially trained to guide you through the learning path and keep you on track after your surgery.
Our computerized patient education tools and bariatric nutritionist are additional resources for your success.
Payment Options & Insurance
Surgical Clinic of Louisiana Bariatric Surgery Center is currently contracted with the following insurance companies which often cover bariatric surgery:
- United Healthcare
- Cigna
- Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- Coventry
- Humana
- State Group
- Aetna
If your insurance provider is not listed above, please contact our office. Though we may not be contracted you perhaps have out of network benefits and are still able to proceed.
Health Insurance
Many insurance carriers now offer a benefit for weight loss surgery procedures, but the coverage may vary based on your plan.
For instance, they may cover the Gastric Bypass but not the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band procedure.
Determining what your particular policy will or will not cover is the first step.
Contact your insurance carriers' member services by calling the number listed on your insurance card.
If the member services number is not listed, contact the person at work who manages your insurance policy for that information.
The following are questions that you need to ask your insurance carrier before you submit your new patient packet if you plan to pay through insurance:
1. Do I have a benefit for weight loss surgery?
- If "Yes"...Your Insurance Carrier Provides Coverage If your insurance carrier covers weight loss surgery, ask them what procedures they will cover and what the criteria is for using your benefit. Use this information to determine whether you qualify for coverage. Some carriers will tell you this information can only be given to the medical provider, your doctor. This is not true. As a premium-paying policyholder, you have a legal right to know what is required to utilize your benefits.
- If "No"...Your Insurance Carrier Does Not Provide Coverage In this case, you do not have a benefit and your insurance company will not pay for any procedure. This means that when your employer selected an insurance company and a specific plan with specific benefits to provide health insurance to the employees, they did not choose to pay for, and include, weight loss surgery as a benefit in the overall plan. If you want the procedure, you will need to consider patient financing or paying cash as other options.
Other Payment Options - Cash and Financing
Unfortunately more and more people are finding it difficult or even impossible to use their health insurance to pay or help pay for weight loss surgery.
For those looking to pay cash or finance their surgery,we offer an all inclusive package at a very competitive price.
Cash/Credit Card Options:
As a patient paying cash or by credit card, the good news is you don't need to provide us with any kind of authorization. If this is an option for you, please contact coordinators at
bariatricscla@aol.com
or call our office at 504-349-6860 for more information.
- We accept most major credit cards.
- Patient Financing:
Your personal bank, your Mortgage Company and now even online Internet financing companies
can provide you with a good alternative to using your savings to pay for surgery.
There are a number of national and local companies who will work with us to arrange financing
- Your personal bank, your Mortgage Company and now even online Internet financing companies can provide you with a good alternative
to using your savings to pay for surgery. There are a number of national and local companies who will work with us to arrange financing.
,
- Our surgeons perform bariatric surgery at a number of locations. Click here to review our facilities.
To get a quote on the costs involved for your surgery, contact our nurse coordinators at bariatricscla@aol.com
or call our office at 504-349-6860.
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Surgery Preparation
Medical Evaluation
Morbid obesity is a complex disease, and as such, managing this disease requires the knowledge and expertise of a team of medical professionals.
Your primary care physician is the first member of this team, and will provide us with details and information which will be essential in developing
your bariatric surgery treatment plan. In cooperation with your physician, our surgeons and nurse coordinators will discuss your medical history, medications,
allergies, disabilities, and other important medical issues in detail. As a result of those discussions, additional testing and medical evaluations may be recommended before surgery.
Appropriate consultations with other specialists may be included in your preoperative assessment, and will be organized for you by our staff.
Nutritional counseling
Prior to surgery, every patient undergoes extensive nutritional assessment and counseling by our nurse coordinators, nutritionists, and dieticians.
A detailed pre-surgery diet plan will provided, and regular reassessments will monitor your progress. The preoperative diet plan is specifically designed to prepare your body’s
metabolism for the postoperative phase of weight loss, and to optimize conditions inside your abdomen to facilitate the operation.
Most patients will experience significant weight loss during this period
Sleep diagnostics
 One of the common co-morbidities of obesity is a condition called sleep apnea.
In this condition, patients experience temporary breathing interruptions during sleep. The pauses in breathing can occur dozens or even hundreds of times a night.
Symptoms include loud snoring and a gasping or snorting sound when the sleeping individual starts to breathe again. Although the individual may not be aware of having sleep apnea,
the condition can disrupt the quality of sleep and result in daytime fatigue. The most common type, obstructive sleep apnea, occurs when the tongue or other soft tissue blocks the airway.
Treatments include breathing devices that keep the airway open during sleep, and surgery that reduces the amount of soft tissue near the airway. Morbidly obese patients commonly suffer from sleep apnea,
and many patients are aware of this diagnosis before beginning pursuit of bariatric surgery. During your initial evaluation by our coordinators, any indications of possible sleep disorders will be uncovered.
Testing may be recommended prior to surgery, and can be arranged by our office staff. The sleep center at West Jefferson Medical Center provides this testing, which is generally covered by insurance.
Sleep Disorders
The Sleep Center is a comprehensive facility dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of various sleep and wake disorders.
Pre-operative and/or post-operative Referrals are made to the Center upon referral from your surgeon according to physician assessment and patient history.
The West Jefferson Medical Center Sleep Disorders Center is located at the West Jefferson Medical Plaza, 4527 Westbank Expressway in Marrero, LA. Call (504) 349-6966 for more information.
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Surgery
Final preparations for your surgery include an extensive consultation with our surgeons. During this visit, detailed discussions will be important in deciding which surgical option best you and your needs.
Operations currently offered include Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band (LapBand), and Laparoscopic Roux en Y Gastric Bypass.
Click here to review these surgical options.
LapBand procedures may be performed at any of our facilities. Click here to review these options at one of our facilities.
Most patients are discharged on the afternoon of surgery.
Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric patients:
Drinking with meals will not allow food to stay in the upper - banded part of your stomach. It will wash the food through to the lower part of your stomach, which will allow you to eat more,
and feel hungry quickly.
Bariatric Surgery Process:
Individuals considering bariatric surgery attend an educational seminar where surgical weight loss options are presented and discussed. A detailed patient packet inclusive of weight history, medical diagnosis, and insurance information is completed. After the verification of insurance coverage and benefits, if insurance criteria for bariatric surgery are met, the application is submitted for approval.
Upon approval, the patient is scheduled for pre-op surgical and nutritional instruction; the patient is placed on a diet to encourage weight loss pre-operatively. Approximately 2 – 4 weeks later the patient will return for evaluation and to meet with the surgeon. After physician assessment and completion of any pre-op testing ordered the surgery date is scheduled.
Post op and after care
Prior to your surgery date, our nurse coordinators will provide you with a treatment pathway binder, and review its contents in detail.
This extensive resource will serve as your guide to every facet of your postoperative experience. Included in this package is detailed information about diet, exercise, medications, wound care,
follow up visits, and more. Our post operative care and support is second to none. Our coordinators, dieticians, support groups are there every step of the way and your surgeon will see you every time you come in.
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Free Information Seminar
Patient Education
Payment Options & Insurance
Surgery Preparation
Surgery
Post op and after care
To Start Your Application Process
Contact Us
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