Frequently Asked Questions

How do I schedule an appointment? 

You can either call the office at 212-288-6780 or send a request via E-mail. Dr. Kane is available Monday through Friday. Yoon Im Kane is available by appointment by calling 212-288-6780.

Who benefits from this program? 

You do not need to be struggling with severe obesity to qualify for this program. Anyone who is at all overweight and having difficulty losing or maintaining weight on their own or through commercial programs or anyone with weight-related disease (diabetes, pre-diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, sleep apnea, joint or back pain, or a family history of diabetes, heart attack or stroke) should consider a medically supervised weight loss program such as this one.

Is your program covered by insurance? 

Unfortunately weight loss programs are not always covered by health insurance plans. While this office is not a member of any managed care programs, it does participate with insurance companies so that the majority of your medical bills will be covered, greatly reducing the cost of care. Some patients will have a deductible that needs to be reached.

What should I bring to my first appointment? 

If you can, please bring copies of any lab work you have had drawn in the past 6 months, your medical insurance card and a form of picture identification (i.e. driver's license). This can help speed up the evaluation process. Please arrive 15 minutes early for your first appointment so that you can fill out some pre-screening paperwork.

How is this different than commercial programs? 

This program is different than commercial programs on several levels. Most importantly, it is medically supervised. Few programs are. This adds to the safety of weight loss (particularly in those patients with complicated medical conditions) and the flexibility of medical management of these syndromes. The second feature that sets us apart is the individualization. You will not be forced into a point system or a one-size-fits-all approach. Each person is different and his or her program is individualized and adjusted to fit his or her needs. Additionally, each patient receives individual attention without time limitations. Finally, groups, when chosen, are smaller, more intimate and supervised by a licensed psychotherapist.

Can I participate in your program even if I am going to have bariatric surgery? 

The answer is yes. Some (although not all) insurance carriers require a medical intervention prior to surgery. Either the group program or the individual program should be sufficient. Additionally, the skills you learn will be necessary for weight loss with or without surgery. Furthermore, surgical outcomes have been demonstrated to improve with pre-operative weight loss.

Do I need a referral? 

Some patients are referred by physicians (primary care or specialists) and others come on their own. We can assure you that we will work in conjunction with your primary care physician to optimize your medical status while you are losing and maintaining your weight.