Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies for surgical treatment (Bariatric Surgery) of severe obesity?

  1. Patients who are 100 pounds or more over ideal body weight according to the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Height/Weight tables (Midpoint of weight range for medium frame) or whose Body Mass Index (BMI) is greater than 40
  2. Patients who weigh less than the amount recommended in guideline 1 (or whose BMI is 35 or more), and who also have other serious medical obesity-related conditions known to be improved by weight loss. These conditions include serious obesity related breathing disorders, heart disease, poorly controlled diabetes or high blood pressure, and orthopedic problems of the weight bearing joints that can be improved with weight loss.

What are some reasons a person should not have obesity surgery?

  1. Drug and/or alcohol addiction.
  2. Unstable psychiatric disorders.
  3. HIV/AIDS or anemic blood disorders.

What are the age limits for having this surgery?
We have performed the lap-band successfully on patients of extreme ages.

How long will I be in the out-patient facility after my lap band procedure?
Most patients are discharged within 2-4 hours following surgery.

How soon can I resume work after this surgery?
A couple of days following surgery for some people or long as 10 days to 2 weeks for others.

How much weight can I expect to lose?
Over 90% of patients in our personal experience, will at least reach a weight to within 25- 50 pounds of ideal body weight.

How fast will I lose weight?
How fast weight is lost depends on age, sex, activity, eating habits, and how much overweight one is. The majority of our patients will lose most of their excess weight within the first year of surgery.

What are the risks of having Bariatric surgery?
As with any major surgical procedure, complications can occur. These include the potential of:

  • reoperation;
  • wound infection;
  • abscess inside the abdominal cavity;
  • bleeding;
  • respiratory problems, including pneumonia, pneumothorax and pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lung);
  • band slippage
  • port infection
  • partial obstruction of the new stomach outlet/opening;
  • splenectomy (removal of the spleen);
  • abdominal wall incisional hernia.
  • death

These complications occur very infrequently with an experienced bariatric surgeon. Questions regarding these problems should be addressed in depth with your surgeon.

Can the Operation be reversed?
Yes. The lap band is completely reversible.

Can women have children after this surgery?
Yes. Pregnant women after successful weight loss following surgery tend to be healthier and bear healthier infants with fewer complications than morbidly obese women. Pregnancy is best deferred for 1 year following surgery.

What guarantee do I have the surgery will be successful?
There are no guarantees in medicine and surgery. Patients considering an operation must be fully informed about the benefits versus the possible side effects and complications. No operation will automatically succeed without the patients’ cooperation or provide benefit without risk.

Do insurance companies pay for this procedure?
Coverage for surgical management of morbid obesity, when medically indicated, varies among insurance carriers and even among employers who use the same carrier. We are in-network with all insurance companies except Blue Cross Blue Shield in which case we will work with your out-of-network BCBS benefits. We recommend you visit our “Getting Started” for information about contacting your insurance company and what questions to ask.

Are financial arrangements available where there is limited or no insurance coverage?
We work with several companies. Please call for details.

Do I need a referral from my doctor?
Although we recommend discussing surgery with your family physician as part of your decision-making process, we do not require a referral. However, some insurance carriers do require a recommendation from a general practitioner.

Must I come back to Little Rock for my post-surgery check-ups?
Yes. You will need periodic band adjustments to get the maximal amount of weight-loss.

How can I obtain more information about this surgery?
If you are considering surgery as a choice for treating obesity, we strongly encourage you to become well informed regarding the benefits and risks associated with this approach. You can contact us by email at info@luttrellsurgical.com or call our office to arrange for attendance at one of our lap-band seminars or watch the online seminar and call the office for a consultation.