Bariatric Surgery Requirements: Do I Qualify For Weight Loss Surgery?
One of the most common questions weight loss professionals get from people is “Do I qualify for bariatric surgery?” Bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery is a poignant option for people who are significantly overweight and are willing to make a lifestyle change.
Generally speaking, you could be a candidate for surgical weight loss if:
- You have a Body Mass Index of more than 40.
- You have a Body Mass Index of more than 35, and you are suffering from the adverse health effects of obesity, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
- You have an extra 100 pounds over your ideal body weight.
- You seem to be unable to lose the extra weight even after dieting and exercising under medical supervision.
However, not every obesity patient is a solid candidate for weight loss surgery. In this post, we will cover whether or not you may be eligible for different weight loss procedures.
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Weight loss surgery requirements
Weight loss surgery is an excellent treatment option for people who are seeking to eliminate obesity and improve the symptoms of co-morbidities, if any. However, it’s necessary to be aware of all bariatric surgery requirements and let a qualified surgeon determine whether you fulfill all the conditions to their satisfaction. Standard weight loss surgery requirements may include:
- Age: You should ideally be above the age of 18 before your surgeon may accept you as a candidate for weight loss surgery. Surgeons usually like to wait until the body has fully grown and developed before they will perform this procedure. However, in exceptional cases, younger teens may be eligible for this surgery, depending on their physiology and health needs.
- Health: Although you may be suffering from obesity and its related co-morbidities, you should otherwise be in a healthy and fit condition to undergo general anesthesia and surgery. Your surgeon will determine whether you have any such medical conditions that may interfere with your surgery or post-op recovery or increase your risk of serious complications.
- BMI: Your body mass index should be above 40 to qualify for a bariatric surgery. If you have obesity-related co-morbidities, this minimum BMI threshold is relaxed to 35. However, in exceptional circumstances, your weight loss surgeon may agree to perform this surgery even if your BMI is between 30 and 34. This will be determined on a case to case basis.
Gastric sleeve qualifications
Are you wondering “Do I qualify for gastric sleeve surgery?” The best and most certain way to determine that is by consulting with an experienced weight loss surgeon at Jet Medical Tourism in Mexico.
Ideally, gastric sleeve surgery is suggested for adults who are “morbidly obese,” which means, if you are aged between 18 and 65 and having a BMI of 50 or above.
However, if you have a BMI under 50 and suffer from at least one obesity-related health issue, then you can qualify too. Obesity-based health problems include diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, asthma, and joint pain, among other things.
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Another factor that will determine whether you meet gastric sleeve qualifications is your body’s ability to handle the physical stress of surgery. Some people suffer from severe health issues that make any type of major surgery very risky. In these cases, your surgeon may recommend losing some weight before you go in for the surgery.
To summarize, here are the gastric sleeve surgery qualifications a patient must meet:
- They should have a BMI of 50 or above
- They should be between the ages 18 and 65
- They should have been obese for at least 3 years
- They should have a BMI under 50 and some obesity-related health issues
- They must be willing to make permanent changes to their eating habits and workout routine.
RELATED READ: Preparing for gastric sleeve surgery: step-by-step guide
Gastric bypass qualifications
Gastric bypass surgery is a relatively new procedure compared to gastric sleeve surgery but it offers more sustained longstanding results. Since a gastric bypass procedure prevents and limits the patient’s ability to consume junk foods and sweets, it offers long-term weight loss results.
Do I qualify for gastric bypass surgery? Generally, if a patient is obese but not morbidly so, they can be a reliable candidate for a gastric bypass.
According to the National Institutes of Health as well as various insurance companies, a patient has to meet the following criteria to qualify for a gastric bypass surgery:
- Their BMI must be 40 or above
- They find it extremely challenging to lose extra weight with diet, exercise, and medication
- They have a life-threatening health issue related to obesity like type-2 diabetes.
- They have a BMI of 35 or under-40 but also suffer from obesity-related complications like sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
- They should not have a history of drug or alcohol abuse
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Qualifications for gastric bypass revision surgery
When a weight loss surgery or a gastric bypass procedure doesn’t lead to long-term weight loss, the patient may be able to get a second opportunity with gastric bypass revision.
If you went through a gastric bypass surgery but it failed to produce lasting results, and your obesity returned, you may be qualified for a gastric bypass revision surgery.
The reasons why the initial gastric bypass procedures fail vary with each patient but most often than not, it’s the patient’s failure to adhere to good eating and workout habits.
If you get back to your old eating habits and frequently overeat after the surgery, you may regain the weight and the obesity-related complications may come back. In this case, you’ll most likely qualify for gastric bypass revision surgery.
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Qualifications for gastric sleeve revision surgery
A patient qualified for a gastric sleeve revision surgery if their initial bariatric procedure has failed to produce lasting results and they have developed complications like acid reflux. Also, if you have grown obese and your BMI is between 35 and 40 even after undergoing a gastric sleeve surgery, you may be qualified for a revision.
Whether you have regained the extra weight or not lost enough weight after undergoing your first weight loss surgery, you may qualify for a gastric sleeve revision.
It is estimated that 3 out of every 10 gastric sleeve patients can regain their weight due to their stomach stretching out to the original size or due to an increase in ghrelin production in their bodies.
Ghrelin is a hunger-causing hormone and cause you to overeat without even realizing. If you are experiencing any of these conditions, then you may be a terrific candidate for a gastric sleeve revision surgery.
Contact Jet Medical Tourism® to see if you qualify for bariatric surgery
Several studies support the benefits of weight loss surgery for people who are struggling with obesity and obesity-related issues like type-2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, and high blood pressure. You could qualify for gastric sleeve, gastric bypass or another bariatric surgery if:
- Your BMI is over 40 or 50
- Your BMI is over 35 and you are experiencing at least one weight-related health issue
- You have at least 100 lbs. more than your ideal body weight
- You can’t seem to lose any weight even through medically-supervised dieting and exercising programs
- You suffer from an obesity-related life-threatening illness that can only be remedied with a weight loss surgery
Are you still worried about this question: “Do I qualify for weight loss surgery?” To obtain a reliable answer from top medical professional, schedule a free consultation with one of our weight loss surgeons and clear all your doubts! Call us at 1-855-506-6188 or request a call back at your convenience.
