Illinois Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic Weight Loss Surgery In Illinois: Questions You Need to Ask

As more and more Americans reach the Body Mass Index that marks them morbidly obese, they reach out desperately for answers. Dieting seems to slow, and all too often, the weight creeps back on during holiday season or times of stress. Exercise seems initially promising, but who has time to go jogging in the snow after an eight hour day?

So what about weight loss surgery? Surprisingly, studies conducted in Illinois and other Midwestern states seems to show that this type of cosmetic surgery helps most people drop the weight relatively quickly and, more importantly, keep it off.

But is weight loss surgery the right choice for you? Take a moment and look at your options.

Are Weight Loss Cosmetic Surgery Centers Available in Illinois?

Of course you should check with your doctor before seeking information about bariatric surgery, but if you're looking for additional resources, here are a few places to start.

An obvious place to start seeking information is at the Bariatric Surgery Program at Rush University Medical Center. This program utilizes a multidisciplinary team to assess each patient and make sure that their unique circumstances make them appropriate for weight loss surgery.

Another place to explore weight loss cosmetic surgery in Illinois is the Minimally Invasive Weight Loss Surgery at the University of Chicago Hospitals. This program has pioneered the cutting edge laparoscopic duodenal switch. Laparoscopic programs are to be lauded because they do not carry the heavy risk of infection and damage to surrounding organs and tissues that open surgery carries.

Finally, since 1999, there has been an excellent Bariatric Surgery Department at Northwest Memorial Hospital.

What Are The Illinois Qualifications For Undergoing Cosmetic Weight Loss Surgery?

Qualifications vary from program to program. In general, you must be morbidly obese (100 pounds over your ideal body weight or BMI with 35+ and co-existing medical problems). Your lungs and heart must also be healthy enough to withstand major surgery. You also need to show that other attempts at weight loss have failed.

In general, you should be an adult, although some teens are successfully undergoing weight loss surgery.

Will My Illinois Insurance Pay For Cosmetic Weight Loss Surgery?

Most insurance companies will not pay for weight loss surgery unless the doctor files an appeal explaining that your weight is a serious risk to your health. After the appeal, some insurance companies will pay, but others may not. Even without complications, the cost for this surgery may run as high as $25,000.

If you want cosmetic weight loss surgery in Illinois, but your insurance says you don't qualify, you may need to take out a personal loan from a bank or from friends, borrow against your mortgage or the title on your car, or run up your credit card debt. As these financial decisions can haunt you for the rest of your life, they should be considered carefully against the perceived benefit of the weight loss surgery.   

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