As I was looking around I felt Tallgrass to be the least expensive for self pay.  Especially with the fills included.   Dealing with insurance is a night mare.  Kansas seems to be really behind,  or at least Blue Cross in supporting it. 

I just went to a seminar Last Saturday, in Lenexa it is called The Institute forr Advanced Bariatric Surgery, 913-322-7401 They charge 14,000.00 for Lap Band. Sandy

I am glad you are checking it all out.  It is hard to make the decision I know.  I was ready for RNY then changed my mind after talking to a lot of different people.  I don't know what complications you have heard of for the lap band so can't comment.  I can say that when I went to one of the seminars at a different location I was completely convinced that RNY was the only way to go.  The presented the band as alway having to go back for fills, monitoring the amount of fluid in it, slow wt. loss, etc.  I knew at that time I just wanted to be done with everything and not have to alway go back for fills, etc.  I wanted to never be able to eat stuff that I shouldn't again and boy was i ready to go.  That day, if I could.  Then I went to a seminar that they did both, talked to people that had both, watched some things with RNY that was disturbing to me when you eat sugar.  As I processed things I decided that the band was more for me.  Everyone has to decide that for themselves. After surgery of the band, I was so thankful about my choice.  For the first couple days I was so scared, thought what in the world have I done.  I will never eat again, Oh my gosh,  Yicks.  Oh no.  THen I realized I do have a little more choice , I can have more of a say in what I do.  Although I never never plan to have it removed for anything but a medical reason I still have control.  The band keeps me from eating to much.   Boy do I like that.  There is some power in know that if I do want a little something that I love so much I can do it.  I know I can't eat very much but i DO HAVE THAT CHOICE.  somehow that makes me not want it so much.  I don't want to mix you up with this but I am so glad that I had someone tell me how they really felt and so it made it a better decision for me in the end.  It is a very very hard decision.  I know that many are so glad they did the RNY .  I am so glad for them.  It truly has to be what you want.  I am also so thankful that we have choices to fit  our own personal needs.  Both are wonderful choices.  Good luck to you.  I know you will do well.  You are researching and that is so important.

I hope he is doing ok.  He had posted quite a few times before.  Maybe he is just loosing and exercising and to busy???  I hope.

Unless you have your heart set on RNY you should still consider the lapband.  I started out at 425 lbs and in less than 14 months I've already lost 165 lbs and am still losing every week.  It can be done, depending on how dedicated you are.