Frequently Asked Questions

• Will Bariatric Surgery work for me?
• Will my insurance cover the surgery?
• Can I start the process before I attend a seminar?
• Will I need skin reduction surgery?
• Will I have gallstone complications?
• How long will I be in the hospital?
• How long will I be out of work?
• What happens to the old stomach after the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass?
• Can I become pregnant after weight loss surgery?

Will Bariatric Surgery work for me?

Many patients unspoken fear is that they will fail with surgery because nothing they have tried has provided lasting weight loss or because they know someone who failed. Our experience at the New Life Center is that 100% of the patients are successful when the patient is committed to making the lifestyle changes taught and reinforced in the program. We invite you to read some of our patient’s stories and our results.

Will my insurance cover the surgery?

Some employers understand the importance of their employee’s health and have elected to cover Weight Loss Surgery. The best way to find out if you have coverage is to call the customer service number on the back of your card and ask “Do I have coverage for Weight Loss Surgery?” If your insurance does not cover your procedure, the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery has worked diligently on your behalf. We have negotiated the lowest rates in East Tennessee and include BLISS insurance that will cover the cost of the most common complications should they occur.

Can I start the process before I attend a seminar?

Yes, you can. Most insurance policies that cover Weight Loss Surgey require a pre-operative six month medically supervised diet. This is the single biggest hold up for obtaining insurance approval and scheduling surgery. Visit your primary care provider and start your diet as soon as possible. If your provider has questions or if you would like to have the New Life Center supervise your diet then please call us today.

Will I need skin reduction surgery?

Many factors influence the need for skin reduction surgery, such as your starting weight, the amount of weight lost, location of the excess weight and age. Younger patients have a greater amount of skin elasticity and therefore are less likely to need skin reduction surgery. The New Life Center’s surgeons are experienced with skin reduction for the abdomen and arms. After your weight loss has stabilized and you are ready to consider skin reduction please call the Center for an evaluation. Plastic surgery can be very expensive; however, the New Life Center’s surgeons have been successful obtaining insurance coverage for these procedures for most of our patients.

Will I have gallstone complications?

Weight loss and diet will promote the production of gallstones. If a patient has previously or currently suffers from gallstones; the gallbladder will most likely be removed at the time of your Weight Loss Surgery.

A small percentage (15%) of patients develop gallstones after the Weight Loss Surgery and may need gallbladder removal. The gallbladder can almost always be removed laparoscopically in this situation.

How long will I be in the hospital?

The average hospital stay is one night for Adjustable Gastric Band surgery, two nights for the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and two to three nights for the BPD with Duodenal Switch.

How long will I be out of work?

For sedentary, office-style work, patients can typically return to work in two to four weeks.

What happens to the old stomach after the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass?

It remains in the abdomen and continues to produce digestive juices that empty into the intestines. The blood supply to it is very good so it does not die or shrivel up. As a matter of fact it continues to do almost everything that it normally does except serve as a reservoir to hold food.

Can I become pregnant after weight loss surgery?

Yes, women can become pregnant after the surgery without any related complications. Thousands of women have had successful pregnancies after the gastric-bypass surgery. It is recommended to use birth control after Weight Loss Surgery because women’s fertility soars after Weight Loss Surgery because of a normalization of hormones in the body.