Many of the health insurance companies and plans which do cover part or all of the costs of Lap Band surgery will only do so if it is determined that this procedure is medically necessary. If you meet the national guidelines for being morbidly obese then this surgery is generally considered medically necessary, because without this intervention the obesity will lead to medical problems and premature death. If you are covered by a plan that does pay for this type of bariatric surgery you may find that only part of the total expense is actually covered by your health insurance. The insurance company may only pay a certain percentage, or only cover some of the specific costs involved.

If you have coverage that will pay for part or all of your Lap Band surgery costs there are still some steps that you must take so that your plan actually pays the bill. Almost every insurance company that will pay for this type of expense requires prior authorization before this surgery can be performed. You may also be required to turn in a Letter of Medical Necessity which is completed by your physician, showing why this surgery is medically necessary and should be covered.

The first thing you should do to see if your health insurance will cover any of the cost fro your Lap Band surgery is to examine your policy closely. There is a section which should list all of the expenses that the plan will cover, and also a section which lists those expenses and treatments that the plan will not pay for. Look for any listing that discusses obesity treatments, weight control, or bariatric procedures. If your plan will not pay for this type of surgery then other payment arrangements may be possible. Some centers will allow payment arrangements, while others may provide information about medical loans.

Once you have had Lap Band surgery and start to lose the extra weight your fertility will usually increase. The weight loss allows your hormones to regulate normally, and you may start to notice that your menstrual cycle occurs more regularly. During pregnancy it is important that the baby receives proper nutrition, and the Lap Band technique allows this. As soon as you realize that you are pregnant discuss this fact with your physician. It is normally recommended that your band be deflated as soon as possible after conception, so that you can eat a well balanced diet and ensure that the proper nutrients are being supplied to the baby. Your doctor may also recommend changes in your diet, to prevent empty calories and excess weight gain while ensuring that all the needed nutrients are included.

The Lap Band should be deflated at the beginning of your pregnancy because three small meals a day is not usually sufficient to support all of the nutritional needs of the fetus. As long as you continue to eat healthy, and minimize fats and sugars in your diet, then any weight gain during your pregnancy should be small, and easy to eliminate after the baby is born. Vitamin and mineral supplements may also be prescribed to help with proper nutrition.

Once you have reached fourteen weeks in your pregnancy then your physician may recommend inflating the band again, to prevent excessive weight gain that could cause complications during your pregnancy and the birth of the baby. This is usually done if you have gained too much weight by this point in your pregnancy. If the band is inflated again then your doctor will closely monitor your nutrition to make sure you are getting enough of all the required nutrients. The band will be deflated again when you have reached thirty six weeks, and this is done to avoid any complications during labor and delivery. After the birth the band can be inflated again and you can continue with your weight loss efforts.

Gastric bypass surgery requires intestinal rerouting, which is very invasive and can have serious complications, with a much longer recovery time and increased pain after surgery. In addition large scars can result, and the surgery can take a couple of hours. In contrast Lap Band surgery takes around one hour and is minimally invasive. Any scars are small and barely visible, and there is only small incisions created. There is less trauma and less pain, and your recovery time is much shorter. No intestinal rerouting is required, and your hospital stay will normally be less than twenty four hours. With gastric bypass surgery you may need to spend days in the hospital before you can go home.

The dietary recommendations and restrictions are very similar after both types of bariatric surgery. The calorie intake level is set at eight hundred calories a day, and snacking is discouraged with both treatments. Foods rich in protein are recommended, and carbonated beverages should be completely eliminated and avoided. With gastric bypass surgery consuming sugars and fats can cause dumping syndrome, and with Lap Band surgery these foods should be avoided but there are no physical symptoms from consuming them.

Recovering from Lap Band surgery usually means missing a week of work, and a complete recovery period of around six weeks. If you have gastric bypass surgery then you will need to miss between two and three weeks from work, and it will take around three months for you to fully recover from your operation. Lap Band surgery also does not carry the same complication risks as gastric bypass, because Lap Band is a much simpler operation. Gastric bypass surgery can cause a bowel obstruction or other complications caused by the intestinal rerouting. Lap Band is considered a less invasive and better option by many patients, because of the many advantages and far fewer risks and drawbacks of this operation when compared to gastric bypass surgery.

One of the serious complications of Lap Band surgery is excessive or rapid weight loss that occurs too quickly to be safe. Malnutrition can cause this condition, and this is a lack of proper nutrition. If you start to see the weight just dropping off very rapidly then there could be a serious underlying complication that needs to be addressed. Malnutrition from a diet that is too restricted can result in the loss of your hair, organ damage or failure, and even death if the condition persists for an extended time. Your weight loss should be steady, and should occur at a safe pace. If you are concerned about how much weight you are losing you should discuss this with your doctor.

Vomiting may be another symptom of a serious complication after Lap Band surgery, and this can be caused by a number of different things. Sometimes overeating can cause vomiting, because the small pouch can not contain all of the food consumed. Vomiting can also be the result of the band slipping or the band not being placed properly. If these complications occur you will normally experience frequent vomiting, and you may notice that the contents contain some blood. If this happens contact your doctor immediately for medical advice.

Other serious complications that may happen when you have Lap Band surgery can include abdominal pain or cramping that may become severe, constipation which is severe or becomes chronic, or problems swallowing. Abdominal pain can be caused by a number of complications, including a perforated organ or other tissues as well as an infection. A poorly placed band may cause pain or constipation. Difficulty swallowing may indicate that your esophagus is inflamed, swollen, or irritated. All of these symptoms should be evaluated by your physician, to rule out any serious problems and treat both the symptoms and the underlying cause. If you are unsure whether a symptom is serious or not it is always better to check with the doctor, because any complications that are left untreated can become life threatening.

Foods which contain a lot of sugar should be avoided, because these are high in calories and have few nutrients. This includes jams, jellies, candy, honey, cake, and any other food that is sweet and contains large amounts of sugar. Foods high in fat should also be eliminated completely, or at least minimized as much as possible. This can include high fat foods that have a lot of sugar or none at all. Some common foods to avoid include ice cream, chocolate, pastries, potato chips, all fried foods, bacon, sausage, ham, and any sauces or soups that contain cream. Drinks and snacks which are high calorie are also a no no after you have Lap Band surgery.

Dietary restrictions also include foods which are high in starch or that contain a lot of white flour. This means that you should avoid white breads and rice, potatoes, pasta, and similar foods. Foods which are highly fibrous should also be avoided, because these foods may become lodged in the pouch and cause complications including infections. These foods include celery, sweet potatoes, corn, asparagus, most dried fruits, pineapples, and other foods of this type. There are also certain other foods which may pose a hazard of getting stuck, and these can include seeds, nuts, popcorn, and meats which are tough to digest including hamburger, steaks, and many cuts of pork.

Alcohol is one of the dietary restrictions after you have had Lap Band surgery. Alcoholic drinks contain empty calories, and also breaks down vitamins and other nutrients in your system. Most physicians will allow a small amount of alcohol on infrequent special occasions, but there are some considerations that you should remember if you do decide to have that infrequent drink. Choose what you drink carefully, and avoid beer and champagne as well as other carbonated choices. Because you can not drink within one hour of eating your meals this will cause you to consume alcohol on an empty stomach. This can have a big effect on your tolerance, and you should limit yourself to a single drink. Snacking is not recommended after Lap Band surgery, and you should limit yourself to three small meals each day only.