Am I A Candidate

Weight loss surgery can be an effective option for those who are morbidly obese and have not lost significant amounts of weight through traditional methods such as diet and exercise. It can be a life-saving, and life-changing, procedure that saves you from the many conditions and health-risks morbid obesity can cause, as well as help you attain a slimmer physique and an improved self-esteem. However, weight loss surgery is not for everyone, and there are specific candidacy requirements that one must meet in order to qualify for obesity surgery. The following information can help you determine if you may be a candidate for weight loss surgery.

Weight Loss Surgery Candidates

Dr. David D. Kim can meet with you in a consultation to discuss your candidacy and specific weight loss surgery procedures such as LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding, REALIZE® Band surgery, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VGS). Here is a listing of some of the requirements for surgical weight loss procedures to combat morbid obesity:

• Patients must be between the ages of 18 and 65
• Patient must be free from dependence on drugs or alcohol
• Patients must have a body mass index of 40 or higher for a period of longer than 5 years
• Patients with a body mass index of 35-39.9 and who suffer from comorbidities (medical conditions brought on by morbid obesity, such as type-2 diabetes, acid reflux disease, hypertension, stroke, heart disease, sleep apnea, cancer, fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, and others)
• Patients must be physically, emotionally, and psychologically able to undergo surgery and the lifestyle changes necessary for effective results
• Patients must have made previous attempts at losing weight through more traditional means
• Patients must have realistic expectations and goals for results

Contact Dr. David D. Kim at the Live Life Again Center for more information on requirements for weight loss surgery candidates at our Arlington and Dallas – Fort Worth-area practice. Dr. Kim also offers weekly meetings with patients, called “Lunch with Dr. Kim,” that discuss many aspects of weight loss surgery and can address your concerns.

Cost of Obesity Surgery

Patients who are qualified candidates for obesity surgery may be at least partially covered for the procedure by their insurance policy. For those who are not covered, do not have insurance, or would like to supplement what their insurance can pay, Dr. David D. Kim offers a number of payment and financing options to help. Our weight loss surgery costs and financing page offers a cost breakdown of procedures and information on how you can bring the price of obesity surgery into your budget.

BMI (Body Mass Index) Calculator

With this BMI calculator, you can input your information for an instantaneous reading of your body mass index. Just fill out the fields below.