General Questions

• How quickly can I get to surgery?

  You can undergo your procedure within two to three weeks of your insurance company acknowledging coverage or within ten days to two weeks of your initial consult if you are self-paying.

  
  
• Why do I need psychological testing?

  Some insurance companies require psychological testing; moreover, it is also a standard of care set by the American Society of Bariatric Surgery. We want to ensure that patients will be able to adjust to the lifestyle changes necessary after weight loss surgery. If test results show that a patient is not likely to be a good candidate for weight loss surgery, we would not proceed with treatment. Weight loss surgery should not be performed on patients who have a higher risk of jeopardizing their health or success after surgery by not following exercise and diet guidelines.

  Please contact our weight loss practice in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, for further information, or visit our Life after Surgery page to learn about post-bariatric nutrition and exercise.

  
  
• How long does the procedure take?

  Bariatric surgery with the LAP-BAND® System or the REALIZE® Adjustable Gastric Band usually takes less than an hour, gastric sleeve surgery takes about one hour and gastric bypass surgery is usually performed in one and a half to two hours.

  
  
• How do I get my pre-operative testing set up?

  Your Program Coordinator will either give you a list of tests or set those tests up for you.

  
  
• Must I attend a support group if I live out of town?

  No, but it would be to your advantage to find one near you or contact our support group leader for an online group. Studies show patients who attend support groups lose 33% more weight than patients who do not attend. We strongly recommend it!

  
  
• Who do I contact if I get sick while in medical workup?

  Contact your physician as you normally would.

  
  
• Why do I have to lose weight prior to surgery?

  The first few pounds come right off the liver, which enables the surgeon to manipulate the surgical instruments more easily and quickly, which in turn keeps the patient under anesthesia for a shorter amount of time.

  
  
• If I already have an Adjustable Gastric Band, will South Mississippi Surgical Weight Loss Center make adjustments?

  Yes, South Mississippi Surgical Weight Loss Center will allow patients to join the South Mississippi Surgical Weight Loss Center bariatric program for a fee of $1,950.00. Attending one of our Information Sessions is also a must!

  This fee includes:

  • Initial consultative visit at no charge
  • Educational manual
  • Online Educational Module (by prescription only)
  • One year of Lap Band Adjustments
  • Access to your chart online
  • Support Group meetings

  After the first year, should you require an adjustment, the cost is $250.00 per visit. You are required to attend an info session prior to joining the South Mississippi Surgical Weight Loss Center program.

  
  
• How long will it take to recover from bariatric surgery?

  From Gastric Bypass it takes 1 to 3 weeks, Gastric Sleeve takes 1 to 2 weeks and from the Adjustable Gastric Band it takes 4 days to one week.

  
  
• Contact our weight loss practice in Ocean Springs, Mississippi

  We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you in person at an info session and address any questions you have about weight loss surgery. Contact our practice in Ocean Springs, Mississippi today.

  
  

Contact South Mississippi Surgical Weight Loss Center today if you live near Ocean Springs, Mississippi and are considering bariatric surgery. We will be happy to schedule you for one of our info sessions.

* indicates a required field



Message

* Please type the letters as shown