Did anyone Self pay?
I currently have no insurance and my husbands insurance is useless and very expensive. It doesnt cover any WLS or anything to do with weight.
I am having problems finding surgeons wanting to take me due to being self pay. I am looking at Gastric Bypass and now learning also about DS since I saw it mentioned.
So my question is did anyone do self pay and if so what did you pay and do you regret it?
Thank you!
I am having problems finding surgeons wanting to take me due to being self pay. I am looking at Gastric Bypass and now learning also about DS since I saw it mentioned.
So my question is did anyone do self pay and if so what did you pay and do you regret it?
Thank you!
(deactivated member)
on 9/23/10 4:52 am
on 9/23/10 4:52 am
I self paid. I had to get a personal loan from the bank to pay for it, so I'm reminded about how crappy my insurance is every month, when the loan payment comes out of my account. Regret? No, not for a second. Does it suck being broke for now? Well, ya, it does.
I went to Dr. Stewart, in Denton, TX. I was a revision from a lapband. My cost was about the same as Anna's, plus the cost of airline tickets, rental car and hotel for a week. Total cost was just under 25,000.
I went to Dr. Stewart, in Denton, TX. I was a revision from a lapband. My cost was about the same as Anna's, plus the cost of airline tickets, rental car and hotel for a week. Total cost was just under 25,000.
My husband's DS was self-pay with Dr Stewart and mine (in 6 days
) will be self-pay as well.
Steve paid about the same as the other Dr Stewart patients who checked in above. He says that for that amount he lost Type 2 Diabetes, HTN and high cholesterol, not to mention about 165 lbs. According to people who calculate such things, he's added 14 years to his life expectancy. Considering that presurgery his endocrinologist was very grim about his long term prognosis, that's as good a trade as you'll find anywhere. The food isn't bad either.
I'm having the surgery for weight loss (duh) but also to head off the same comorbidities he had.
My grandmother died at the age of 49, this surgery will hopefully keep me from following in her footsteps.
How can we regret paying out of pocket for surgeries that will give us freedom from obesity, diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol? That will give us the chance not only to see our boys grown but most likely our grandchildren as well? And those are the big things...I'm also looking forward to not having my hairstylist seek out the sink with the larger chair to wash my hair, fitting in theatre seats, walking the dog, and not having my kids say "It's Ok, mom, I understand you can't do that."
You can't put a price on what Steve has acheived and what I am hoping to. Has it been a sacrifice? Absolutely. We'd do it again in a heart beat.

Steve paid about the same as the other Dr Stewart patients who checked in above. He says that for that amount he lost Type 2 Diabetes, HTN and high cholesterol, not to mention about 165 lbs. According to people who calculate such things, he's added 14 years to his life expectancy. Considering that presurgery his endocrinologist was very grim about his long term prognosis, that's as good a trade as you'll find anywhere. The food isn't bad either.
I'm having the surgery for weight loss (duh) but also to head off the same comorbidities he had.
My grandmother died at the age of 49, this surgery will hopefully keep me from following in her footsteps.
How can we regret paying out of pocket for surgeries that will give us freedom from obesity, diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol? That will give us the chance not only to see our boys grown but most likely our grandchildren as well? And those are the big things...I'm also looking forward to not having my hairstylist seek out the sink with the larger chair to wash my hair, fitting in theatre seats, walking the dog, and not having my kids say "It's Ok, mom, I understand you can't do that."
You can't put a price on what Steve has acheived and what I am hoping to. Has it been a sacrifice? Absolutely. We'd do it again in a heart beat.
Dr. Peters in scranton , PA has wonderful self pay rates. He is a wonderful doctor and his patients really seem to like him. I am glad that you came over to this forum. Please also check out the revisions forum, you will notice that there are not many(if any at all) DS patients over there. We are a happy , outspoken bunch

Self paid in Mexico.
$13,000 with Dr. Gilberto Ungson in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
Borrowed some of it, some was a gift.
Totally worth it, even if I'd have had to borrow it all.
I had no surgical complications, didn't expect any, as Dr. Ungson has an excellent reputation, HOWEVER, complications can happen to anyone, no matter how excellent the surgeon. I just made my odds better by going with Dr. Ungson.
The thing that's been a bit of a hassle for me is getting competent follow-up care here at home. I did find it, but it took a bit of a search.
Anyway, life is good, and I'm glad I didn't allow my insurance company make the life-changing decisions for me.
$13,000 with Dr. Gilberto Ungson in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
Borrowed some of it, some was a gift.
Totally worth it, even if I'd have had to borrow it all.
I had no surgical complications, didn't expect any, as Dr. Ungson has an excellent reputation, HOWEVER, complications can happen to anyone, no matter how excellent the surgeon. I just made my odds better by going with Dr. Ungson.
The thing that's been a bit of a hassle for me is getting competent follow-up care here at home. I did find it, but it took a bit of a search.
Anyway, life is good, and I'm glad I didn't allow my insurance company make the life-changing decisions for me.
On September 23, 2010 at 12:46 PM Pacific Time, Caprice wrote:
Self paid in Mexico.$13,000 with Dr. Gilberto Ungson in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
Borrowed some of it, some was a gift.
Totally worth it, even if I'd have had to borrow it all.
I had no surgical complications, didn't expect any, as Dr. Ungson has an excellent reputation, HOWEVER, complications can happen to anyone, no matter how excellent the surgeon. I just made my odds better by going with Dr. Ungson.
The thing that's been a bit of a hassle for me is getting competent follow-up care here at home. I did find it, but it took a bit of a search.
Anyway, life is good, and I'm glad I didn't allow my insurance company make the life-changing decisions for me.
The $13K, was that open or lap? I thought he charged around $16 for lap???
Previously Midwesterngirl
The band got me to goal, the sleeve will keep me there.
See my blog for newbies: http://wasabubblebutt.blogspot.com/
The band got me to goal, the sleeve will keep me there.
See my blog for newbies: http://wasabubblebutt.blogspot.com/
On September 23, 2010 at 1:37 PM Pacific Time, WASaBubbleButt wrote:
On September 23, 2010 at 12:46 PM Pacific Time, Caprice wrote:
Self paid in Mexico.$13,000 with Dr. Gilberto Ungson in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
Borrowed some of it, some was a gift.
Totally worth it, even if I'd have had to borrow it all.
I had no surgical complications, didn't expect any, as Dr. Ungson has an excellent reputation, HOWEVER, complications can happen to anyone, no matter how excellent the surgeon. I just made my odds better by going with Dr. Ungson.
The thing that's been a bit of a hassle for me is getting competent follow-up care here at home. I did find it, but it took a bit of a search.
Anyway, life is good, and I'm glad I didn't allow my insurance company make the life-changing decisions for me.
The $13K, was that open or lap? I thought he charged around $16 for lap???
I didn't want a laproscopic surgery. I wanted him to have a clear view of my guts, and I don't mind the scar at all.
There was an additional charge for lap, 2 or 3 thousand, but if the doctor got in there and ran into problems and had to open me up anyway, I'd still be paying for lap (disposable equipment, etc).
It was a non-issue for me.
I was self pay too. I'd used up my one lifetime WLS benefit on the lap band. ugh. I spent about 17K going to Brazil. The cost was inclusive of my travel expenses as well as those of my husband's, hotel, etc. and the surgery and fees. I had Dr. Marchesini,and he was amazing. I'd researched him and read literally hundreds of testimonials saying how good he was....and he was as good as his reputation.
I was very lucky my mom gave me the money. But i WOULD have gotten a loan to do it and never batted an eye.
This surgery changed my life in so many positive ways. I only wish I'd done it first instead of the band.
Good luck to you!
Linda
I was very lucky my mom gave me the money. But i WOULD have gotten a loan to do it and never batted an eye.
This surgery changed my life in so many positive ways. I only wish I'd done it first instead of the band.
Good luck to you!
Linda