Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula will help you make sure weight-loss surgery is right for you.

Below are some commonly asked questions about bariatric surgery at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. Please consult your doctor with questions regarding your individual situation.

Who qualifies for bariatric surgery?
We use the guidelines established by the National Institutes of Health, and these are used by most insurance companies as well. In general:

• Patients with a body mass index of between 35 and 40 will qualify if they have two severe, obesity-related illnesses such as diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, joint disease requiring joint replacement, or heart disease.
• Those with a body mass index higher than 40 may be considered for surgery without these illnesses.
• An individual who qualifies should have tried to lose weight without surgery first.
• Surgery can only be offered to those able and willing to follow through with the required aftercare.

Is surgery covered by insurance?
Bariatric surgery is covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare. Your individual plan may exclude all such types of surgery, however, or may impose requirements such as waiting periods before surgery can be approved.

What is the typical recovery period?
Most patients spend only one night in the hospital, and most are back to work within two weeks. Some may require a longer period of observation in the hospital or longer recovery time after surgery.

What kind of follow-up is involved after surgery?
Patients are followed by the surgeon for a minimum of five years after surgery. In addition:

• Community Hospital has free support groups for patients who have had weight-loss surgery.
• We also have a full complement of specialists including endocrinologists, pulmonologists, cardiologists, and plastic surgeons with experience caring for patients who are overweight or who have lost weight.

Where can I find out more about weight-loss surgery at Community Hospital?
To learn more about our program, please call (831) 649-0808 or sign up for one of our weight-loss seminars.