Surgery clinic recommendations (by cost) - east coast to Chicago

akindofmagick
on 10/12/12 11:50 pm - MD

Hi, have been a member here since 2009. Have been turned down multiple times for VSG by 3 different insurance companies - bmi is 36% and no comorbidities. So am self pay. For job security reasons cannot go international for surgery - otherwise would be on next plane to Dr Aceves. Did 6 month pre-op routine at Johns Hopkins. But do not have enough $$ to pay the full price there. Am single mom to two young children, 8 & 9. Need clinic recommendations reasonably close to home that charge under $13K with - of course!! - sterling reputation(s).

Thanks!!!

I've been fat, and I've been thin - and thin is better.

There is a better way. --Alaine of Lyndar
--------------------------
HW: 234. SW: 228 (18 June 2015). GW: 137. Specs: 50ish, 5'4"

bob-h
on 10/13/12 12:58 am - Bad Axe, MI

VSG on 10/09/12

If you want a stellar surgeon check out the one that just did mine on Oct. 8th. Mark Pleatman from Bloomfield Hills Hills Mi. His private pay price is $11.200 whi*****ludes initial consultation, his fee, hospital and anesthesia and 2 years follow up. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. He has a website also. laparoscopy.com/pleatman/

pineview01
on 10/13/12 5:30 pm - Davison, MI

Lap Band on 02/25/09

Are you kidding Bob? For that I can't aford to go to MX! I didn't think anybody here in MI would touch you for that. And it is only a hour away!

BAND REMOVED 9-4-12-fought insurance to get sleeve and won! Sleeved 1/22/13! Five years out and trying to get that last 15 pounds back off.

Sarah W.
on 10/13/12 1:04 am - Overland Park, KS

VSG on 09/27/12

Southwest flies BWI to MCI (Kansas City) and my doctors cash price for a COE location is 11,999. KC Bariatric. Slightly farther west but perhaps it would work out. Regardless of where you go if you can swing it I wouldn't put it off. I wish I would have done this 2 years ago.

Sarah 5'3" VSG 9/27/12 KC Bariatric Center. Find me on MFP! Sarah829522.

downhome
on 10/13/12 4:35 am

Weight Wise in Edmond, Oklahoma..................$10,000

synthangel
on 10/13/12 9:19 am - NV

VSG on 11/02/12

Las Vegas NV

Cheap flights and lodging. Desert Springs Hospital has a cash pay option of $7500 for the surgery. You can call their office, the girl is very helpful who works there. The docs who do the surgeries are all well known in LV and you can check them out on the web. Dr. Atkinson (sp?) and Dr. Umbach are a couple who do the surgies for the hospital. http://www.desertspringshospital.com/weightloss

pineview01
on 10/13/12 5:34 pm, edited 10/13/12 5:36 pm - Davison, MI

Lap Band on 02/25/09

I looked at their site and they don't show they do the VSG? Did they just start?

It would also be pricey to fly out for the mandatory stuff pre surgery from MD.

BAND REMOVED 9-4-12-fought insurance to get sleeve and won! Sleeved 1/22/13! Five years out and trying to get that last 15 pounds back off.

MuttLover
on 10/13/12 10:21 am

VSG on 11/14/12

Have you called the other Baltimore Hospitals for prices? GBMC, St. Agnes and Univeristy of MD (as well as Hopkins Bayview) are all BCBS Centers of Excellence -- and Franklin Square, Sinai and Northwest all have good reputations locally too.

Best of luck!

akindofmagick
on 10/13/12 10:08 pm - MD

VSG

Maryland has some sort of law that results in no discounts for cash pay (that would be sticking it to the insurance companies - pfffftttt!!!) and has the side effect of all the surgeons/hospitals here charging pretty much the same price.

Thank you for the recommendations, everyone!! Keep 'em coming!! Las Vegas is an option - but tricky, as half my family... the unsupportive half... all live within 3 miles of Desert Springs Hospital!!!

I've been fat, and I've been thin - and thin is better.

There is a better way. --Alaine of Lyndar
--------------------------
HW: 234. SW: 228 (18 June 2015). GW: 137. Specs: 50ish, 5'4"

Calking
on 10/13/12 7:15 pm

VSG on 05/31/12

My surgeon was Dr. Heider at Lake Norman Bariatric Center. They are a Center of Excellence. Three of the office staff have had this surgery from him. This means his staff is more than helpful with answers to your questions. They don't have to go on hearsay as they have experienced it first hand.

Dr. Ryan Heider was trained at The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill which is one of the best medical schools in the United States. He has done over 4000 of these surgeries. Based on the fact that I was pain free in three days time and the only pain I had was due to the gas they use to inflate your abdomen for surgery I attribute this to his skills.

Since you are coming from out of town he also has a conceirge package for an extra amount as shown below. The hotel you stay at is a Hilton Garden and the rooms are huge. I stayed there as well. The hotel supplies you with crystal light and bottled water for free as well as sf popsicles. It was a great experience.

I highly recommend this surgeon. Here is a link to his site ... http://www.lnrmcsurgicalweightloss.com/content/patient-resou rces

Self-Pay

Our self-pay package includes:

Surgeon fee, including initial consultation, personalized seminar and one year follow up
Hospital fee, including preoperative labs, EKG, Upper GI Series and postoperative Upper GI Series
Anesthesia fee
Psychological evaluation
Nutrition evaluation
BLIS insurance, minimal complication insurance
Preoperative liquid diet

For the above self-pay package, our prices are