Weight Loss Surgeons & Hospitals

I have my first appointment at the bariatric department at the University of Iowa on June 22. I am not sure what to expect as the appointment is 4-5 hours long. I am also wondering what happens next and what the time frame is for actually getting the surgery? Do the doctors at the U have you follow a diet before the surgery and if they do for how long? I have a couple things going on in July and August and I am having a hard time figuring outhow my summer will go as I want the surgery to be top priority.

I just attended Dr. Olsofka's seminar yesterday. He was very frank and very enlightening as well as reassuring. He's also very thin!

My insurance does not cover the surgeon and asst. surgeon fees. Noone in Atlanta does the Spider sleeve. My husband and I are coming to St. Augustine next week too. Can you Please suggest any tips or info you feel is relevant. I also would love to find a mentor and or workout pal there or in Atlanta which is where I live.Thanks so much!

I am so impressed with Dr. Ponce and his team and want others to hear and know about him. I have volunteered to help answer any questions and coordinate travel plans and surgery plans for any patients outside the US. My surgery will be in August at the INT Hospital. Why am I so excited....I live in San Diego and was very concerned about safety and surgery in Mexico so I met with Trish and have visited the hospitals and met the team of doctors several times now. I am lucky to live so close that I could do this. I have to tell you all my fears regarding my safety and surgery are gone. The fact that Trish lives in MX and personally knows the doctors is wonderful. No …

Does anyone know if this surgeon does the sleeve and costs? Thanks!

Just wondering if anyone had their VSG done in Fort Gordon at Dwight Eisenhower Army Medical Center and what your experience was. I have my first surgery eval there in January 2012 and wanted to know what to expect, how was it.....any info.

I want to share my experience with Dr. Alvarez in Piedras Negras Mexico. First, let me say I am a registered nurse and have been for 12 years. I have had 9 abdominal surgeries in various hospitals. This has been the most positive experience I have ever had anywhere. Dr. Alvarez is amazingly intelligent, caring, and what a bedside manner! The hospital staff are wonderfully professional and pleasant, no fast rush in and out of my room, I don't here the sigh of impatience when I push the call button for assistance that I usually get in the states. This hospital is clean and the staff practice excellent standard precautions- I see lots of hand hygiene going on.Best of all, I …

Im gonna see him on may 22 after 3 months of options program

Hi All, My surgeon is Dr Elli at The University of Chicago Hospital. Is there anyone here from Chicago?

Along with so many others I too have had a terrible experience with my bariatric surgery (lap band) at the hands of The Hospital Group. It now seems very likely that the band will need to be removed and I have vomited constantly since its insertion 18 months and this has been ongoing both completely deflated and inflated. I realise I am not alone in my situation but you know it's serious when the NHS recommend putting you on a drip to rehydrate the body. Naturally The Hospital Group abdicate any responsibility and I fully intend to pursue them at law. I believe however that this could be far more effective if a class action were to brought so if anyone is interest…

Can anyone recommend a surgeon in the area who will do removal by itself, without revising to another procedure? If you do, please let me know. Thanks!

Anyone know any Drs in Dallas that do this procedure?

I had my surgery on 2/22/12 with Dr Schneider at Beth Isreal in Boston. He was fabulous! He spent his time answering all my questions before at my appointments pre-op, the morning of my surgery and afterwards. I have my post-op with him on 3/15. All the staff at BIMDC has been great throughout the entire process. I highly recommend BIMDC and Dr Schneider!! Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Has anyone had lipo after lapband? Does the port and tubing get in the way or look funny? My Dr said I could look into tummy tuck but just not interested in the awful scars I see online.

I was banded Dec 19 2011 and Doc Mortenson did my surgery. He is such a good doctor and cares about you. He has gone above and beyond for me. I am doing well and hope to continue to so well. I would reccomend him to anyone.

Thanks to a timely cancellation, my long-awaited surgery will be taking place this coming Friday, the 26th. I'm a bit spooked, to be sure, but I love Dr. McKenna and his staff, and I know they'll help me get through this. Would love to touch base with more of Dr. McKenna's patients! Best, Christine

I have BCBS of Nebraska, they will only cover $10,000. This amount only includes the surgery, and hospital stay. Pretty much anything that happens the day of, and anything else that happens while in the hospital. So of course, I have to pay all follow ups, all pre surgeon visits, all testing, complications, etc. I'm wondering if anyone knows low cost places, because I'm not completely self pay. I would prefer not to go to Mexico, i'm so happy for those who have and had successful results... I'm just not able to. Any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks!

I have been here off and on for years, and once again, thinking about going to Mexico for surgery. I stopped looking for a couple of reasons, one is, just one more go at a diet, but then, I am back plus 5pds more. Another reason is, I do some research and email a couple of potential places and I get a bit overwhelmed. However, I have had enough but need some guidance. I have read alot of posts, and read and researched a few doctors, but then get swayed back and forth. So I would really love to hear your story, your doctor, whatever you can. As well as cost. I dont want it to be about cost, but it is a factor. I guess I am kind of intersted if the couple of docs I have …

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I have been searching for possible places in Canada that do the Sleeve self pay... anyone have any experience? It will probably be too expensive, but I haven't quite come to terms with Mexico... yet

I am trying decide on the lap band and have been in contact with cibo clinic in Toronto. Has anyone had theres done with them? how was the experience?

I am trying decide on the lap band and have been in contact with cibo clinic in Toronto. Has anyone had theres done with them? how was the experience?

These guys have a great staff! I never wait, I'm treated very well, the staff is helpful... I almost always get the appointment time I want (once the nurse practitioner even stayed late for me). I just had my 3rd appointment there today and they not only got me out in time to get the appointment in during my lunch break, but they answered all of my questions and even thought outside the box to help me with some things. I love these guys! (My husband also saw Dr. Cribbins for his band about 2 years ago - he still goes to this office for follow up treatments.) Their website: http://yournewhealth.net

Last March when I started my lap band journey, I had no idea it would end up as wonderfully as it has. I was denied several times, went to a seminar for other surgeons, and wrote letters pleading with my insurance company for this surgery. In October of 2008, my medical group was bought out by another one, and within three days I had been approved to see Dr. Philippe Quilici. The minute I walked in to the office I knew I was in good hands. I am totally blind, walked in alone, and was helped by one of the staff to fill out the necessary forms. I spent two, maybe three hours there, meeting the team. I was allowed to touch the model of the stomach, and learn w…

Hi, i had my lap band put in by Dr. Kuri almost 10 years ago. I've had a really good experience up until now; my port has disconnected. Since I was self pay I will need to go back to Mexico to have it fixed. Has anyone been to Tijuana lately and if so how safe is it? Thanks for the help! Mixxie

I have never had such a nice doctor he is so caring. He has done almost 300 surgery.

Does anyone have any recent experience with Dr. Brown as their surgeon and doing self-pay? Thanks! Pam

I was banded by Dr. B on May 7th, 2009. I used LapBand Solutions for my insurance, True Results for my pre-op testing, and the Surgery Center of Richardson for my surgery and follow-up. As far as I know, he has a hand in all of these companies, but I don't care. More money for him is fine by me. He deserves it for the level of care we receive. David

Anyone had sleeve done in Iowa, trying to find out if there are any qualified Drs in these parts!

anyone ever udr david geller louisville ky

Any using Drs. Miles or Schmitt in Birmingham, AL? I would like to get a group discussion going.

Has anyone had lap band done by him?

I was banded on 6/14/10. I went through "True Results" in the Dallas area, and my surgeon was Dr. Marsden. The surgery was performed at the Specialty Surgery Center of Fort Worth in Hurst. So far, so good. My experience with Dr. Marsden has been GREAT. He met with me at a True Results location a few weeks before surgery and went over all sorts of questions and concerns. He is a very blunt and practical man, with a great sense of humor, and he put me at ease immediately. He has performed a ton of these surgeries and I felt confident with him. He prescribed meds in advance of the surgery so I would have them on hand immediately afterward. He listened to all my c…

Hi everyone! I have been toying with this idea for years, but have finally decided to stop waiting until the perfect time (financially). Can anyone out there tell me their experiences with a Sarasota County facility/doctor in Florida? Also, trying to get an idea of costs involved as my Aetna insurance has a WLS exemption and I'll have to pay on my own. Thanks for any feedback! Dawn

Hi..I got my fourth fill on Monday and now its Friday and I can still only really get down liquids and pudding. I paged Dr. Elli to see if I could get an emergency unfill..but he has not called me back...has anyone ever paged him?

Hey all! New here! Looking into getting my band out and revising to a sleeve. I HAVE to go to Balboa, bc thats who does sleeves. No one out in town is covered. I'm wanting to connect with anyone who has gone through their program? and what doc you had? Thanks so much!

I highly recommend him. I'm his patient but I'm also a doctor myself... I was banded about a year ago by him and have been thrilled.

I am in the middle of my three-month Nut visits. I don't have a date yet. Just wondering how quickly the center submits to insurance once you meet the insurance reqmnts. I assume that I have to complete three full months or four visits. Anyone have any experience?

Hi , Frist a small vent I am new here I am looking into getting a lap band ,I have called 3 offices and am already ticked off ,one was sooo rude the other two could could care less and all about the paperwork I keep being told to watch there videos and crap but I can get in though here heads that I am half blind and there stuff will not work for me and I can not pay a $150 cab ride to go to a live one . Ok so my last call was a doctor bolverd and he and there staff where grate they mabe me an apt. With no hoop jumping and helped with the paperwork and told me all about the lap band . It is looking like the olney easy was to get one with me loesing my mind is to do sel…

He performed my surgery in Nov 2008. I chose him because of his experience. He is the chief of minimally invasive surgery at Beth Isreal Deaconess Medical Center. He is a nice guy, down to earth, pays attention to you, listens to you and doesn't rush you out the door. He was great!

Does anyone know if this surgeon does the sleeve and costs? Thanks!

My surgeon is Dr. Jack Rutledge in Chattanooga Tn at memorial Hospital. He only specializes in gastric RNY and the sleeve. Sent from my ANDROID using RNYTalk

Loved, loved, love my Dr.Love my Dr. and his whole staff at the clinic.. the hospital surprised me.

I am set for surgery June 4 with Dr. Adam Smith or Dr. Craig Ferrara. Anyone have any experience with them?

We need a thread for this lapband doctor please. He is located in Anniston and I would LOVE to share my experience with him.

hi all, wondering if someone can help me, can someone give me some experience sleeve surgeons on the east coast NY, MA, CT, RI,NJ, ME, NH or anywhere arond there? I am a high risk revision patient, and I have been unable to find someone who has done more than a handful of sleeves and I really don't know the reputations of the couple I have found in NY? any help would be greatly appreciated. thank you so much for your help Mila

I was banded in 2004..I did awsome in my first year. I lost over 100 pounds!! Yay me...BUT now its 8 years later (wow) and I have gained most of it back...I havent had a fill in a very long time. My band only holds 4cc I feel I got gipped..Most everyone I have spoke to have a 10...anyway, I need to find a Dr. In Conroe or College station to try to utilize the band that hasnt been tweeked in a couple years!! Does anybody know of one that is not nasty when you mess up? I hate being chastized It makes me not want to go back..Thanks

I just thought I'd share with those who are considering Dr. Aceves for their sleeve - I'm currently doing a rotation in bariatric surgery and the other day, I told my preceptor that I had been sleeved. He (a bariatric surgeon himself) was absolutely blown away by my results and actually called his 2 bariatric fellows to the room just to look at my abs and marvel at the fact that they would've never guessed I had any sort of bariatric surgery and that I could get results like this without plastics. My preceptor kept asking how Dr. Aceves managed to remove my stomach through such a tiny incision - he said he would've never figured I was sleeved based on how tiny my scars ar…

I decided to use my 600th post in VST to shout out my awesome and supportive WLS team at the Midwest Bariatric Institute of Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park, IL...My surgeon was Gerald Cahill and my WL specialist was Kidanu Birhanu... I'm a very "particular" person about everything!! But, when I email Tony Romeo the program coordinator for info and he told me about the requirements for my insurance... I knew I was making the right decision.. Everyone, from the dietician to the personal trainer to the psychologist handled my questions and requests with professionalism and care... Dr. Birhanu was amazing and even though he sees hundreds of bariatric pat…

He's the best!