Wednesday, February 25, 2009

What Qualifies Obese Individuals for LapBand Surgery

By Jason King

An accepted form of treatment for obesity is lap band surgery. It is not a simple fix, and it is not for those who just need to shed a few pounds.Need to have their insurance company pay for all or part of the cost and there are strict requirements for those who wish to become a candidate for lap band surgery. To safeguard the general public from attempting drastic measures, these requirements were developed by the NHI, National Institutes for Health in the 1990's.

Like most stomach surgery, lap band surgery is just as risky. When a person fulfills the criteria set for such a procedure the advantages are considered as more important than the risks involved.

A BMI of [number] or in excess of [number] is required for candidates of lap band surgery. (body mass index) A minimum of thirty-five to thirty-nine. Morbid obesity is a condition which has far-reaching health implications that are extremely dangerous.

However this is not enough in and of itself to be considered a candidate for lap band surgery. You must also have obesity related health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or cholesterol problems, if your BML is between 35 and 39. Simply having a BMI over 40 is adequate justification for surgery, even in the absence of other conditions.

Lap band surgery is an expensive procedure and the above requirements are used by insurance companies who will pay for weight loss surgery under certain circumstances in order to determine whether or not to pay for the procedure. Some insurance companies will, by their terms of service, refuse to pay for any weight loss surgery regardless of compliance to the NHI standards. If you do not meet the above requirements it is still possible to obtain the surgery if you choose to pay for it yourself.

Deciding to go it alone and pay for the procedure out of your own pocket is a huge decision. The NHI standards were formulated to ascertain genuine medical need. With major surgery you must meet criteria otherwise the dangers outweigh benefits. - 15683

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