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Preparing for Weight-Loss Surgery New Patient Clinic/Seminar

1. Pick your location:

Texas Bariatric Specialists approaches the introduction of weight-loss surgery to all its patients, with a specialized program. Most 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 a more effective than public seminars. As a result Texas Bariatric Specialists offers 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 “all-in-one” 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 has the 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 this approach:

You are able to obtain your insurance verification and requirements
You are able to apply the risks and benefits of each procedure to your individualized 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 and help modify the stressors in your life

The best component to this is an expedited process in that you do not need to attend multiple visits which can be quite time-consuming. Some offices even refer you out to obtain services while 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.

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-copay. Thos with no insurance will be charged only $75 for the surgical 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.

ther insurances that require a physician supervised diet can also be expedited by having all these evaluations being done at once. So you are screened as 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 appropriate candidate by the surgeon's evaluation or one of the other specialists. The comprehensive “all-in-one” approach is very unique and very few programs even attempt to offer or routinely offer it. Texas Bariatric Specialists strongly encourage 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.