Frequently Asked Questions
Why surgery for the treatment of severe obesity?
“Only surgery has proven effective over the long term for most patients with clinically severe obesity.” – NIH Consensus Conference Statement, 1991
As
patients start to lose weight, they benefit from the easing of serious
health risks often associated with severe obesity, such as diabetes,
high blood pressure, sleep apnea and arthritis.
Who is eligible for Bariatric surgery?
Bariatric
surgery is appropriate for patients who are 100 pounds or more
overweight, and for those patients who have a Body Mass Index (BMI)
between 35 and 40. You will also have had to fail at other weight-loss
attempts, and may need physician proof of that failure.
Do I need a referral for surgery?
A
referral from your primary care physician is preferred. If your
doctor is involved, he can talk with the surgeon who may need additional
information about you and your health history.You do not need a
referral to visit the Benefis Bariatric Institute or to talk with the
Bariatric Nurse Coordinator. She is available to help you through the
entire process. Call her today at 406.455.2840. Or stop by the office at
400 13th Avenue South, Suite 106, in Great Falls.
How much does surgery cost?
Please talk with the Bariatric Nurse Coordinator. She can be reached at 406.455.2840.
Do you provide financial help for weight-loss surgery?
Benefis
does not offer payment plans and requires that a percentage of your
surgery cost be paid up front. The remainder is to be paid within 90
days.
Does my insurance company cover weight-loss surgery?
Each plan is different. Call your plan representative and ask if weight-loss surgery is covered under your insurance program.
What do I have to do to get the ball rolling?
Make
an appointment with your physician, the surgeon or the Benefis
Bariatric Institute, and go through the evaluation and consultation
process. This will provide you more information about what type of
weight-loss surgery is best for you, what you’ll need to do prior to
surgery, and what will be expected after your surgery is completed. Call
Benefis Bariatric Institute today at 406.455.2840 for more information.
After surgery, how long will I be in the hospital?
For
Gastric Bypass surgery you can expect a 2-3 day stay, barring any
complications. With Adjustable Lap Banding you may have just an
overnight stay.
How many days will I be off work?
This
depends on you, your job, how you’re feeling and what your surgeon
suggests. It could be as little as 2-3 days or as long as 3-6 weeks.
Where are the surgeries performed?
All weight-loss procedures are done at Benefis Hospitals East Campus, located at 1101 26th Street South, in Great Falls.
Is surgery painful?
Any
surgical procedure is painful and each person handles pain differently.
Benefis has pain pharmacists on hand to help control pain and are on
call 24/7 to help with this issue. Gastric Bypass is major surgery and
the pain level is greater than with the Adjustable Lap Banding
procedure.
Can I gain my weight back after having weight-loss surgery?
It
is possible to gain your weight back, but only if you don’t follow your
new lifestyle guidelines. If you work up to eating large amounts of
food or the wrong foods, you will gain weight. It’s important that you
stick to the commitment you made when beginning this journey.
Do you have patients that endorse your program?
We
have many patients who choose Benefis Bariatric Institute for their
care and who have been successful in their weight-loss journey. Click
below to view some of our patient testimonials.
Bariatric Testimonial 2011
Bariatric Testimonial #1
Bariatric Testimonial #2
Bariatric Testimonial #3