Our Program Step by Step

Our Mission

 

To assist every patient in their journey of transformation by achieving and maintaining weight loss for the attainment of health through our comprehensive surgical care and education of unparalleled quality and value.

 

Our multidisciplinary approach consists of a comprehensive team of professionals dedicated to providing the best care possible for the treatment of obesity and its related illnesses. Our team consists of Surgeons, a Program Coordinator, Physician Assistants, Registered Nurses, Registered Dieticians, Mental Health Providers, Exercise Physiologists/specialists, Primary Care Providers, and ultimately the Patient.

Our Comprehensive Program is the culmination of years of practice and refinement to provide the best possible care attainable in the entire Mid-Atlantic Region.

Our program step by step

• Initial Seminar Options
  
• Initial Consultation
  
• Insurance Authorization
  
• Second Visit
  
• Pre-operative Preparation 
  
• Post Operative
  
• Nursing Tips
  
• Life Long Follow-up
  
  
  

Initial Seminar Options

1. Attend a Free Seminar (Recommended): The surgeons of Advanced Weight Loss Solutions host free informational seminars at least twice a month. These very informative seminars include information on obesity, medical and surgical treatment options as well as risks and benefits of surgery.  Attendees will have the opportunity to meet our surgeons and staff, ask questions, and speak to current patients about their experience with the adjustable gastric band (AGB).  The seminar lasts approximately 2 hours and are held at the Reston Hospital Center, West Wing, Conference Room C or at our Rockville location. For additional information, please call us at 703-639-5529 or 301-251-4128. A complete packet of informational and educational materials about the AGB and our program is provided at the seminar. We welcome and encourage friends and family members to also attend, as most of our patients report that the support of family and friends significantly contribute to their weight-loss success. 



 

Topics discussed at the seminar include, but are not limited to:

• A detailed presentation on obesity.
  
• Medical and surgical treatment options for obesity.
  
• Detailed information on all surgical options with an in depth-comparison to the gastric banding procedure.
  
• Normal anatomy with the changes in anatomy and physiology created by each surgical procedure option.
  
• The risks, benefits, and alternatives to each surgical option.
  
• Post-operative expectations and experiences. 
  
  
  

To see a schedule of upcoming seminars, click here. To attend a free seminar please click here or visit www.AdvancedWeightLossSolutions.com and select Attend a Free Seminar.

2.  Online Seminar: The Advanced Weight Loss Solutions online seminar is a short version that is available for those who are unable to attend a group seminar.  A high speed / DSL connection on your computer is necessary for viewing. To view the online seminar, click here or visit http://www.advancedweightlosssolutions.com/ and select View On Line Seminar. For those choosing this option additional online education is required before scheduling an appointment to meet with one of our surgeons. Please call our office for more information (703-639-5529 or 301-251-4128).

3.  Private Consultations: For those individuals who wish to meet with one of our surgeons without attending one of our free seminars, private seminar/consultations are available.  Please call our office for more information (703-639-5529 or 301-251-4128)

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Initial Consultation



At the initial consultation, we will evaluate your medical history to make sure that you qualify for surgery and that you have no disorders that would preclude you from surgery. We will also answer any questions that you may still have. If you wish to proceed after the initial visit, we will then start you on the path of the pre-operative evaluation. 



As part of our comprehensive and thorough medical evaluation, each patient will also be evaluated by our Physician's Assistant, an internal medicine physician (in many cases, by the patient’s own primary care provider), a sleep medicine specialist, our psychologist, our dietician and our exercise specialist. Depending on individual health history, a patient may need to see other specialists such as a cardiologist, endocrinologist, or pulmonologist. (Please note that each physician’s office will bill your insurance company directly).



We will order a variety of tests and a medical clearance from your primary care physician.



After the initial visit we will immediately begin work to obtain authorization from your insurance carrier. This can be a very arduous process requiring a great deal of correspondence by phone, mail, and facsimile. This process starts with a “letter of medical necessity” that we will write on your behalf to request authorization for surgery based on your weight (Body Mass Index) and your medical conditions (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint pain, sleep apnea, diabetes, etc). The health information that you provide to us will be used to write this letter.



Insurance Information

It can take one to six weeks to receive a response from your insurance company. Response times vary by insurance company, but it may also vary by your individual plan with the insurance company. While our program coordinators will contact your insurance company frequently, we encourage all patients to contact their insurance companies for a status report at least weekly. The insurance companies respond much quicker to patient inquiries. Our staff will let you know as soon as we are notified of approval.  Please click here for additional insurance information.



Second Office Visit



After financial options are explored (insurance approval or self pay options), your decision is made to proceed, and your pre-operative evaluations and studies are complete, you will then come back for a second office visit. This visit is educational, and is also a system of “checks and balances.”  We will make sure that all of your pre-operative requirements are met, and will go over the results of all of the pre-operative tests with you. This is also your opportunity to ask any remaining questions, or address any concerns that you may have.



You will also have a second meeting with our dietician.  You will also have an instructional meeting with our program nurse or physician assistant to give you an overview of the entire hospital experience and what to expect. She/He will explain all of the pre-operative, operative, and post-operative hospital procedures. We want you to be as comfortable as possible throughout your entire experience.  

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