Obesity in America
Posts tagged Bypass Surgery
The Cost of Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Sep 3rd
Gastric sleeve costs can become extremely high and virtually out of reach for many people. Because this surgery is fairly new many insurance companies will not cover the costs of the surgery. Some insurance companies are now picking up a percentage of the cost as they see the benefits of the surgery. With the average cost of gastric sleeve surgery reaching close to $10,000 and very few insurance companies covering at least part of the costs, many people who need the surgery for health related concerns cannot get the surgery.
Gastric Sleeve Surgery: Breakdown of Costs
Included in the cost of gastric sleeve surgery are:
Hospital fees Surgeon’s fees Anesthesia fees Pre-op lab work X-ray fees Fees for any follow-up appointmentsCosts not included in the initial fee include:
Post-surgery care such as vitamins and supplements, behavior modification, exercise, and diet counseling. Other types of bariatric surgery that may be needed such as duodenal switch and gastric bypass surgery Body contouring surgery for the removal of excess skin, improving loose muscles, body lifts for saggy areas, or to treat any type of fat deposit. These types of surgery include a full body lift, breast lift, breast reduction, panniculectomy, breast augmentation, breast implants, or labiaplasty.With any follow-up surgeries, the more fat and skin that needs to be removed the higher the cost. This is due to longer surgical time and many more doctor visits.
The Factors that Affect the Cost of Gastric Sleeve Surgery
There are many factors that affect the cost of gastric sleeve surgery. Some of these factors include the following:
Depending on where you live the cost could be significantly higher. The cost for this surgery is much higher in urban areas and large cities such as Philadelphia and New York City as surgeons are in greater demand than in rural areas. Depending on your health plan, you may be required to cover all the costs associated with this surgery if they do not cover it. Cost also depends on whether you are using a surgeon or hospital that is considered and in-network provider with your insurance company if they are covering some of the costs. Cost will also depend on whether or not the procedure is done as an outpatient procedure or an inpatient procedure. Inpatient procedures will cost more as an overnight stay is required.If you need gastric sleeve surgery but cannot afford the costs of the surgery, talk to your surgeon about payment options. If your insurance company does not cover any portion of the cost of the surgery, sit down and figure out a payment plan that you can feasibly afford. When you meet with your surgeon, present this payment plan to him or her and find out if he or she can work with this plan. For individuals who need the surgery for health related concerns, obtaining some type of documentation from your doctor regarding the need for this surgery could be helpful. If you are able to get documentation from your doctor attempt to submit your written request along with documentation of need to your insurance company; this may work to your benefit where the insurance company could decide to pick up a percentage of the cost leaving you with a much lower amount to get the surgery that is needed to keep you healthy.
Using Good Nutrition to Recover From Bypass Surgery
Aug 17th
While any surgery that involves the human heart is considered very serious, bypass surgery is more common than ever before and is performed in several different ways. In a non-emergency situation, the surgeon will often opt for the surgical option that does not require an invasive procedure; however, there are situations when an open, more serious surgery is required. It is important to note that even when the least invasive bypass surgery options are planned, there are circumstances beyond the control of the surgeon that will force them into a more complicated procedure.
Whether your surgery is one that is planned for and expected or the result of a sudden worsening in your condition, it is important to concentrate on getting good nutrition after the surgery so that you recover as quickly and as fully as possible with few complications. To do this, you need a healthy diet that can help keep your immune system working well. You will need plenty of rest during those first few days, but you will have physical therapy, too.
What a Healthy Body Needs
Everyone knows that a healthy body needs a variety of foods from a range of food groups including vitamins, minerals, and the three macronutrients: protein, carbohydrates and fats. There are good and bad items within every food group, so it is important to read labels of all foods, as well as learn all that you can about proper nutrition for your body and your health.
A healthy body and one that is recovering from surgery need very different nutrition. A body that is healthy and working in the right way will not need as many calories as an unhealthy one. After surgery there are increased needs for nutrition, including the need for more protein and more healthy calories.
Everyone needs a different number of calories, meaning there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all eating plan. You determine the number of calories by seeing how much your body takes in to maintain its current weight and then adjusting upward to gain weight or down to lose weight. No matter how many calories you need to take in overall, they should be split into complex carbohydrates (50-60% of the diet), proteins (15-35% of the diet) and healthy fats (10-20% of the diet.) Examples of healthy carbohydrates include whole grain breads, rice and pasta. Healthy fats include olive oils, nuts and nut butters and cold water fish. The latter is also a healthy source of protein. Other sources of healthy protein include turkey (especially lean, skinless roasted turkey breast) and other poultry, dairy foods and soy.
Eating to Regain Your Health
If you know that you are going to have bypass surgery, you should discuss additional nutrition with your doctor so that you can start working on your health and strength for the long recovery that you face. Even with a minimally invasive procedure, you might find that you are stiff and sore when your surgery is completed. Before the surgeon allows you to leave the hospital, you will be given your after care instructions which will include what you are allowed to do and not to do, what you can lift, whether you can drive or not and what warning signs to look for.
Additionally, you will also be given suggestions for what to eat which might be light, mostly liquid meals when you first come home, especially if you were incubated during your bypass surgery. (This is standard procedure in many types of surgery). You will still need to get the right amount of calories into your daily diet so that you are keeping your strength. You will also need additional protein to help with your recovery.
Protein plays a role in the immune system’s function, which is vitally important during recovery from bypass surgery or any other surgery for that matter. Protein also helps the body heal the scars from the surgery. In addition, protein is needed to provide the energy and strength that the body needs to heal itself and to face a life time of renewed health and vitality. In times when the body does not have enough protein, it will turn to burning lean muscle mass for fuel which can cause additional trouble.
Dealing with a Lack of Appetite and Other Special Needs
After your surgery is completed, there is a possibility that you will not feel up to eating a whole lot at a time, which means that you might have to consider supplementing your nutritional intake during this time, working your way back up to full meals. If you have been sick for a long time before the surgery was performed, you may have been neglecting your health and nutrition for a very long time and your body will need time to get used to solid and healthy foods.
Using a protein supplement can be one of the best ways to help get the nutrition that you need and can be found in a number of different varieties.
