Lap band in Mexico HELP!

Hello I am new to this site.  I am getting my lap band done in Mexico in July.  I am concerned because I can't find any Dr. here that will do a fill when I get back.  Does anyone know any Dr. that will.  I live in Kansas City MO.  Also if anyone ahs had a lapband in Mexico what is your experience?? Do you need several fills afterwards??  HELP

I have had 11 or 12 fills..lost count...within the last 10 mo. since my surgery.  I would never go out of country until I found someone for followup where I lived.  The band is not a one-time-thing.  It does require quite a bit of followup.  Once placed you need fills ever mo. or so until you get proper restriction and then as the fat pad on the stomach shrinks you need more fills.  People who are 3-4 years out still need "tweaked".  If you can't find a dr. here or a FillCenterUSA then you need to decide if you want to continue to go back to Mexico for your fills all the time. Best of luck to you, Dee

hi, i am in so. ca. and i had a very good experience! best wishes for a smooth surgery! hugs, sally

Several of our members have had very sucessful surgeries and positive experiences in Mexico.  It wasn't an option for me because I would not have had access to a doctor for follow up care in the area I live in.  Please make sure that you do if you decide to go to Mexico.  Yes, you will need several fills.  Good luck.

Please find a doctor that will take care of you here in the USA after your surgery.  In April I had a pt come to the GI lab where I work.  He had a lap band done in Mexico and had been doing "self fills" every since.  The band wore through his stomach wall and he had to have a gastrectomy- they had to remove most of his stomach.  I'm not trying to scare you- just stating the facts.  Our GI doctors believe the lap band is the safer of the weight loss tools. Just be sure to have your follow up!!!!

Hi There---can you post on the MO lap band board and see if anyone has dr's they can refer you to?  Also, a lot of times the MX dr will locate US dr's in your area---ask them if they have a list for fill drs.  Good Luck!

Banded in Mexico and I had my followup doctor already in place. Your mexican doc should give you a list of doctors for your state. I had a great experience thus far.

If it's God's will for me I am considering having the surgery in Mexico and I have read so many positive things from people who made the decision to go to Mexico to have their surgery done if they were self paying.  I think it is extremely important to have an after care physician set in place before you have your band place.  Perhaps this location can be where you get your fills. I think it's a couple of hours from Kansas City, but I'm sure it will be worth the trip. Best wishes and God Bless! http://www.fillcentersusa.com/locator/results_list.php?zip=6 4101&showsurrounding=1&radius=500&zipsearch=Go Jamille

I definitely agree with the others.  Although I had my surgery in the US, I would certainly not even consider having lap band surgery out of the area, let alone out of the country, until I had my aftercare arranged.  Without proper aftercare you might as well have not gotten banded in the first place. Most who have been banded in Mexico (as long as they arranged for their aftercare in advance) have done great.  As with the US, there are good doctors and there are great doctors -- and then there are the doctors that shouldn't even be practicing.  Do your homework and talk with people who have had the same surgeon.  Some of the Mexico surgeons actually taught many of the US surgeons how to do the lap band in the first place! For the record, it usually takes three to five fills to reach an adequate restriction level after you've been banded.  A few have never needed to have a fill at all.  I took 6 but I've been scheduled for my 7th (going to be a small tweak) in June -- but my last fill was in October. Good luck and do your homework and research! Lori

I was banded in Mexico and Dr Malley in Shawnee Mission Kansas does my fills for me.  I had NO problems in Mexico, did just fine, and this was done in Sept 05 by Dr Sanchez, *****cently was murdered!!  If you have anymore questions I will be glad to help. Jacinda