Even if you're self-pay (as I was) many doctors won't let you skip the pre-op completely. Where I started, Hershey Medical Center wouldn't! I did 4-months nutrition as well as all the pre-op tests which is what my doc considered 'nothing less than'.
AND, although I wanted the surgery immediately, I have to say that the 4-month nutrition really helped.
AND, even though I was self-pay, the psych evaluation can still rule you out as a candidate.
My story:
From seminar to LapBand it took 8 months.
From LapBand removal (2 weeks later) to RNY it took 5 months.
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~ Marella
Starting BMI: 60.4 / Current BMI: 47 
I don't want to know how much I have left to lose -- I find it encouraging to see how far I've come! |