Question:
private pay: will travel where is the best place for lap band?
My sister is going to help pay for the surgery and I was going to have the RNY done, but I will have only about $18,000 total for the surgery. Any good doctors for the lap band? I live in Washington State. — Jenn ;-) (posted on December 28, 2005)
December 28, 2005
You are in luck -- in more ways than you can yet imagine. I belong to an
online support YahooGroup called SmartBandsters. It is well-moderated,
and is backed up by NWWLS of Seattle. It is moderated by their fill
technician, a PhD nurse practitioner who has seven years of personal
experience of successful living with a lap band. This is the best group to
learn about banded life and the best group to help support you to goal and
beyond. ....... The band is a great choice of tool for extraordinary
bandsters - those with high BMI's over 50...... But the choice of surgeon
is the most crucial ingredient in your success ---- because it is his
attitude and his SUPPORT STAFF that will make the crucial difference.
Please feel free to write me and please feel free to come join us. I was
banded 8 weeks ago and have come down from a BMI of 47 to 45 already.
Those with higher BMIs lose much more quickly if they follow the bandster
eating plan. ---- Theresa
— SouthTX LapBand
December 28, 2005
hi, there is another procedure that is about that much in expenses. The
mini gastric bypass (MGB). Very good success, done laproscopically and can
be reversed. Visit http://clos.net for all the information.
— shoutjoy
December 28, 2005
Jennyfer,
Please don't let the bottom line ($$) determine which surgery to choose.
Do your research - be thorough - and be certain about the quality of life
you will be required to live with as a post-op of a particular surgery. If
you pursue the Lap Band, be certain to find out who will do your fills
and/or adjustments post-op. In my area, it runs about $500 per fill if
your insurance isn't covering the procedure.
For $18,000 you could go to Spain and get Lap DS or Lap Sleeve Gastrectomy
with Dr. Baltasar and stay in a lovely hotel on the Mediterranean! You
have lots of options, girlfriend! Be certain you are 1000% sure of your
commitment to the post-op lifestyle of whichever surgery you choose.
Blessings,
dina
— Dina McBride
December 28, 2005
When I made the decision to be banded, I went to the surgeon section of
this site and started making calls. I wanted to know how many bands the
surgeon had placed, the price, and the surgeon's fill policy. Once I had
that info I started doing more indepth research to that particular surgeon.
I was very lucky to find a surgeon with a great deal of experience and a
low self pay rate. IMO it is worth a few thousand more to stay in the
states--many u.s. docs won't take you on for aftercare if you were banded
out of the country...and really, once you factor in travel for fills and
followup, the price difference might not be that different.
For 18 I think you should have no problems....mine was 12 though his prices
have gone up to 15. There are also excelleng surgeons in your
state....just print out a list and start taking notes!
good luck!
jessica
— jessicamegan
December 28, 2005
I spent $8500 in 2004 for an open RNY with Dr. Aguirre in Ensenada, Mexico.
His reputation is stellar and the care excellent. I highly recommend this
avenue for those who are self-pay and cannot afford the huge cost in the
states. His fees went up for 2005 to I think $9400, but I'm not sure if
they will go up again for 2006 or not. Email if you are interested in
more. There are lots of options out there both in the US and out. There
was a man in my support group who saw a doctor in So. Cal and I think he
paid around $18,000 but not sure who it was. Just keep researching. Don't
spend $18,000 on something if you aren't sure it's what you want and aren't
sure you could get the results you want. That could be $18,000 down the
tubes if it turns out to not be the right answer for you....then you get to
start at square one again. And I'm not saying band is going to be the
wrong thing for you. Could be an RNY would be the wrong thing. Point is
just that you need to find out what type of surgery is right for you first,
and then you need to find a way to get THAT surgery. Dina
— Dinka Doo
December 28, 2005
If you are going to pay cash anyway, I dont suggest you have the lap
band...it is not as efficient as the gastric bypass...I have many friends
both online and in my group who have had it and wish they had the gastric
bypass.
— MizzDepp
December 29, 2005
Dina: I was a self pay and had a VSG 2.5 months ago, which was far and away
the best answer for me. Total cost was $17,265 and I had the procedure
done with the best docs in the biz for that surgery...Dr's Cirangle and
Jossart at LapSF in San Francisco. Go check the website www.lapsf.com The
most important thing no matter what procedure you choose is that you are in
the best possible hands...don't mess around with a bargain. Your health is
worth far more than saving a few bucks. Good luck!!
— MelRose
December 29, 2005
Yes, a bargain isn't worth your health, but just because it is a bargain
doesn't mean it is dangerous. Research is the only way to be certain. My
doctor hasn't had a death in 11-12 years. The local doctor in the US that
most of the patients in my support group saw had numerous deaths, and in my
support group alone had 4 people who nearly died at his hands. Yet he was
considered a pioneer and an expert in the field. Sometimes you need to
look at other factors....and just because you go out of the US doesn't mean
you are compromising anything. My doctor's reputation, as I said, is
stellar. I'd go back to him in a heartbeat....Dina
— Dinka Doo
December 30, 2005
The fact that you are willing to travel and you are paying for it out of
pocket I will recomment that you check with Dr. Garry Anthone. Look him up
on the internet. He has been doing the weight losse surgeries since the
early 90's and he did my surgery in 1996 and I have no side effect. If he
is not able to help you, maybe he will be able to recommend the best doctor
in your state, someone who he is familiar with. Good luck to you. Again
you will be able to find his address and phone number on the internet.
— Dani96
January 12, 2006
Hi,
Private Pay...Cosider Overseas options- World-class care in India, For Lap
Band surgery cost $ 9000 including Travel, surgery, accomodations. You may
contact for details- [email protected] Good Luck,
AK
— medtours
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