Frequently Asked Questions Cash Prices How much is the cash price for Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass? How much is the cash price for Lap Band? Do we offer financing? General How many procedures has Dr. Chung performed? What is the youngest age for which weight loss surgery is recommended? What is the oldest patient for whom weight loss surgery is recommended? Can Weight Loss Surgery prolong my life? Insurance Issues Why does it take so long to get insurance approval? How can they deny insurance payment for a life-threatening disease? What can I do to help the process? Pre-Surgery What are the routine tests before surgery? What is the purpose of all these tests? What impact do my medical problems have on the decision for surgery, and how do the medical problems affect risk? What can I do before the appointment to speed up the process of getting ready for surgery? Surgery Does Laparoscopic Surgery decrease the risk? Will I have a lot of pain? How long do I have to stay in the hospital? Will the doctor leave a drain in after surgery? How soon will I be able to walk? How soon can I drive? Can I get pregnant after weight loss surgery? What happens to the lower part of the stomach that is bypassed? How big will my stomach pouch really be in the long run? What if I'm not hungry after surgery? Is there any difficulty in taking medications? Will I be able to take oral contraception after surgery? Is there a difference in the outcome of surgery between men and women? Will I be asked to stop smoking? If I continue to smoke, what happens? How can I know that I won't just keep losing weight until I waste away to nothing? What can I do to prevent lots of excess hanging skin? Will exercise help with excess hanging skin? Will I be miserably hungry after weight loss surgery since I’m not eating much? What if I am really hungry? Will I have to change my medications? What is a hernia and what is the probability of an abdominal hernia after surgery? Is a blood transfusion required? What is phlebitis and is it preventable? Will I lose hair after surgery? How can I prevent it? Does hair growth recover? What are adhesions and do they form after this surgery? What is sleep apnea (SA)?