Weight Loss Surgeons & Hospitals

Hi everyone, So I'm still in insurance appeal hell and trying to decide whether to just skip the months of fighting and go directly to self-pay with Dr. Aceves. (Skip to the last paragraph if you already know my story :-)). I need my lap band out and want to revise to a VSG but my insurance company is fighting me (I lost weight with the band and am under a 35 BMI). Odds are that I'll get the band removal covered but it won't save me much unless I can find a surgeon who'll do the revision as a single procedure and just charges me the difference. Dr. Cirangle said he would when I had my consult with him but darned if I can get anyone at his business office to return my ca…

I have my surgery date set for December 8th!! I am using Dr. Joel Sebastien. The ladies that work in his office are WONDEFUL. I am out the US right now and flew into Florida just for my initial appointment. I flew in Monday the 18th and flew out the 20th. I was not expecting it but the office staff was able to have ALL my appointments done on the 19th. It was a very long day but I go it all done and was able to get my surgery date. So far I am beyond happy with the Doctor and the office staff. Anybody else use him? Surgery will be in Halifax Medical Center.

Hello, Has anyone used True Results for Gastric Sleeve surgery I know they mostly push the lap band so I'm looking for anyone with experiences with them and there Doctors. I am consulting with the one in Richardson,TX, will have surgery during spring break or possibly early June . Thank you so much for any testimony and for your time.

Best dr you will ever find. His expertise, bedside manner, ability to listen and answer sll of your questions is amazing. His staff will put you at ease and are very professional. You feel like family. His nurse Pam is a jewel! Can't say enough good things about this doctor! He genuinely cares about his patients.

So excited for my surgery in less then 48 hours!!

Hi I have narrowed my search down to Slimband, SWLC - DR. CHRISTOPHER S. COBOURN in Oakville and Credit Valley Clinic (maybe - This one is only on the list because the surgeons are out of Credit Valley Hospital which has a great reputation) I would like to hear from other people who have used any of these clinics and please give me your honest opinion of their services and also how are you doing now? Are you happy with the surgery result etc.? Any complications with the bands? After care? Anything you can tell me would be helpful. Thanks

Since i've switched from having lapband to the sleeve - my surgeon will be changed to Dr. John Marsden....I did a search on here but nothing popped up. Hoping someone here can give me some feedback. thanks

Has anyone did the Lap Band or sleeve with doctor Riley interested in the sleeve surgery as I know he has performed lots of lap bands

I am scheduled to go to a seminar in Feb at this hospital, I was wondering had anyone been in their program Rottiemama2003

I'm finally ready to do my first consultation after 6 months of research. I need the best! I'm in Houston, Texas

Hi everyone, Long time lurker, first time poster. My insurance covers the lap band surgery at UT Mist and I was wondering what's the word on them. 1/3/13 I've had initial consultation with Dr Richard Englehardt. Weight 290lbs, recommends losing 14lbs before banding. It went well, but his staff kinda worries me. 1/15/13 The dietician I met appeared to be a more meat for the grinder personality. Callous comes to mind. How much do patients rely on dietician after band? 1/23/13 i've had psych consult, apparently I'm a good for procedure. But I have to have an EGD (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy) for insurance reasons. Should I be concerned that I've called their offic…

Hi there. Did anyone on the board get a hospital stay included with their US surgeon in a self pay situation? If so, could you post the surgeon's name and the amount you paid? Thanks very much for your input and suggestions.

Dr. Clark did mine 12/17/12, and am SO pleased with it, his post-op program, and the way he looks at the procedure as just a part of your journey. www.cfwls.com

Does anyone know of surgeon in Alberta that does the sleeve surgery funded privately as opposed through healthcare. I am asking for a friend who doesn't want to go out of country (like I did) and doesn't qualify for it to be covered by healthcare here (BMI is not 40). Thanks for any help

Has anyone been to the Videoscopic Institute of Atlanta with Dr. Champion?

I had a New Year's Eve Goal of 199 lbs...didnt happen... January 31st goal of 190.... not going to happen Im not discouraged at the weight not loss just frustrated with the scales and the things getting in my way.... Last week I had a migraine from hell for 3 days then mentrual cramps... Didnt go over in calories but made a couple of bad food choices.... I still managed to get most of my exercise in... This week I have a bad cold & bronchitis... Im mostly on liquid diet because thats all I can handle... not going over on calories but havent exercised since last week... Today is the first day I feel like I can hold my head off the pillow without crying...…

Has anyone had WLS from Dr. Podkameni? He is one of the surgeons at Banner Gateway in Arizona.

Doctor Riley is scheduled to be my surgeon wanted to know if anyone had the sleeve procedure with him opposed to the Lap Band

Anyone had their surgery down in the rio grand valley? Aka south tx?

Has anyone had there surgery at blue valley hospital in overland park ks

Anyone use him? Heard I him? Price? Finance for self pay? Let me know thanks!

I had my lapband done a few years ago. After almost a year, my band had slipped and would not hold a full fill. I had paid for the surgery myself-insurance wouldn't go it-and then found I would have to pay too much than I could afford to get it fixed. Now, insurance will cover this. I am wondering if anyone else had this experience and if so, did you have it fixed and if so, has it held now? I have a Dr appt on Monday next and would like to go in as informe d as possible...

I have to say I have been very impressed with Baptist Hospital in Penscola on their pre-op care and thoroughness. I was originally banded at Palmyra Hopsital in Albany GA. Preop was showing up for the surgery and bathing with dial soap. I didn't meet or talk with anyone - just showed up. I was so excited about the surgery at the time it didn't seem odd to me. Monday I went to Baptist to meet with pretty much my surgery team and doctor (John David Nye). Not only did I make all my appointments on or before time - they didn't rush me or make me feel like a number. Here was my pre-op day: 10:00 a.m. - Radiology. They did my ultra-sound on my liver, stomach, abdomina…

Anyone use Dr Gregory Schroder

Hi, I have a appointment with Dr. Foresster soon has anyone used him? Could you tell me your expierence with him and the office? THanks

surgery, 1/21/2013

Hello All... I have been approved for Lap band with Dr. Garcia... After doing alot of research and talking to people who have had him he has good bed side mannor and is very supportive during the whole process... If anyone has a different opinion of him please let me know. Thank you in advance for any feed back.

I was a patient of Dr spivak but he is no longer there.the Dr that replaces him wont help me unless I pay upfront. Iam disabled and low income .help please iam in a lot of pain

I live in rural western MA. When searching for a surgeon on the lapband.com website there are options 40 miles north and south of me, which I'd be prepared to use. My PCP told me there's a doctor in my town now doing the procedure, but when I searched his name on the lapband site (and his practice) no registration came up. Has this happened for anyone else? Is it common for doctors to not be registered thru that website but still do great work?

I've recently moved to Louisiana. I was banded in Texas, and I'd like to get in to have my band checked out. I've contacted two surgeons here in Baton Rouge, only to be told that they won't see patients they didn't band, and the best I can hope for is a fill or unfill with the PA, no checking anything with a fluoroscope, just a straight fill or unfill. I don't want a fill or unfill, I want to know if there are any problems with my band that need to be corrected. Does anyone have experience with a lapband surgeon in Louisiana who will 1) see patients banded by another surgeon, 2) evaluate the band under fluoroscopy, and 3) consider removal (as opposed to revision) if it'…

Who would you *highly recommend* for fills anywhere in CA? (And please tell me why.) I had my surgery in another state. I loved that surgeon's "fill" staff but have now moved to the Central Coast of CA and want to set up an annual band check up and possible fill. I'm in San Luis Obispo County so three hours below San Francisco, and three hours above L.A. I'm willing to drive to either big city (or anywhere within driving distance) for a highly recommended "fill" surgeon or staff. Okay you Cali Bandsters, who do you love?? With gratitude, Annette in SLO

Hi, I am going through the process to be sleeved through Kaiser here in Northern Virginia. I was wondering if there is anyone out there that can tell me about the doctors that Kaiser uses. And here are some questions I have: Do they turn you away if you don't lose the required amount of weight and make you wait til you do? Do they require a liquid diet prior to surgery? How long does it take to get a surgery date after finishing the last visit? How flexible are they with "speeding" up the process? Currently, I would finish my last session with the NUT in Jan. I already have 2 weeks vacation scheduled for Dec which would give me plenty of time to recover before…

Anyone have surgery or seeing Dr. Amir Moazzez.

If anyone is in Brooklyn NY and looking for a bariatric surgeon look up Dr Gorecki. I was sleeved on October 25 and I could not have had a better surgeon and his team are GREAT Methodist hospital in Brooklyn is awesome

I have a consultation with him in London this week, and wondered if anyone has any experience? Thanks x

Did anyone have Dr Srinivasian for their surgeon and if so what was your experience.

Hello All, I went in for my Consultation on Monday and I left in complete distraught. I was very excited about getting the process to getting banded started, Until my surgeon starts telling me reasons why I should NOT get it and go with bypass instead. Here's a little of my background so you can understand why I thought this set off a red flag... I'm a fairly healthy 27 year old with No co-morbidities. I barely met the BMI qualifications to get the surgery done. Dr. Monash, said he rarely does the lapband procedure anymore and in fact he takes more out that puts them in. He told me that it is not as effective as the bypass and so on and so on. I explained t…

Looking for opinions on Houston area surgeons. My daughter lives in Katy.

I was banded by Dr. Adam Glasgow. He is great! He's experienced, kind, gentle, and caring. His Partner, Dr. Arthur Glasgow, is great too. Together they have put together a great LapBand program. They genuinely care for their patients and their success with their LapBands. They provide a great support system for their band patients, both pre and post surgery. Their website is www.massweightloss.com. Check it out for more details. On a scale of 1 to 10, both of the Glasgows are 12's. I love my band! Sue

Dr Strom and his staff are so nice! My surgery is May 11 and I can't wait!

I have my consultation with him on 1/18. Any opinions from anyone who has dealt with him recently??

I have only talked to one person that has used him and they said he is the best in the area.

Hello Everyone, Has anyone had the procedure performed @ Darnall? I know and have chatted with a few people who are in the area but no one has had the procedure @ the hospital. I just completed all the appointments at Scott & White in Temple, TX but as we all know TRICARE ISN'T COVERING THE VSG SURGERY (SHAME ON THEM)! And now i'm left out in the cold. Any info would be appreciated. Thank you all.

Has anyone been sleeved by doctor Villanueva? Does he send you home with a drain?

My surgeon is Dr. Geiss. I'm am happy with him because he has a passion for what he does. He has a great track record as far as successful surgeries, he has a great team that is consistent which is important when you are making this life change. Dr. Geiss is kind and cares about all his patients.

RNY - 12/15/12 Gen :-)

Had the seminar today, consult two weeks from today and should have a surgery date within a week of that(since its cash). Am really getting excited! I was hoping to find some patients of his (I know your out there! Lol) so that I can just hear your experiences with him and the staff. Anything that you think of? Does he require the liquid diet before? I didn't think to ask that today for some reason. I know he is a great Dr, as he's been doing this a long time and was one of the 20 to do the FDA trials, and his cash price is amazing at $10,999. Thanks for all your input! Johnathan

Dr. John baker is a great doctor and his office is full of patients where are all the people that are in his office??? Don't want to let other people what a great service they got in the office. I was very happy with my appointment and i am looking forward to my surgery 10/20/10. Would like to hear from others that have used dr. Baker.

I have a consultation scheduled with Dr. McMahon at Swedish Hospital in Seattle. I met him at an information session and came away with a very good impression. Has anyone used Dr. McMahon for their surgery, and would you recommend him to others?

I recommend my surgeon, Dr. Roc W. Bauman, he's excellent!!!! He's very serious about my care & his patients! He's the Doctor of Carolinas Weight Loss Surgery in Concord, NC. He practices as Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery @ CMC Northeast. He is accredited & his practice is considered a "Center of Excellence". Over 2500 surgeries with positive results. He personally offers free info sessions at his office...it's on the website when they're having a session. I think it's worth the time & they're very informative!!! Worth taking a listen to, especially if your in search of a surgeon or information!!! There's no obligation, it's just to educate YOU! …