Free Seminars

Texas Bariatric Specialists approaches the introduction of weight loss surgery to all its patients, with a specialized program. Most weight loss programs begin with a public seminar which is informational only, and leaves a patient with more questions perhaps than answers. We feel that a comprehensive approach to educating a patient preoperatively may be more effective than public seminars. As a result we offer an “all-in-one” type of experience throughout South Texas. Texas Bariatric Specialists presently offers these services in Corpus Christi, Austin and San Antonio. This experience allows you to:

• Come in for an informational seminar.
• Have a brief group presentation by the nutritionist.
• Have a brief group presentation by the psychologist.
• Once the three briefings are over, each patient will have an opportunity to visit with the surgeon, nutritionist and psychologist.

The “all-in-one” comprehensive visit can be quite time-consuming. For instance, most patients will require four to six hours to be screened by all three specialists. However, there is a significant advantage to our preoperative weight loss surgery approach:

• You are able to obtain your insurance verification and requirements for your weight loss surgery.
• You are able to apply the risks and benefits of each procedure to yourindividualized case.
• You are counseled by Dr. Patel in regards to the risks and benefits of the procedure in your individualized case.
• You are able to sit down individually with the nutritionist and address any nutritional concerns for any one of the procedures that are available.
• You are able to meet individually with the psychologist to understand the necessary behavioral changes needed and to help modify the stressors in your life.

The best component to this is that it is an expedited process in that you will not need to attend multiple visits, which can be quite time consuming. Some offices even refer you out in order to obtain services, whereas we are able to tend to your needs individually, and truly valuing the time you choose to spend with us. If one has a fast-track type of insurance such as United Healthcare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield Federal or Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts these evaluations can be quite cumbersome and time-consuming. This would delay your surgery.

NOTE: While you are encouraged to complete the all-in-one visit, you can opt out of any portion of the process. You can simply stop at the seminar or after your consult with Dr. Patel.

Further Note: The fees to the program have been minimized to best fit your needs. All services are pay-as-you-go. Dr. Patel will charge your insurance for your initial evaluation. As such you will be required to pay your office visit co-pay. Those with no insurance will be charged only $50 for the weight loss surgery evaluation. The nutritional evaluation is $25 for all patients and the psychological evaluation is subject to your insurance plan. If insurance does not pay for the psychological evaluation, the cost is $125 to $300 depending on the provider.

Insurance provider’s that require a physician supervised diet can also be expedited, by having all these evaluations being done at once. So you are screened as a good candidate and can undergo the six-month process. It would be unfortunate if one were to pursue the entire six-month process and then find out that they were not an appropriate candidate by the surgeon’s evaluation or one of the other specialists. The comprehensive “all-in-one” approach to preoperative weight loss surgery screening is very unique, and very few programs even attempt to offer or routinely offer it. Texas Bariatric Specialists strongly encourages you to be part of the “all-in-one” experience. This will be a life changing consultation where you are given a comprehensive overview of this life-enhancing procedure.